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West Springfield Crew Team West Springfield High School 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152 |
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Parent InformationWelcome to West Springfield Crew! Our aim is to help you understand this new and exciting sport by answering as many of your questions as possible. Take a look through this page and the rest of the site to learn about this amazing sport. | |||||||||||||||||
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Important Links
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe following are just some of the many questions that students and parent have about rowing.Who is the Novice Liaison and what do they do? The Novice Liaison is Martha Crumpacker. Her phone number is 703-866-9376 (email is mcrumpa62@aol.com) and she is the parent of a third year rower. The job of the Novice Liaison is to answer questions and provide information for parents of new rowers. Rowing is a brand new world to novice parents with new terminology, practice times, forms, and new faces to keep straight. If you have any questions or can't find the information that you need, our Novice Liaison should be your first phone call or email. How do I join the WS Crew Team? Everything you need to register is available online at this website on the registration webpage. You can also sign up at various informational meetings during September and October such as Crew Information Night, WS Parent Teas, and our Open House event at the Sandy Run Rowing Facility. Information and updates for these events will be posted to the home page of this website. Also look for posters and announcements at school. What if I have no rowing experience? This is not a problem since most students that join the Team have no rowing experience. Our coaches will provide you with the instruction and training to help prepare you for the spring rowing season. We encourage all new and returning rowers to participate in the WS Crew winter workouts. Although not a mandatory training session, this provides an exceptional opportunity to get ready for the upcoming rowing season. Is there a body height or size required for rowing? No. Rowing can be done by all types of people; however it takes a lot of dedication. You need strength, endurance, and technique. All of these traits will be developed through the crew program. A racing boat (or shell) consists of four or eight rowers and a coxswain (pronounced cox'n). The rowers obviously row the boat. The coxswain steers the boat, gives instruction, and is a motivator. For rowers, height is an advantage, but certainly not a prerequisite. Coxswains are usually small and light. The best coxswains are smart, verbal, and confident. The WS Crew program provides opportunities for a wide range of athletic abilities and can help a non-athlete become highly trained and competitive as a result of participation in crew. |
| How big is the team? Our most recent year had more than 60 rowers on the roster with slightly more boys than girls. Are there tryouts for the WS Crew Team? No. You can join as long as you come with the attitude that you want to actively participate and support the Team. There are no individual stars; this is truly a team sport. This means not missing practices (without the coach's approval), training hard, following the coach's instructions, supporting Team fundraising events, and complying with all the registration requirements. As a club sport, can I still earn a varsity letter? Yes. Varsity letters are awarded for efforts during the competitive regatta season. These are presented at our end of year award ceremony. The coaches have developed lettering criteria and those requirements are listed in the WS Crew Handbook. When and where are winter workouts? During the off season, the Team has winter workouts from mid-November through the end of February. They meet after school four days a week for about two hours. The final schedule depends on the coach's requirements and availability. Practices are held at West Springfield High School; typically in the hallway area outside of the Auxiliary Gym and weight room. The team training consists of working on indoor rowing machines (ergometers), using the weight room, running and stretching. Winter workouts are not mandatory but are highly recommended for anyone who is not participating in a winter sport. When does the rowing season begin and where does the team practice? Rowing teams may start practicing on the water toward the end of February. The specific date varies each year and is provided from the coaches. We practice on the Occoquan River at the Sandy Run Rowing Facility. This Facility is run by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and is approximately ten miles from the high school and about a 15 to 20 minute drive. The Team meets after school five days a week for about two and one-half hours. The final schedule depends on the coach's requirements and availability. How much time will be spent at the various practices? The time spent will depend on the season and your involvement in other sports. Those athletes that participate in fall and winter sports are already receiving plenty of conditioning which also helps to prepare them for the spring crew season. Many will finish up their winter sport and go right into training at Sandy Run Rowing Facility. In the past we have had athletes who are on the football, cross country, field hockey, wrestling, and swim teams. Off season: Winter workouts from mid-November to late February. Practice after school Monday through Thursday at West Springfield High School for approximately two hours. In season: On the water from late February to mid-May. Practice after school Monday through Friday at Sandy Run Rowing facility for approximately two and one-half hours. Saturday practices when called by the coach. Regattas: Held on Saturdays, from the last weekend in March through mid-May. Special Note: The team still practices during Spring Break when school is closed for the week. We strongly encourage all rowers to attend practice each day during spring break. The upper boats often practice two times per day. As such, we request that you do not plan any out-of-town trips during this time. How can I get my homework completed between school and practices? You must learn how to budget and manage your time. It is a demanding sport, but if you plan ahead, manage you time, and devote the necessary time and energy in the right places; you will cope with the obligations of your school and sport. In the process you will become a better student and athlete. Last year we had 24 students receive our GPA award for achieving a 3.5 or higher GPA during the fourth quarter which is our most challenging time on the water. Is there bus service available to go to and from practice? No; however, the Team provides assistance in setting up carpools to get the rowers to and from the Sandy Run Rowing Facility during spring practices. The carpool form is included in the registration materials. When and where are the competitions held? The racing competitions are called regattas and are organized and governed by the National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association (NCASRA). The local competitive season begins at the end of March with the "Polar Bear Regatta" and ends in mid-May with the "Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship Regatta". The regattas are held on Saturdays. The majority of regattas occur at the Sandy Run Rowing Facility on the Occoquan River. We travel to one away regatta at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. After the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship Regatta, which ends the local competitive season, there are two away regattas to cap off the year. First, the Team (1st and 2nd Varsity plus Freshman boats at a minimum) takes a three-day trip to Philadelphia, PA for the Stotesbury Cup Regatta on the Schuylkill River. Second, qualifying boats (based on final standings from the Virginia Championships) have the opportunity to compete on a national level at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America Championships which will be held this year in Oakridge, Tennessee. What is NCASRA? NCASRA stands for National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association. This is an organization comprised of public and private schools from Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties in Virginia as well as schools from Maryland and the District. NCASRA sponsors the spring regattas as well as sets forth the governing rules of the member schools. How much does it cost to join crew? Membership is comprised of three elements: Booster Fee, Spring Dues, and Fundraising Support. It is necessary for each crew member and family to vigorously participate in all three areas in order for our sport to run smoothly, efficiently, and ensure growth. For the most recent year the fees were as follows: The Booster Fee was $50.00 per family; a one-time charge each year when you sign up for the sport. The Spring Dues were $400.00 per student crew member payable prior to the end of February. The Fundraising Support for new rowers was $668.00, payable in two installments. The fundraising support figure can be raised entirely by the rower (and family members) taking an active part in the many fundraisers held by the team throughout the school calendar year; not just during the spring competitive season. If you plan to join the WS Crew Team, then start participating in our fundraising activities. The additional help is always welcome. Last year, 18 of the rowers earned their entire fundraising support amount by their participation in fundraisers. Refer to the WS Rowing Fee Summary (link provided above) and fundraising events for more information. Why does crew cost so much? The WS Crew Team does not receive funds from either the Fairfax County School System or our own West Springfield High School Booster Club like other sports. It is actually listed as a "club" sport; however, we follow all rules and regulations of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) and West Springfield High School. All of the expenses involved for the Team as a whole and for each individual rower must be paid for by the crew members. Due to the nature of the sport, the majority of the funds collected are used to provide the team with a competent coaching staff and safe, effective equipment. A smaller portion of operating costs is insurance, regatta entry fees, boat storage, administrative expenses, etc. The commitment of time and energy that is required by our coaching staff is tremendous. They conduct winter workouts and spring season practices Monday through Friday and attend the regattas which usually take up most of their Saturdays. The WS Crew recognizes that coaches are key in providing an atmosphere that is safe and conductive to the development of a competitive team. Equipment, including boats, oars, launches (plus motors and gasoline), cox boxes, the boat trailer, etc., must be kept in good working order to ensure integrity of performance and safety for the rowers. While rowing is not considered a dangerous sport, rowers do compete in many conditions that could be hazardous if equipment were not in good working order. Also, purchase of equipment is quite expensive. For example, and eight-person boat is $28,500, a set of eight oars is $2,100, and a cox box (voice amplifier used by the coxswain) is $700. Should I enroll in local rowing programs? We highly encourage all rowers to take part in summer and fall rowing programs since the more training you accomplish in the off season means the less training that has to be done in season. This allows the coaches to concentrate with the rowers on technique rather than fundamentals. There are many novice and intermediate rowing programs offered throughout the area. The following websites provide information about various camps and programs that are available: www.ncasra.org (under rowing programs), www. roninracing.com (under clubs & programs or camps & clinics), and www.tcwcrew.org/odbc/odbc.html. |
| Updated May 7, 2008 |