2011 UVRF Sweep Programs

About Sweep Rowing

UVRF offers a complete progression of sweep rowing classes. Many of our competitive team began rowing in UVRF learn-to-row classes! We also have members who choose not to compete but who sweep row every year in our club rowing program. Rowing is a team sport from the first day of class. An 8+ is both a very heavy and a very fragile boat. Without all 8 boat members listening and responding to the coxswain or coach, the boat cannot move safely from the rack, to the dock, to the water, and back up again at the end of practice. Those students who are new to the sport may notice a distinct difference from the straightforward 'fee-for-service' which you might find when you engage a personal trainer, or sign up for tennis lessons. Even at a beginner's level, the sport of sweep rowing functions as a team, rather than as a class.

Rowing an 8 person shell requires 8 rowers! While an unanticipated absence may occasionally warrant an 8 launching with 7 rowers, we do our best to make sure that the class has sufficient rowers signed up to allow some flexibility due to normal summer scheduling issues. Each rower is responsible for informing his coach about any absences, whether anticipated or last minute. In order to assure 16 rowers, we enroll 18-20 students per class. On occasion, your coach may ask you to ride in the launch for part of a practice. This is a common practice in every rowing club, and an excellent learning opportunity as well. Your coach will keep track of who rides in the launch so that the opportunity is shared amongst the class.

We do row in the rain (honestly, you don't notice it after a few minutes!), but we do NOT launch in lightning, and we may delay or scrub a launch due to high winds, heavy fog, or other adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately, we do not refund for bad weather or pro-rate for vacations, since we still pay our instructors and coxswains on those occasions.

All students must be members of UVRF, which includes a yearly membership fee, liability waiver, and swim test. We recommend that all students watch the US Rowing safety video before rowing each season. While rowing can be a sport suited for all ages and abilities, on rare occasion it may become evident to an instructor that a student is unable to participate without compromising the safety of either himself or others. Should this situation occur, the student will receive a complete refund. For additional information on safety guidelines for the sport of rowing, please refer to USRowing Safety Guidelines.

Novice (Co-ed)
Coaches: Heidi Lange and Erika Dade

June 21 – July 22 (5 weeks)
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday
5:45-7:15 am
$235.00 on or before June 13
$265.00 on or after June 14

Group size is limited to 20 rowers. (Minimum enrollment: 10)

In sweep rowing each rower holds one oar; this demands great concentration and teamwork to achieve the timing, synchronization and grace that characterizes this sport. Early on in this program, participants will learn boat-handling skills, water safety, and will be introduced to the basics of rowing technique in a small group setting. The latter part of the session will focus on building and improving fundamental aspects of the rowing stroke as well as increasing fitness and strength. Drills will be aimed at improving concentration, timing, balance, and teamwork, allowing for better power application to the rowing stroke.

There is no pre-requisite for this program. Rowers sometimes choose to complete a second session of Novice rowing before progressing to Club Rowing or to sculling. This decision can be guided by conversations with the coach and the programming director. Any returning rowers may join the group starting at week two of the program. The first week of the program will be spent indoors in the Dartmouth rowing tanks at Alumni Gym, which allows for accelerated learning of the rowing stroke, and more intensive coaching and teaching of drills and fundamentals that will be used on the water.

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NOVICE 2/CLUB ROWING (Co-ed)
Coach: Liz Harrison

July 26-August 5 (2 weeks)
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday
5:45-7:15 am
$100.00

Group size is limited to 20 rowers. (minimum enrollment: 10)

This program is a 2-week extension of the 2011 Novice Rowing program, open to novice and club sweep rowers.   This recreational program will focus on building and improving fundamental aspects of the rowing stroke as well as increasing fitness and strength.   Drills will be aimed at improving concentration, timing, balance, and teamwork, allowing for better power application to the rowing stroke.

Boats and lineups in this co-ed program are dependent on the size of the roster and attendance each morning, and may include eights and fours.  Rowers may occasionally (based on attendance) spend half of a practice in the coach’s launch and get switched into the boat.  This rotation, commonly employed in sweep rowing programs, will be shared equally among all participants, allowing everyone to go on the water each practice regardless of daily attendance and affording rowers a unique learning opportunity.

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Club Rowing (Co-ed)
Coach: Chuck Nagle

June 28 – August 19 (8 weeks)
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday
5:45-7:15 am
$370.00 on or before June 20
$420.00 on or after June 21

Group size is limited to 20 rowers. (minimum enrollment: 10)

Pre-requisite: One to two sessions of Novice rowing experience.

Club rowing is a step up from our Novice program (participants should have one to two sessions of novice rowing experience) and is designed for rowers seeking a solid skills foundation and fitness opportunity in a recreational setting. It also aims to support the development of rowers progressing to either competitive sweep rowing or sculling.

This recreational program will focus on building and improving fundamental aspects of the rowing stroke as well as increasing fitness and strength. Drills will be aimed at improving concentration, timing, balance, and teamwork, allowing for better power application to the rowing stroke.

Boats and lineups in this co-ed program are dependent on the size of the roster and attendance each morning, and will include eights and fours. Rowers may occasionally (based on attendance) spend half of a practice in the coach’s launch and get switched into the boat. This rotation, commonly employed in sweep rowing programs, will be shared equally among all participants, allowing everyone to go on the water each practice regardless of daily attendance and affording rowers a unique learning opportunity.

Depending on interest, participants may have an opportunity to attend a local regatta.

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Competitive Master’s Sweep Rowing (Women and Men)
Coach: Thom Collins and Chuck Nagle

June 13 – August 12 (9 weeks)
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday
5:30-7:15 am
$535 on or before June 6
$585 on or after June 7

Register for Summer

Fall Competitive
Coach: Jason Cottingham
August 29 – October 21 (9 weeks)
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
5:30-7:15 am
$635.00 on or before August 22
$685.00 on or after August 23

Register for Fall

Minimum enrollment: 10
Maximum enrollment: 28

Pre-requisite: Completion of at least one full season of Club Rowing or previous competitive rowing experience, in conjunction with instructor recommendation and acceptance by the coach.

This program is designed for experienced rowers and will focus on competitive training and racing. Rowers will train to compete at sprint distances in the summer (2000 meters in Open categories, 1000 meters in Masters) and head race distances in the fall (approximately 5000 meters). Competitive rowers should have a good base of aerobic fitness and are expected to be available to race at a majority of the regattas that the club attends. The club typically competes in at least 3 regattas during the summer session and 4 regattas in the fall. Competitive coaches may use seat racing or erg tests.

One of the goals of the competitive program is to foster a successful team environment. The coaches strive to create line-ups that honor the competitive goals of the program, at the same time providing a racing experience for all rowers. Race line-ups will be drawn from session participants, with the goal of making the fastest possible line-ups for those available to race. During pre-race weeks, particularly during the fall season, rowers who are not able to attend an upcoming regatta may be asked to row with others who are also unable to attend or as subs to allow racing boats time to practice with their race line-ups. The coach, with the intent of making each experience positive and competitive, will determine line-ups and race entries.

The competitive program includes our Masters Women’s and Men’s teams. We aim to avoid rowing mixed boats in practice; however, there are occasions when this cannot be avoided due to attendance. The number of rowers and boats on the roster will determine the number of coaches.

We are always interested in expanding our team and we welcome new members. Please talk with the coach or programming director if you are interested!

Junior Novice (Co-ed) for ages 13-22
Coach: Thom Collins
July 5 – July 9 (5 days)
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday
7:30-9:30 am
$120

Minimum enrollment: 8
Maximum enrollment: 18

This 1-week introduction to rowing is for juniors who have no previous rowing experience.

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Junior Technique and Fitness (Co-ed) for ages 13-22
Coach: Thom Collins
July 11 – July 15 (5 days)
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
7:30-9:30 am
$120

Minimum enrollment: 8
Maximum enrollment: 18

This 1-week technical program is for juniors who have at least one year (or a novice season) of rowing experience. The focus will be on advancement of technical skills through drills as well as fitness rowing longer pieces.

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Junior Racing (Co-ed) for ages 13-22
Coach: Kevin Cotter

July 18 – July 23 (6 days)
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday + Saturday race at a New England regatta
7:30-9:30 am
$150

Minimum enrollment: 8
Maximum enrollment: 26

This 1-week racing program is for juniors who have at least one year (or novice season) of rowing experience who want to prepare for a culminating sprint race at a regional regatta on Saturday. The focus will be on race technique and fitness.

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Junior Rowing (Co-ed) for ages 13-22
Coach: Chuck Nagle

June 27 – August 12 (7 weeks)
Monday/Thursday
5:40 -7:15 am
$250.00

Minimum enrollment: 10
Maximum enrollment: 28

This seasonal program is designed for juniors (ages 13-22) who have at least one year (or a novice season) or rowing experience.  The focus will be on advancement of technical skills through drills as well as fitness.

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Junior Rowing (Co-ed) for ages 13-22 Fall Session
Coach: Chuck Nagle

Sept 7 - Oct 15 (6 Weeks)
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
5:30 -7:00 am
$275.00
Chieftan Motor Inn rowing dock (parking available at motel)

Maximum enrollment : 27

Looking for more time on the water?  Have you read Outliers?  Get in your 10,000 strokes by taking advantage of this 6-week fall program offered to experienced rowers. You must be committed to rowing for the 6 week session.

Have some fun while becoming a more effective rower. Some of each practice will be devoted to technique work (skill and drill), the rest will be mostly aerobic conditioning mixed with some speed work (higher stroke ratings) with the goal of preparing for 3-mile head races. Bring your questions and a positive attitude.  

Two or three race opportunities, including an inaugural Juniors-only head race hosted by Concord High School, and concluding with NH Championships, Saturday Oct 16th.  

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