What is Colby Crew?

Colby is proud to offer Rowing as Varsity Programs for both Men's and Women's teams. The teams operate as Division 3 teams that compete in the NESCAC and throughout the New England area. Rowing is a dual season sport, having both a dedicated fall and spring season.

Novice is a term used to describe one of our beginner rowers. Novices typically begin their first year at Colby, however we accept any grade level to our team. Rowing experience before Colby is not required, but some athletic experience is recommended. The best novices are the ones who are enthusiastic about joining and becoming a part of something bigger than themselves. Individuals who started as novices have gone on to become leaders on the team and campus, hold records for the team, become All-Americans, and represent the US on the international level.

Individuals who want to work hard, grow, have some fun, and learn. There's two main "positions" in the sport of rowing: rowers and coxswains.

• Rowers are pretty self explanatory- They're the ones doing the physical rowing of the boat. Typically we race in 8 person boats, but also have the capacity for 4-person, 2-person, and single person rowing. If getting in the best shape of your life while competing against some of the best collegiate rowing programs in the country sounds like fun, rowing might be for you.

• Coxswains are a different position-while the rowers are responsible for "the brawn," coxswains represent "the brains," of the teams. Usually small in physical size, they have a giant, commanding presence on the team; it's their job to steer the boats and strategize how get the most out of the rowers. Coxswains also give a unique opportunity for women to be on men's team. Currently the coxswains of Colby Men's Crew are women. If leadership comes natural and you like to solve puzzles and think on your feet-being a coxswain might be for you.

Novices start their journey separate from the returning athletes. Practices for novices are heavy skill focused, with physical conditioning coming into the picture later. Novice racing is a category, so for races in both the fall season and spring season a boat comprised of novices from Colby can (and often will) race against boats of novices from competitor schools. Novices who excel early can be moved up to the varsity squads through the fall. The novices who can succeed in the fall season and the winter training become full fledged Varsity for the spring, and can race where they best fit in the makeup of the team.