INTRODUCTION

For most high school rowers and their parents, rowing is a brand new sport. The following Guide was composed by parents to help rowers and parents alike to understand and enjoy high school rowing.
The Guid is organized to address our common questions:
1. How is high school rowing organized?
2. The Language of Rowing
3. How do rowers learn how to row?
4. How does the season work? - Regatta Schedules
5. What happens at a Regatta?
6. Costs and Liability
7. What if I'm worried about my rower?
8. How can parents help?
9. Maps and Directions to rowing clubs and Regattas

The SCRC is a community organization that was founded in 1903. It provides opportunities for competitive and recreational rowing for all ages.
The Club is located on Martindale Pond at Henley Island in Port Dalhousie. The boats at the Club have been contributed by various groups and individuals and are cost shared by the high schools. Please refer to their website at www.stcatharinesrowingclub.ca.

2. The Language of Rowing

There are 2 basic kinds of rowing:
»Sweeping: each person has 1 oar.
»Sculling: each person has 2 oars.

Crews are put together in various numbers. Many multi-person high school crews have a cox, indicated as "+" in rowing shorthand.

For more information on the skill of rowing, go to www.row2k.com

3. How does a rower learn to row?

Many students are introduced to the sport through the weeklong Learn-to-Row programs offered to junior high and high school students by SCRC in September. The SCRC also offers recreational and competitive rowing programs in the summer for children and adults.

Training
Land training occurs from fall through winter, and on-water training begins in March or when the ice is out.
Rowing requires muscular endurance, cardiovascalor endurance and technique.

Training Schedule
Rowers train for months for a racing season which is over in 4-5 weekends.
Over the winter, most novice rowers will train approximately 3x's a week while some experienced rowers will train nearly daily. Beginning in January, the frequency of practices increases in anticpation of the transition to the on-water season. On-water training begins as soon as the ice is out, which is usually by late March.
In January and Febuary rowers may compete in ergometer competitions, and may have the opportunity to practice in the larg indoor rowing tanks.
In April on-water training begins and the frequency of workouts increases. Even though they are now on the water, highly competitive teams will still have weighs and some erg training to do after school. Some crews have on-water practices each morning from 5:30-7:30 a.m., after which they go directly to school. Other crews have on-water practices after school in shifts lasting until sunset.

4. How does the season work?

The school competitive season is made up of about 5 consecutive weekend regattas. Interested rowers can continue to compete with the SCRC through summer rowing.
Regattas are good fun for parents and well worth attending. There is something wonderful about witnessing the concentration, effort and teamwork of rowers in a race. It makes those long practices worthwhile!
Most crews are organized by the middle of April, but crew members will continue to be refined with experience in the regattas. It is often possible for an individual rower to row in several different crews in a given regatta.

Early Bird
This is the first regatta of the season, usualy the last weekend of April at the Henley.
Mother's Day
Many St. Catharines crews and crews from out of town attend the Mother's Day regatta at the Henley Course in St. Catharines.
Wyandotte / Buffalo / Silver Lake
These out of town regattas are attended by some area high schools depending on schedules and equipment availability, and transportation.
Stotesbury Cup and American Championships
These regattas are reserved for the best crews to attend after having met qualifying standards. Senior crews and some exceptional junior boats make the long trip to Philadelphia, and the southern U.S. states for these prestigious regattas.
Welland (South Niagara) Regatta
This regatta is hosted by the South Niagara Club in "Dain" City, south of Welland. The regatta is held on both Saturady and Sunday of the May long weekend, and gives each athlete a chance to race in more then one event.
London Regatta
This regatta, held on Fanshawe Lake and Conservation Area, is attended by most high schools in south-western Ontario, and a few American schools from Detroit/Wyandotte Boat Club. This regatta is skipped by the best senior crews who are competing in the prestigious U.S National high school championships.
Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Championships (aka Schoolboys or CSSRA)
This is the Canadian high school championship regatta, and the last race of the high school season. This regatta is held at our home club on the Henley course. It attracts crews from all over North America (over 100 high schools), and is the toughest event to win in an athletes rowing career. Many Olympic athletes failed to earn a "schoolboy" gold medal as high school competitors.

5. What Happens at a Regatta?

Regattas are a fun but intense time for rowers. There is a lot of team bonding before and after the race and the rowers are very focused on their races. Parents may assist by providing food, rides and dry clothing, usually on short notice, for the team. Rowers are required to load and unload the trailers and assist in boat-rigging with coaches.
The race schedule is often delayed by changes in the wind and water conditions.
Rowers at regattas need to remember sunscreen, clothes for rain or wind, a sun hat, glasses, water bottles, and food or money to buy it.
For overnight regattas (London/Wyandotte/Stotesbury/U.S Nationals) the team leaves on a Thursday or Friday, and overnights at a hotel in the regatta city. Rowers are assigned 2-4 to a room. Parents wishing to assist in transportation may drive and will be billeted in one room to save on costs.
Each student rower pays SCRC club fees in the range of $200 per season. This covers insurance, boat maintenance, gas, transportation, entrance fees and lodging for every local regatta. And additional $175 is required for out of town costs, entry fees and BIN60 dues.
A Tag Day is also organized by the SCRC to help school rowers fundraise money to help with the cost of fees, and is usually held the second weekend in May.
Parents must sign premission forms, and safety waivers for their rowers to participate in the activities of the season. SCRC is insured for activities directly related to rowing, and the School Board carries responsibility during transportation and non-competitive aspects of regattas out of town.

7. What is I'm Worried about my Rower?

Because the organization and supervision of rowing is not as simple as traditional school-based sports, parents need to know where to turn to if they have concerns.
If you are worried that:
Your rower is injured, you and the rower should talk to the crew coach, head coach of Team Co-ordinator.

8. How Can Parents Help?

Parents can help their individual rower and the team. It would be great if there were a table for refreshments and information at every regatta. It is particularly helpful and very welcome if at the Mother's Day, Welland, London and Canadian regattas, a tent be provided where rowers could meet, rest or get a cold drink. SCRC could certainly use financial support towards the maintenance or purchase of better equipment for our rowers. Unfortunately such direct donations are not tax deductable. A tax-deducatable donation can be made to support a high school rowing team by sending it to the Board of Education, and designating it to be used for your school's rowing team.
Rowing is a demanding, rewarding, and captivating sport. As rowing parents, we can admire our rower's skill and enthusiasm, and we may even join them!
If you think that you would life to help in any way, please contact Mr. R. Klassen, the Team Co-ordinator/Staff Advisor.
This year's Guide was developed by a number of parents and their Rowers, and was designed to be a helpful aid for parents.
Happy rowing!

9. Maps and Directions to Rowing Clubs & Regattas

You are welcome to either connect to the following websites, or contact the coaches of Mrs. Elliot.
www.rowontario.ca
www.southniagararowingclub.com
www.stcatharinesrowingclub.ca