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AHC Crew 2005 |
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Your child has been captured by a wonderful, lifelong sport. She will
build muscles and endurance .. and character, by learning the value of
persistence, dedication and teamwork.
This document is intended to help you get a handle on what is happening. It
describes the sport of rowing, our program and the community of parents,
friends, and supporters that makes it all possible. A community, by the way,
that is delighted to welcome you.
WHAT IS CREW?
It’s the sport of competitive rowing. Boys and girls in long, narrow boats
(called “shells”) race against each other, and the clock. They race against
other rowers of similar age, weight or ability, and the boat with the fastest
time over a prescribed course (usually 1500 meters) is the winner.
The concept is simple, and it’s easy to learn the basics. However, there’s an
enormous amount of skill involved in propelling that foot-wide craft through
choppy waters with 12-foot oars, and it takes more teamwork than practically any
other sport. It takes strength, endurance, balance, concentration, coordination,
and the will to win that makes you push through the pain to be the fastest boat
on the water. In fact, many say that rowers are the world’s finest athletes.
A Quick Course
The term “boat” refers to a team. It can be eight, four, or two rowers, or even
a single rower. In addition, most boats have a coxswain (pronounced “cox-n”),
the on-board coach who steers the boat (being the only one in the boat who faces
forward) and communicates to the rowers through an on-board PA system (the “cox
box”). Boats are classified by the number of rowers. With the “cox,” an “eight”
will actually have nine members on the team.
The vessel they sit in is a “shell,” a lightweight, streamlined boat with
sliding seats and oarlocks extending over the side. It’s a craft built for
speed.
Rowers will control a single oar (sweep rowing), and the class of boat depends
on the number of rowers.
Sweep rowers come in twos, fours and eights.
In each class there is a varsity eight, and there may be a second eight, third
eight, AHC. The junior eight is a class in which all the rowers must be younger
than 17. The freshman eight, as the name implies, can only be 9th graders. There
also are weight-classified boats, which may be lightweight or midweight, and
which require a specified average weight for each participant.
Individual rowers are identified by the seat they occupy, starting at the bow
(front) with the 1 seat. Occupying the 8 seat, commonly known as the “stroke,”
is an experienced rower who sets the cadence for the boat.
There are lots of other terms to learn. Don’t worry. You’ll be speaking fluent
“crew” in no time.
ROWING AT HOLY CROSS
The
Holy Cross Crew Team practices every weekday from February until May. Training
takes place in two parts: land training and water practices.
Land training takes place on school grounds and begins in February. Practices
incorporate mental as well as physical conditioning. Students are also taught
some techniques of rowing on our Concept II Indoor Rowing Ergometer (the "erg").
Water Practices begin in March. The team practices on the Anacostia River out of
the Historic Anacostia Community Boathouse, next to the Navy Yard. Student
athletes work on basic aspects of rowing such as technique and teamwork, as well
as increasing their stamina and strength for competitions.
Who Can Row?
Eligibility. Students from eighth through twelfth grade.
Safety. Physicals, swim tests, a rowing safety video and instruction, coaches in
launches with radios and emergency kits, and communication with weathermen and
marine police are standard policy. Regattas have emergency personnel on site.
Swim Test. No student may get in a boat until he or she passes a swim test!
Alcohol, Tobacco and Illegal Drugs Guidelines. Crew members possessing, using or
selling these items during the crew season will be subject to disciplinary
action.
Who Are the Coaches?
All are experienced and trained in rowing and safety, and often they are former
college rowers. Each coach is responsible for a maximum of two boats. They guide
the workouts from launches that follow the shells on the water. Launches are
equipped with radios and safety equipment.
What do they expect? Show up, work hard and have a good attitude.
If a rower has to miss practice, call the your coach. If a rower is really sick
or hurt, call or speak up. Coaches will thank you for not passing on the chicken
pox! No one wants students to row with an injury; use common sense.
Who Makes the Team?
Crew is competitive. Cuts are based on coaching and equipment availability. No
one is cut from the team if we have room, and everyone rows, but the upper boats
are hard to get in. Ability, seat racing and erg times, conditioning and
attitude all play a part in determining the makeup of a boat. Illness or injury
can be a factor from week to week. Coaches aim for fast boats that can win on a
given day.
Every student who meets the basic qualifications and comes to
practice will be on a boat, competing at some level during the season.
Where Do They Row?
You’ll hear a lot about the “ergs.” These are the sophisticated rowing machines
used for off-season conditioning and on-land training throughout the year.
Practices are on the
Anacostia
River. There is always a coach in a power launch with the shells on the water.
Races are conducted at sites in DC and the Occoquan in VA. We will also attend a
major Regatta in
Philadelphia.
Unlike other high school sports, rowers race against private as well as public
schools. There’s more detail in the Regattas section.
When Do They Row?
Scholastic rowing is a spring sport. Practice starts in late February, after
school (until dark) every week day, with bus transportation provided. Before the
regatta season begins, Saturday practice may be quite early (6 am) or as directed by the coach. Rowers practice during
spring break. Don't plan any vacations if you have a rower, or find a home for
your rower if you go away! Missing practice (unless you are ill) can mean the
difference when seats in the boats are chosen. It is important to let coaches
know if there are extenuating circumstances.
How Do Rowers Train?
Rowing is a physically demanding sport. Pre-season conditioning is necessary.
This includes erg work, weight training circuits and a great deal of running for
leg strength. Rowers are always training, either on the water or in the
Boathouse.
Pre-Season Training. Rowers are encouraged to play other sports and/or train
off-season. The AHC weight room is open after school during the winter.
Erg tests. Periodically coaches will record rowers' times on the erg. Comparing
size, strength, and times helps them put together the right combination of
rowers in a boat. This is called "making a seat" in a boat.
What Do Rowers Wear?
Rowers wear many layers. They start with warm-up suits in February and end with
tank tops by June. For competition, rowers must purchase official uniforms,
which are sold at cost. Financial assistance is available if necessary. Ask your
coach. Some boats wear one-piece unitards.
Many of the things they wear will say AHC CREW. The AHC Tartan Shop sells
sweats, t-shirts, caps, anoraks and other items with AHC insignia. Major
regattas will feature a signature shirts. They cost about $15. Every rower wants
one, and they are popular items for trading at regattas. AHC shirts have proven
to be valuable commodities.
What Do Rowers Eat?
Everything! Actually, everyone except most lightweights eats lots of
carbohydrates – pasta, pizza, bagels, AHC. Rowers do not like to eat the morning
of a race, so be sure to send plenty of munchies on race day. Ask your rower
what the coach suggests.
This year boats follow the tradition of a Friday night dinner during the regatta
season. Some boats rotate to a different rower’s house each week, while others
will find a warm home and never leave. Whichever way they do it, they load up on
pasta and psych themselves for the next day’s race. This fosters close
friendships that can last a lifetime!
What Does Crew Cost?
Holy Cross will charge $200 (2005)rowers fee to participate in crew. (Other
schools charge from $300 to often 800 a rower.) AHC pays the coaches, insurance,
buys some equipment, uniforms, transports the crew and their equipment to
regattas, and pays fees for races.
So what does it really cost? Mostly your occasional help at regattas.
The only other direct costs will be for apparel and the Stotesbury. However, no
student will be without for economic reasons.
Awards Night
Be sure to come to the spring sports awards night at Holy Cross in June. Coaches
present letters, as well as scholar and other special awards. Everyone gets to
give a speech (or so it seems!) It is a special night.
THE REGATTAS
AHC Crew participates in a series of competitions each spring. Only a few of
them are on our “home field,” the Anacostia. Regattas may have races between two
schools, or as many as a hundred or more. Parents are encouraged to attend as
many races as possible.
Regatta season starts in late March. Other scheduled races are on the
Potomac in
Georgetown, the Occoquan Reservoir at
Sandy
Run Park, the Anacostia River in DC.. The big events are in late April and May -
National Capital Area Championships on the Potomac, the Stotesbury Cup in
Philadelphia,
and the Scholastic Rowing Association “Nationals.” Some Day - Qualifying boats
from Holy Cross may go to the Canadian Nationals in June, and even the
prestigious Royal Henley Regatta in
England.
• Stotesbury Cup Regatta
Qualifying upper boats go on the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia, the
country’s largest scholastic regatta, the third weekend in May. Boats are loaded
on trailers, and participating rowers ride school buses up on Thursday. Some
preliminary heats are Friday starting at noon, and lasting until dark. Some also
run on Saturday morning. The school pays for students to stay at a motel and
some meals. Rowers take munchies, along with pillows, tape decks, clothes and
money (for the ever present regatta shirts). Finals start at
noon Saturday.
Many parents go up for both days. It’s a great location for a regatta. In
addition to watching the races, parents staff the food tent set up for AHC Crew,
and may sell custom t-shirts and other clothing at a concession area. If you
plan to go, make hotel reservations early. Parents who’ve been there will be
glad to recommend places to stay.
Some Regatta Tips
Be sure to attend the regattas, and allow yourself plenty of time to get to the
race site. In some cases, you may have to walk quite a ways from the parking
area, and race schedules can change unexpectedly. Don't miss the race you came
to see! Directions to the out-of-town races are published on the AHC website.
You can also sign up for a weekly e-mail Hotline during the season, which
provides last-minute tips.
Bundle up. The weather is unpredictable in April, and standing all day beside a
river or lake can get pretty miserable if it’s cold and wet. It’s better to stow
a rainjacket than wish you had one.
Look for the tent at most out-of-town regattas. Crew parents sets up a tent on
the race course. It’s a place where rowers can rest and get something to eat and
drink, and parents can congregate and watch the events on the water. Parent
volunteers do it all - set up the tent, prepare the food, and make sure
everything runs smoothly. It’s like tailgating on a grand scale!
Most regattas are all-day events. Even though the rowers may not be on the water
for more than a half hour, they have to prepare the boats and load them on the
trailers, unload them at the race site and set them up, and then stow them back
at the Boathouse at the end of the day.
• Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints (V)
Erg races - rowers competing on erg machines - are held the first week-end in
February. Over 400 rowers and health club members from New England to North
Carolina come to George Washington Middle School to row indoors. Alexandria Crew
Boosters sponsors this event, and students compete and help as timers.
• Run vs Row 10K Race (V)
Held in late March or early April, this race pits runners on land against crews
on the Potomac. Volunteer, run, or ride the Cherry Blossom for the best front
row seat to race watching you will have all season! All Cherry Blossom proceeds
go to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.
Pitch In!
It takes people - parents and friends who will take a little time to help make
the program run smoothly.
Regattas don’t just happen, after all. At local regattas, parent volunteers
serve as parking attendants and stake boat holders. They drive launches and run
concession stands. We need EVERYONE to come out and help make these events
successful.
And when we go beyond the DC/Northern Virginia area, parents are needed to buy,
transport, prepare and provide food for our rowers.
Be sure to say “sure” when somebody calls and asks for your help. But don't wait
for a call! Contact a our Volunteer Rep Peggy Durney and offer your services.
It’s rewarding ... and fun!
Welcome aboard!
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