Time Commitment:
Just as with school-sponsored sports, rowing is a considerable time commitment for both the athletes and families. • Practice is five days a week (approximately 2 hours/day), and attendance is required for all practices and regattas. Regattas (4-5) are scheduled on weekends throughout the season and require a full day (or two) commitment at the regatta site. Rowing is not like other sports. If a rower is missing, it not only affects the line-up of their boat, but has a related effect on the other boats and the entire team. Rowers are dependent on the attendance of the other rowers - when team members are missing, late for practice or leave early, the team’s ability to perform and possibly the health and safety of the other athletes may be compromised.
• Participating in multiple time-intensive activities – such as drama, dance and music programs, Scouts and even Drivers Ed – is not impossible while rowing, but requires special motivation and commitment. Think carefully of all commitments at home, school and other areas of your athlete’s life before he/she joins Pittsford Crew.
• The physical demands of rowing and potential for injury preclude concurrent participation in any other sport.
• Serious consideration should be given as to whether the necessary time commitment can be made before registering. Consequences of missing practices/regattas are determined at the discretion of the coaches. Rowing has two primary seasons: Spring (March-June) and Fall (August-November). Winter conditioning is highly recommended by our coaches for all athletes not participating in a winter sport.
Financial/Volunteer Commitment:
• Program fees, travel expenses and parent expenses will exceed $1000 per year with travel costs, uniforms, etc. if the rower participates in both of the seasons. Athletes and their parents also participate in a fundraiser each season to support our equipment fund, which repairs and replaces old/damaged equipment. This is necessary because the cost of this equipment is not covered by our program fees.
• Since we are a volunteer-run club sport, parents are also required to assist during the season with fundraising, regattas and other committees. In order to run a safe, fun and competitive program, we depend on the support of all of our families. If you are interested in rowing and can make the necessary commitment, check out our Registration page for more details. For health, safety and liability reasons, there are a number of required forms that must be completed and received before an athlete will be allowed on the water. All of these are found on our web site under the Forms tab. Payment also must be received by the first day of practice before an applicant can participate in tryouts. If you have questions or concerns about the above, do not contact the Registrar. Please direct those questions first to the coaches:
Code Of Conduct and Attendance Policy
Participation in athletics is both a privilege and a responsibility. Athletes earn recognition for their achievements as representatives of their school, team, and the community. When an athlete accepts the privilege, he/she must live up to a code of conduct beyond that of the general high school student. As a prerequisite for participation in the Pittsford Crew, athletes and parents must review a statement that commits the athlete to follow the established training rules and requires parents to do everything in their power to make sure their athlete abides by the established Athletic Code of Conduct. The current Pittsford Crew Code of Conduct and Attendance Policy are available separately as well as in the Team Handbook located under the
Forms link on the Main page of our website.
Spring Program
Our Spring Program begins in mid-March indoors and concludes with our exciting Pittsford Regatta. Practices are moved to the canal as soon as possible in late April. Our Novice and Varsity teams participate in a number of near and far Regattas (Henley or Match type races) and Scrimmages. Our big overnight is to Saratoga in May for the State Championships!
Fall Program
Our Fall Program begins the last week of August and concludes with our chilly, yet popular Pull the Plug Regatta in early November. Regattas and scrimmages are “Head Races” where boats race the clock one by one. Varsity and ready Novice boats participate in near and far Regattas. There is always one overnight regatta in the Albany area. Select Varsity boats also travel to the Head of the Charles in Boston.
Again this year we plan on offering a Fall session of our Learn to Row Program.
Summer Programs
Learn to Row
2012 will mark our 12th summer of rowing instruction for youth on the Erie Canal. This beginner program is open to all students entering grades 8 - 12 in the fall to learn the sport of rowing. During the two-week session, rowers will learn safety procedures, rowing techniques on the ergometer, and will quickly progress to rowing on the water. Each session takes place either in the morning or afternoon and is limited to 32 participants. Each session ends in an exciting mini-Regatta where kids race each other on the final morning (Saturday) of camp. Learn to Row is a safe, well-supervised place where kids can quickly experience the thrill of rowing.
Look for Spring 2012 registration to begin after the first of the year. Sign up early to better ensure availability of a place in your first choice of sessions! Advanced Learn to Row
Advanced Learn to Row is a summer camp geared for teens to expand skills learned in Learn to Row. Students also participate in the mini-Regatta held on the final morning (Saturday) of camp. Advanced programs will run in the afternoon of sessions two and three. Intramural Program
Our intramural programs are designed for our Pittsford Crew Novice and Varsity athletes to hone their skills
during the summer in a less intense way than during a regular season. (For a more intense summer Program at the Novice and Varsity level, please see the Fairport Crew website.) Must be at either the Novice or Varsity level to participate. Each Session is two weeks in length. Maximum in each camp: 36.
Winter Programs
The Pittsford Crew offers winter conditioning opportunities to all
interested crew team members. Practices will consist of tank and
erg, and weight training at the Pittsford Indoor Rowing Center and
strength and conditioning training at a site to be determined. The
goal of Winter season is to keep rowers and coxswains not involved
in other sports in shape for the upcoming Spring season. We also
offer limited spots to students Grades 8-12 who have no experience
but wish to join Pittsford Crew in the Spring. Please review our
eligibility requirements. Registration is limited because of space
restrictions. Rochester Indoor Rowing Academy (RIRA)
Our RIRA Programs are highly successful and always oversubscribed! Our two Programs are open to all Rochester area High School aged rowers to develop skills for on and off the water mid-November through January. Both Programs are coached and supervised by Pittsford Crew coaches and are held at the PIRC late afternoon and early evenings.
Extreme Ergs:
A dynamic and highly competitive indoor rowing program for rowers. Improve cardiovascular ability, increase your strength, speed, stamina and position yourself for success in the upcoming spring sprint season. Erg workouts will emphasize technique and help you eliminate bad habits while optimizing your stroke and overall rowing potential.
The focus will be attending a select ergatta with the intent of having numbers available to collegiate programs (Ergatta fees separate and additional to tuition rate).
Strength and Endurance Training:
A program designed for rowers specifically targeting major muscle groups in order to improve strength on and off the water. High intensity exercises are designed to:
• improve powerful leg drives -- very important in making boats move!
• improve strength in the full back. This limits back injury, and helps with assertive finishes and serious Body-Prep Positions.
• improve shoulder (and back) strength for clean and aggressive catches.
• increase muscle endurance.
Click here for information and Registration for 2009. (Registration will open in the Fall.)
Junior National Team Testing
The US Junior National team is a great experience for racing, and broadening your rowing resume. It’s also the perfect opportunity for you to set and work towards your personal goals. See the Rowing 101 section for more information.
Interested in Adult Rowing Opportunities?
The Pittsford Crew offers rowing opportunities exclusively for scholastic rowers. If you are a college student or adult interested in rowing opportunities, you might wish to consider contacting Fairport Crew that runs an Adult Learn to Row Program (the latter needs a working link) and the
Genesee Waterways Center. For women, Adventure Out!, one of our sponsors, offers rowing opportunities as well. All are great programs, and many parents and adults in the community have take advantage of these. Interested in coaching? Contact us!
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