New Parent Corner
We know it can be overwhelming...we are hoping this information will help answer some of the questions you may have. Additional questions or comments may be directed to our Commodore, Irena Reynolds at lmhsca@gmail.com.
1. Communication
To receive communication on team activities, you must register for our TeamSnap site. Send an e-mail to Irena Reynolds at lmhsca@gmail.com and she will send you an invitation to join the team site. Parents and students who use Facebook should "like" our Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/LMSDCREW
2. Fall Practice: Begins in September. Practices will be Tuesday through Saturday for Girl and Boy rowers with experience (1 season) at Hines Rowing Center, 801 Washington Street, Conshohocken, PA (directions below). Bus service not available for the fall season but parents pitch in for carpooling. For details, please attend our Fall Crew Kick-off Meeting typically held the first week of school at Lower Merion High School. New to rowing? We often host a learn-to-row program in the fall for individuals interested in developing rowing skills and want to join the team in the spring season. Please email us at lmhsca@gmail.com to inquire about the learn-to-row program.
3. Winter Workouts: Returning rowers begin winter workouts in December to stay in shape for the spring season. Freshman/Novice Winter workouts begin in January.
4. Spring Practice: The Spring Crew Kick off meeting is typically held in early January, just after school resumes from winter break. The full team on water practices begins in March at the Hines Rowing Center, 801 Washington Street, Conshohocken, PA (directions below). Bus transportation to and from practice is provided during the week and leaves Lower Merion High School 30 minutes before practice time and returns approximately 30 minutes after practice ends. Your child will be tired and hungry, which is a good thing, so it really is important to have gotten homework done as much as possible before practice.
There is NO bus for Saturday practice and transportation should be arranged by parents. Carpools are encouraged. Reach out to other parents in your area - you don't want to be driving every day back and forth!! Students may (and are encouraged) to stay after school and study with other crew members. This helps them to get homework done before practice. There should be a copy of any necessary book in the Help Center at school which is open until 4:30 pm each day.
5. Eating and drinking for practice:
Bring a reusable water bottle to every practice. The Rowing Center does not allow plastic one-use bottles on campus.
A pre-practice snack should be eaten not less than 1 hour before practice but not more than 3 hours before practice. Snacks should be small, easy to digest, contain carbohydrates, be relatively low in fiber and be low in fat (and grease). Individual athletes differ in what their bodies can handle before and during a workout so remember that this list is in no way complete. Some ideas include: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, apple and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, small bowl of cereal and reduced fat milk, yogurt, banana and a granola bar, toast and jelly, string cheese and grapes, a few whole-grain crackers, small bagel and cream cheese. Avoid eating full meals or sugary snacks like donuts and candy before practice.
6. Regattas
LM Crew is a club sport and highly dependent on parent participation. Parents provide food for regattas, spirit dinners, and events as well as volunteer their time to set-up, organize and take-down the team tent at regattas and help out at fundraising events. Watch for our invitations to support our team from the volunteer coordinator, .
There will be a spirit dinner on Saturday night previous to each regatta. Spirit dinners are hosted by an athlete's family in their home. Each week an email will be sent with time and location as well as directions to the dinner. Students will be assigned a "type" of food contribution to bring such as drink, appetizer or dessert.
Regattas are generally on Sundays and families should hold the entire day for the race. Your student's race can begin as early as 8am and as late as 4pm and the schedule is not announced until 1 - 2 days prior to the race.
Athletes will need to arrive at the river 2 hours prior to their race time in order to prepare the boat, get their boat in the water, warm up and get in line at the start. AGAIN....carpool the students to the race!
With the exception of Cooper Cup Regatta and US Rowing Midatlantic Jr. District Championships, all races will take place on the Schuykill River along Kelly Drive. Students should be dropped off at the point which Kelly Drive is blocked off to traffic and walk down to the Canoe Club where the LMHS Crew trailer will be located. There is no bus transportation for regattas.
There will be a tent for LM Crew friends, families and athletes available throughout the day where you can always find someone to talk to while waiting for the race (if you are lucky someone with binoculars!) and plenty of food and drink to sustain you during the time you choose to enjoy the riverside! The LMHS tent is located at the river side in the center of the parking lot just up river from the finish line which is the Grand Stands. This is a great location because we can watch the push to the end and that is often very close and exciting! Like any other spectator sport, it is not mandatory for parents to come to every race....but it sure is nice to have a group cheering the boats on as they go by. Please consider stopping by for as little or as long as you'd like.
Food at the tent is supplied in part by parents, athletes, and LM Crew Association. We always have grilled hamburgers, veggie burgers and hot dogs provided by the Association. Athletes and parents are asked to bring healthy food items to supplement the grilling.
Parking for spectators is limited on Kelly Drive by permit only. These are few and far between and will be reserved for those parents who will need to get down to the tent with the food trailer or tent equipment. Otherwise, parking is ample up in Fairmount Park - turn up into the park where Kelly Drive is blocked and you will see parking up on Strawberry Hill - there are parking fees associated with most lots. There is usually a trolley that you can catch down to Kelly Drive or if the weather is nice it is always a nice walk. Plan accordingly to be there in plenty of time to catch the race!!
7. Helpful Rowing Websites
Here is a list of websites that provide more information on the sport of rowing both in the US and the Philadelphia area.
row2k.com - essentially a list of links referencing news from around the rowing world divided into categories but it also includes articles, pictures, and general information
usrowing.org - dedicated to the governing body of rowing in the US. Includes photos, information, frequently asked questions
phillyflicks.com - website dedicated to the governing body of High School rowing in the Philadelphia area
http://www.boathouserow.org/ - provides general information from the governing body, the Schuylkill Navy, of rowing in Philadelphia
http://www.whitemarshboatclub.com/ - general information regarding the site of on the water practice for Lower Merion Crew
LM Crew Association is 501C(3) Non Profit organization.
We are always looking for volunteers to help organize and run the many activities throughout the season. If there is something you are interested in be sure to let someone know. We can always use more "hands on deck". Volunteer!