2009 UVRF Sweep Programs

• About Sweep Rowing
• Registration, Payment and Cancellation Policy
• Program Descriptions

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 Information.

We use the Dartmouth rowing facilities, which are at the far end of the parking lot just on the Hanover side of the Ledyard Bridge. There are no shower or changing facilities. Porta-potties are available.

UVRF is grateful to Dartmouth College for their support of our community program and for allowing is to use their facilities. We ask all coaches and participants to respect Dartmouth’s rules regarding use of their facilities. Reserved parking spaces and no-parking zones are clearly marked. The club does not have access to the Friends of Dartmouth Rowing Boathouse, and we are asked not to store personal belongings under the overhang in front of the boathouse.

Registration and Payment

Payment: Full payment of program fees is required at the time of registration. Our online registration service accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. You may also elect to have the payment deducted directly from your bank account.

For programs lasting more than 5 weeks, you may make the payment in two installments. There will be an additional $10 processing charge for this service, due to the additional fees charged to the club for providing this service. This fee will be added to your invoice when you register.

We will still accept payments by check, however there will be an additional $10 processing charge. This fee will be added to your invoice when you register.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel more than 7 days prior to the start of a program you will be issued a refund of your program fees, less a $30 non-refundable processing fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellation in the 7 days prior to the start of the program, or once the program has started.

If the coach determines that a rower's skill level is not appropriate for the class they have enrolled in, the rower will be offered the opportunity to switch to a class that is more suited to their ability.  Fees will be adjusted if there is a difference in price between the two classes, but no refund offered.

Missed Classes: The nature of sweep rowing requires reliable participation to allow everyone to row. Unfortunately, we cannot issue refunds for missed classes. Program fees will not be prorated to accommodate anticipated absences or vacations. Please inform your coach ahead of time if you have to miss a practice , so that he or she can plan lineups accordingly.

UVRF Annual Regatta and Barbeque

Mark your calendars!

On Thursday, August 6th we will hold our annual club barbeque at the boathouse with food, fun mixed-boat sweep races, general merriment and socializing. Please mark your calendar when you sign up and plan on joining us. Family members are welcome, too!

If you have any questions regarding the sweep programs, please email Heidi Lange (programming director): lange.heidik@gmail.com

SPRING ROWING
(Co-ed)

This class is geared toward rowers with Level II Club or Competitive rowing experience (see descriptions below) and will focus on fine tuning the rowing stroke through technical drills.

• May 18– June 12 (4 weeks)
• 5:45 - 7:15am
• Monday/Wednesday/Friday
• Coach: Rowan Carroll
• $320.00 + annual membership dues

All programs require annual membership in addition to the program fees. Annual membership includes access to UVRF singles and doubles.
CLICK HERE FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM REGISTRATION

NOVICE
(Co-ed)

No pre-requisite

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. Students will learn boat-handling skills, water safety, and will be introduced to the basics of rowing technique in a small group setting.

This class is designed for participants who have never rowed on the water. (This would be the appropriate place for those who have rowed in Dartmouth’s FLIP tank program to begin.) Group size is limited to 20 rowers.

• June 16 – July 23 (6 weeks)
• 6:15 – 7:30am
• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
• Coach: Carin Reynolds
• $360.00 + annual membership dues

All programs require annual membership in addition to the program fees. Annual membership includes access to UVRF singles and doubles.
CLICK HERE FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM REGISTRATION

Club Rowing
(Co-ed)  

Pre-requisite: Completion of UVRF Novice (previously called Learn to Row) class or prior rowing experience at the collegiate or club level. 

All participants in Club Rowing classes will sign up for the Club Rowing program and then be assessed by a group of coaches at the beginning of the session to determine placement in one of two levels. Class placement for all participants will depend upon many factors including the overall composition of the Club Rowing group for the session. The goal of placements and boatings will be to offer participants the best rowing experience possible, with a focus on individual skill development.

The design of the Club Rowing program allows for some fluidity between the two levels. Coaches may choose to shift rowers between the two groups throughout the session to either fill seat vacancies or to address specific areas of individual rower development based upon daily practice goals. Rowers will occasionally be offered the opportunity to ride in the coaching launch as this is an invaluable teaching tool.

Club Rowing I 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.

Club Rowing II is designed for the advanced level rower who has a full command of the sport. Club II rowers will have a solid grasp of rowing fundamentals and desire a more structured training regimen.  Rowing technique will be fine tuned through technical drills and coaching feedback.  As training will aim to increase strength and endurance, rowers in this class should be capable of rowing at a stroke rate of at least 30 spm (strokes per minute) and completing workouts of 6-8 miles in a typical practice.  Club Rowing II participants will be offered the opportunity to compete at select races that the club attends. Because race fees are not included in the Club Rowing program fee, rowers will be responsible for paying their share of the race costs if they choose to compete. Entry fees are usually nominal when divided amongst all rowers in a boat.

• June 22 – August 14 (8 weeks)
• 6:00 – 7:15am
• Monday/Wednesday/Friday
• Coach: Liz Harrison (Club I) & Emerson Curry (Club II)
• $390.00 + annual membership dues

All programs require annual membership in addition to the program fees. Annual membership includes access to UVRF singles and doubles.
CLICK HERE FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM REGISTRATION