The Open Rowing Program encompasses rowers with many different skill and fitness levels, as well as different goals. All rowers in the open rowing program will receive dedicated coaching for improvement in rowing technique as well as personal fitness.

Open rowers can practice at their convenience throughout the season, though AARC encourages all rowers to commit to row on a regular basis to gain the physical fitness and skill needed to experience the most enjoyment from the sport of rowing.

Participation

The Open Rowing program is available to all rowers who have consistently demonstrated the appropriate rowing ability and fitness level to advance beyond the BSD program. Most novice rowers will not reach this level until their second full season of rowing.

Participation of a given individual in the Open Rowing program is at the discretion of the coaching staff, which carries out the program guidelines established by the AARC board. The coaching staff strives to work with all participants to place them in the most appropriate program for their individual needs and abilities. At any point in the season, the coaching staff may approach an individual to discuss the need for the individual to move into another more appropriate program.

Practice

Open Rowing practice is available during morning, evening, and weekend rowing times. 

Practice times may vary with available daylight at the discretion of the Safety Committee; please see the Club Calendar for current practice times.

Practices are structured around a weekly mix of workouts focused on technique and on fitness, in a way that ensures both consistency and challenging workouts, while still preserving Open Rowing's accessibility to a wide range of levels of skill and commitment.

Coaching

Open rowing practices are coached by a group of coaches who work together to follow a consistent training program and promote a standard general model for technique.

See the Open Rowing Training page for more information on workouts.

Line-ups for Evening Practice

Open Rowing's evening practices work best when all boats are constructed by the coaches, as this allows the coaching staff to create an environment that is beneficial to all rowers. Set boats will not be allowed, except when formed by coaches as part of regatta preparation.

Starting in May, three evenings each week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) will be designated as Program nights. On these nights the coaches will prioritize the formation of boats to ensure that each program can row with members of the same program, and complete the workout for that day. Depending on the number of rowers present, Open Rowing members may be asked to row in the ITP boats, or conversely, extra ITP members may be asked to row with the Open rowing boats. On the remaining two evenings of the week and Saturdays, the Open Rowing and ITP programs will be mixed into line-ups for rows, with no distinction between the two groups. The coaches always retain the option of placing Open Rowing members in a Basic Skills program boat either due to the number of rowers present or a need for technical improvement. It should be noted again that preference will be towards rowing in program specific lineups and mixing cannot necessarily be expected. Coaches will try to limit mixing on the program nights.

Check-in: Rowers must check in for practice no later than 5 minutes before the start of practice to allow the coaches time to form line-ups for a timely start to practice. Rowers who arrive late will be fit into boats as possible, but may not have an opportunity to row.

Formation of line-ups: Line-ups for evening Open Rowing practices are made by the assigned coach for that practice. The coach uses a variety of factors to determine the line-ups, including (but not limited to) requirements of the workout, appropriate coach to rower ratios, rowing side preference, and ability. On any given evening, the boat lineups must take into consideration the total number of rowers in all programs that are present. It is occasionally necessary for coaches to ask rowers to fill out boats in other programs to ensure a proper rowing experience for all members.

Line-ups for Morning Practice

Morning Open Rowing practices are for set boats only, and as such rowers will need to coordinate in advance to be sure there will be enough rowers present. To begin rowing in the mornings, (see Calendar for Morning Open days) or contact the morning program assistant at info@a2crew.com.

Regattas

Participating and training for regattas is not a requirement to participate in Open Rowing. However, it is recognized that many members will desire to compete in regattas, and therefore practices may be adjusted to reflect training for specific regattas.

For local and regional regattas that AARC attends as a club, the regatta committee will announce deadlines for interest sign-up for the specific regattas. Any AARC member from any program interested in participating in a given regatta can sign up. The coaching staff will then create line-ups from interested rowers, based on events available, number of events desired, and skill level. Set boats are allowed to enter regattas, but rowers are encouraged to try the system of coach-created lineups to maximize success of the boats in competition.

For regional and national competitive regattas, try-outs are organized and run by the coaching staff. The coaches strive to send as many boats as possible to a given regatta and to accommodate all interested rowers in the line-ups. Procedures for try-outs are publicized to all club members well in advance. AARC recognizes there are many different methods to training and conditioning for rowing; therefore, try-outs for these regattas are open to any rower in AARC, regardless of their program participation. Final selection for the line-ups is the decision of the coaching staff. Practice schedules for these boats are set once the crew is selected. These boats practice frequently (3-5 times per week) and require a certain level of commitment. The coaches and rowers work together to select practice times that allow the entire boat to practice together, meaning that some practices may be held at non-standard times. 

Equipment

The Open Rowing Program uses all club sweep equipment. Boat usage assignments are made by the coach at each practice and are worked out with the coaches of the other program, to best utilize the equipment for the size/ability of the rowers and coxswains at any given practice. See the Equipment page for more information on AARC equipment and procedures.

Coxing

All members of the Open Rowing program are required to take part in coxing duties, and must comply with the coxing requirement and schedule. The coxing coordinator keeps track of coxing duties in order to distribute them as evenly as possible.

Fees

Annual Membership Fee = $50 (paid by all club members)

Open Rowing fee for Full Rowing Season = $400
Open Rowing fee for April = $55
Open Rowing fee for May = $55
Open Rowing fee for June = $69
Open Rowing fee for July = $69
Open Rowing fee for August = $69
Open Rowing fee for September = $58
Open Rowing fee for October/November = $58

Monthly Club Sculling Increment = $15

Registration

Registration for AARC Membership and all AARC programs must be done through the SPORG online membership registration system. The appropriate SPORG forms can be accessed by clicking the red "Register" buttons on each page.

Registration for AARC membership and registration for individual adult rowing programs must now be done on separate forms. Every rower (except for participants in learning programs) myst complete the Membership Form and pay the Membership fee once a year. Every rower must then complete the forms for the programs that he or she wants to participate in for the appropriate months or season. Please pay as many fees as possible using one SPORG "basket;" this minimizes our administrative costs, and we can pass the savings on to you.

PLEASE NOTE: All rowers are required to pass a swim test, which must be signed by a Red Cross certified lifeguard or swim instructor. This is standard policy for USRowing affiliated clubs. The test must be completed by ALL rowers BEFORE getting into a boat. Details available on the Swim Test Page.

If you have registration questions, please email info@a2crew.com.

Return to top