Villa Rowing FAQs

Who should row?

Anyone willing to work hard! No experience is neccesary. Most rowers start in highschool or college without any previous experience.

We are a sweep rowing team. There are two different positions in a sweep boat:

• Rower- someone willing to work hard and who wants to pursue their own fitness goals within the ultimate team setting. There are no superstars in rowing, you are as fast as the teammates in your boat. Rowing is a power/endurance sport so strength and fitness are key!
• Coxswain- offers a tremendous leadership opportunity, and a chance for someone who may have thought they were too small to participate in a sport. The coxswain is responsible for steering the boat, keeping the equipment and rowers safe, and executing the practice and race plans. Coxswains need to be confident, organized, and generally outgoing. It takes a unique set of social skills to be both a leader and a teammate.

What seasons do you row?

While you don't have to join the team for all three seasons, the yearly dues cover all three. We encourage multi-sport athletes. As a power-endurance sport, rowing will significantly increase your aerobic capacity and carries very little risk of injury since it is a non-contact sport.

Once at the JV/Varsity level we expect all our athletes to row in both the fall and winter seasons, unless they are doing another fall and/or winter sport. Staying in shape year-round is key to the success of a rower.

• Fall season- is traditionally a “training” season when rowers concentrate on technique and stamina. Races in the fall are typically called “Head” races and are longer distances than races in the Spring.
• Winter training- is a conditioning season when rowers concentrate on fitness and strength. We have access to ergometers (rowing machines) and weight lifting equipment. We will also participate in an indoor regatta, The Center City Slam.
• Spring season- spring boards off the preparation done in the fall and winter training and/or participation in other VMAHS sports teams in those seasons. Spring races are “sprint” races, usually 1500 meters or 2000 meters in length. The Spring season is also the time when the team typically competes, if qualified, in prestigious and competitive regattas such as the Philadelphia City Championships, USRowing Mid-Atlantic Championships, Stotesbury Cup, the Scholastic Rowing Association of America Championship, N.S.R.A. Championship and USRowing Youth National Championship.

When is Practice?

• During the Spring and Fall season, practices take place Tuesday through Friday after school, Saturdays, and Sundays that are not regatta days. There may be some Monday practices at the end of the Spring season due to regattas on a Saturday with the day off being Sunday and those will be announced to the athletes.
• During the Winter season, practices are voluntary. They begin for in December and run through to the beginning of the Spring Season. Practices are held afterschool on weekdays with times T.B.D. by the coaching staff. There are no practices held over the winter break holiday.

What is practice like?

During the Fall and Spring seasons, on-water practices are held at the Whitemarsh Boat Club at Hines Rowing Center in Conshohocken, PA. We row on the water most days. Practice is held in all weather. Should there be foul weather and it is not conducive to going out on the water, land practices may be held in that situation.

Winter workouts are held at Villa and consist of rowing on rowing machines, running, stairs, weight and body circuits and lifting.

Crew is unique in that there are a specific number of seats in each boat and when a seat goes unfilled it can mean that many other athletes are unable to practice. There are no sidelines and there is no bench, so athletes learn very quickly that they are very dependent on each other for their success and for their ability to even participate. Rowing is the ultimate team sport, and because of this we have fairly strict rules for attendance, especially in the spring.

What is the attendance requirement?

Practice is mandatory. Including Spring break for returning athletes and highly encouraged for novices.

Rowing is a team sport and the absence of even a single athlete impacts the entire boat and in turn the entire squad. This may mean that boat and/or an entire section of the team will not be able to go out on the water for practice if even one athlete is absent. It may also mean a boat may not race due to insufficient preparation.

• Athletes must attend practice prior to a regatta in order to be boated for that regatta, whether or not it is an excused absence (see attendance policy). This is at the discretion of the coaching staff.
• Coaches or the Athletic Director may impose a suspension, probation or dismissal from the team if there are issues with a student-athlete’s attendance.
• Student-athletes must attend school to participate in practice. See the Villa Athletic Handbook p.9.

Excused Absences:

• Excused absences are allowed in exceptional circumstances with approval from the coaching staff.
• It is the responsibility of the ATHLETE to contact their direct coach and CC the Head Coach, as far in advance as possible, to inform them of their inability to attend a practice and fill out the absence form.
• Sickness and injury require a note from a Doctor upon return to practice and athletes should immediately email the coaching staff to let them know of the absence and reason. If you are unable to participate in PE you are not permitted to practice.
• Mandatory academic requirements are excused. Notice must be given to the coaching staff PRIOR to the absence.
• Scholastic tests (SAT/ACT) are excused, however practice times will be adjusted so that those athletes will still practice those days. Please notify the coaching staff of the future absences so that practice schedules can be arranged.
• Please keep the regatta calendar in mind when scheduling because we do have regattas on Saturdays in May and June.

*Vacations are NOT exceptional circumstances.

*Although an absence may be excused, your seat in a boat may not be held for you.

Unexcused Absence:

• If the Head coach and the squad coach is not notified or considers an absence to be unexcused, then this may result in an athlete’s removal from a boat and/or removal from the team.
• Out of school sport participation, including private lessons shall not be permitted during scheduled practices and interscholastic events.

Parents: Please do not schedule doctor’s appointments, tutors, or anything else for your child during practice hours or on regatta days. We encourage you to schedule college visits during off seasons, any exceptional circumstances during the Fall and Spring seasons can be discussed with the coaching staff.

Can I do other activities and still row?

We want well-rounded athletes who excel on the water, in the classroom, and in life. As long as you plan ahead and communicate with your coach we can accommodate your schedule outside of rowing in the fall and winter. An activity that would keep you from attending the majority of practices would not be conducive to athlete development and would be disruptive to the team. However, the occasional club meeting, volunteer obligations, etc, can be accommodated.

In the spring rowing will be you number one priority over all other activities – we are a varsity level sport and expect a commitment to attend every practice and race.