Fall Rowing

BLOOD STREET SCULLS FALL COMPETITIVE PROGRAM FOR JUNIORS

The Old Lyme Rowing Association is pleased to offer junior rowing to Southeastern CT once again this fall! The Juniors will train and compete for approximately eight weeks under the direction of Head Coach and Program Manager Paul Fuchs, who has been working with our Juniors for the past years and has been is a former Olympic and National Team Coach.

This is a training and racing program and does not include a ‘learn-to-row’ component. Juniors participating in this program must have previously participated in a competitive program (i.e. High School spring crew or BSS summer competitive juniors) and be proficient in sweep and sculling, and ready to train to race.

General

In the fall, the competitive program is offered for junior rowers with practice beginning September 6. The program is open to young athletes interested in improving their rowing technique and fitness. Athletes should be committed to training and racing at a high level. Afternoon practice for crews enrolled in the Competitive program is five days/week. Rowers will have the opportunity to train and race in a combination of sweep and sculling boats. At the beginning of the program a Commitment Survey will be sent out to ask which regattas each rower will be attending.

Athlete Profile:
In order to participate each athlete must:

  • Be a high school student entering grades 9-12, or with the approval of the head coach
  • Pass a swim test which includes treading water for 10 minutes, swimming 100 yards using any stroke, and swimming underwater for 10 feet
  • Have previous rowing / coxing experience in either a high school varsity, club, or novice competitive rowing program

Program Goals:
The Blood Street Fall Competitive Program will focus on development towards competitive excellence. In order to reach this goal, we will develop proper technique using drills and exercises, promote teamwork, teach racing preparation and strategy, and conduct a comprehensive training program. It is expected that athletes participating in the program will adhere to the guidelines, attend practice regularly and take instruction and direction from coaches.

Athletes will also learn about proper equipment care and basic rigging.  All rowers will have the opportunity to race and train in a combination of sweep and sculling boats, both large and small. OLRA is very fortunate to have a large inventory of both sweep and sculling boats that we make available to the juniors.

Practice Schedule:
The Competitive program will train Monday through Friday, from 2:45-5pm. Old Lyme students may ride the school bus to the boathouse for practice. It is expected that athletes will be on time and prepared for the start of practice.

Racing Schedule:
Events we are considering for the fall are below. Once posted and the program starts we will ask for preliminary commitments to our final schedule of regattas. Regatta fees are an additional cost. There will be a commitment  survey put out at the start of the season and approximate costs will be included.

We generally attend Riverfront, NEIRA, Charles, Fish and, new this year the CRI Fall Classic.

16 SEP         Cambridge, MA              CRI Fall Classic

1 OCT          Hartford, CT                    Riverfront Regatta

8 OCT           Worcester, MA                NEIRA Junior Regatta

21-22 OCT    Boston, MA                      Head of the Charles

29 OCT        Saratoga, NY                   Head of the Fish


Program Dates and Cost:

Program begins September 6 and ends October 30.

The Competitive program is $450.

The fee does not include regatta fees for entries, trailer costs, food and travel.

Coxwains pay half the standard fee (use “Fall Junior Coxwain”)  but pay the full standard share of regatta fees.