Club History and Structure

Cape Cod Rowing was formed in 1998 to offer youth and adult recreational and competitive rowing programs on Cape Cod. Over the past years CCR has been able to open the world of rowing to hundreds of youth and adults and create a positive experience for all participants through the hard work and dedication of its members! Cape Cod Rowing Inc. does not receive funding through the Barnstable School system or the Town of Barnstable. All support for Cape Cod Rowing programs is based on user fees (dues), fundraising and donations. The Club is run by a board of directors comprised of master’s rowers and parents. CCR is a 501(C)3 non-profit education corporation.

Board Meetings

Cape Cod Rowing holds monthly board meeting. All parents and students are encouraged to attend and become involved in supporting the youth and adult rowing programs. Without the support of the participants and families CCR would not be able to exist.

Website

The Cape Cod Rowing website is www.capecodrowing.org Please visit the site frequently to see what the club is involved in. We hope to have more and more information available on this site as time passes!

Dues Structure

Dues and Race fees paid each season cover the operational expenses of the youth program, including coaching, entry fees, gas, buses, boat transportation, insurance etc. Program fees are calculated prior to the start of each season. Fundraising is reserved for the purchase of capital equipment such as rowing shells, oars, cox-boxes etc. With a new top of a line 8 man rowing shell costing well over $30,000, it is clear that fundraising plays a vital role in providing students with safe, dependable, quality equipment in which to compete. CCR works hard to offer a quality program at a reasonable price in what has classically been a very expensive sport.

All dues must be paid in full before a rower will be allowed on the water!

Refund policy

Refunds will not be issued after the second week of water practice! Withdrawals prior to that time will be charged on a percentage basis.

Scholarships

Benefits of Rowing

Rowing is the ultimate team sport. It not only challenges rowers physically but mentally as well. Rowing combines power, endurance, coordination and teamwork to create the appearance of being simple and easy. In fact it is one of the most athletically challenging sports. It is a sport that demands perfection in the rowing stroke and an understanding of the physics behind the stroke. Rowing is considered one of the best all around workouts of any sport!!

On the collegiate level rowing is one of the oldest and most respected forms of athletic competition. High school rowing experience is highly sought after by college coaches of all levels. In the last few years CCR alumni have gone on to row at some of the top schools in the nation including Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Northeastern, University of Massachusetts, Connecticut College, WPI, Boston University, George Washington University, US Coast Guard Academy and many more!!! Colleges and Universities have poured thousands of dollars into women’s rowing programs in recent years in order to meet Title IX requirements. As a result many Universities and Colleges have a deficit of qualified high school rowers to fill athletic scholarships. In the past 8 years CCR has enabled our rowers to receive over $200,000 in athletic scholarships.

Finally, rowing is a life sport that does not have to end in high school or college. To get an appreciation of the enjoyment and benefits of adult rowing, you need only talk to any of our Master rowers. Better yet, give it a try. Our Masters conduct a Learn-to-Row Program every summer for people interested in trying out the sport.

Youth program requirements

• Follow all CCR rules and guidelines
• Rowing is a physically demanding sport; any student that may have health issues should consult with a physician before joining the team
• Pass a swim test

Practice: Where/What to Bring

Practices are held at the Wequaquet Lake town beach on Shoot Flying Hill Rd in Centerville. Rowers should be prepared for all types of weather during practices and on race days. The following are recommended for practices.

• Running shoes (every day)
• Workout clothes - fleece and wool are strongly recommended for their warmth when wet. During the colder months multiple layers (including hats) should be worn allowing rowers to strip down as they warm up.
• Do not wear baggy shorts or pants –spandex is the fabric of choice for rowers
• Water bottle (rowers should not share water bottles!!!!)
• (optional) Rubber wet suit boots (the water is very cold in April)

Attendance policy: You don’t show - you don’t row!

All practices are mandatory!!! In rowing, when a rower misses practice eight other rowers are affected. In addition, the coach’s plans for that day’s workout can be disrupted. Excused absences should be minimized!!!

Rowers missing 3 or more practice before a race run the risk of being removed from the roster and will not have racing privileges!

Practices are held rain or shine-only high winds and lightning will keep crews off the water, and then a land-based work out will be assigned. “It was raining,” is not an excuse for missing practice!!

Boat Selection

Perhaps the hardest job any rowing coach has is boat selection. Deciding which athletes should row in what boat for what race is complex and depends on many constantly changing variables. This outline is meant to give parents and students a basic understanding of how that process will take place.

For Rowers-the following assessments are used:

• Rowing technique
• Erg scores
• Attendance: including attitude, conduct and work ethic

• Leadership
• Understanding of rowing commands
• Steering and control of the rowing shell
• Attendance and attitude
• Ability to follow instructions

Conduct

Although crew is not a school sport, CCR expects all rowers to act as if they were participating in a school sanctioned activity. CCR subscribes to the conduct policies of the Barnstable High School Athletic Agreement.

Practice: Rowers are expected to respect our neighbors on the lake and the fact that we are guests at the town beach. No yelling, screaming, swearing, pealing out of the parking lot, or wrestling (to name just a few) is allowed. Rowers are responsible for all trash including water bottles, socks, clothes, etc!!!

Any rower found with, or associated with, drugs, alcohol or tobacco products during a CCR sanctioned event (race, practice, or trip) will be removed from the team and sent home at the parents’ expense! The use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco during the season, outside of scheduled activities, is also prohibited and may result in removal from the team!

Safety Policies

Boating Safety

No participant shall be allowed to drive a launch without prior authorization from the coach. Unauthorized use of launches will not be tolerated and will grounds for removal from the team. Parents will be responsible for any damage resulting from unauthorized use. The coaches may designate rowers to set up launches before a practice or meet. Any participant riding in a launch is required to wear a certified lifejacket. All launches will be supplied with adequate lifejackets.

Swimming Requirements

Basic swimming skills are a vital component of a safe crew. All new participants are required to take a swim test or present a current Water Safety or Lifeguard Certificate. Swim tests will be provided by the club and are required before new members will be allowed in a boat or out on the water. NOTE: participants cannot wear a lifejacket while rowing.

Beach Safety

All rowers are expected to be mature, cooperative and respectful of other people and their property while involved in club activities. This is especially important before and after practices, when rowers may be unsupervised on the beach. The club strives to provide adult supervision of the rowers at all times, but recognizes that this is not always possible without the assistance of parents. Therefore, we ask that rowers not be hanging around the beach area for extended periods of time before and after their scheduled practices. Parents please note the scheduled practice times and ensure that your children are there only for their scheduled times. We are guests at a town-owned facility with many close neighbors and we must all work together to ensure the safety of all our participants.

Sculling Safety (Singles & Doubles)

All participants will need to pass a flip test prior to being allowed to row in a single or double. All use of sculling equipment must be done under coach supervision. Please see coaches for permission to use this equipment.

Transportation Safety

Bus transportation is provided to and from all races for CCR rowers only. CCR prefers students not drive personal vehicles to races.  Students may return home from a race with parents if they choose (please let a coach know).

Equipment

Rowing shells and the associated equipment are very expensive and fragile. All rowers must follow boat handling instruction and rules! Every member of the team is equally responsible for the equipment and is expected to stay at practice and/or races until all equipment is put away or loaded on the trailer!!!

Rowing Seasons

Spring Season

The Spring racing season begins in mid–March and goes until the last week of May. Spring races are 1500 meters and take between 6 and 7 minutes to complete.  All crews start together and race straight down a course.  These races are called sprint races much like races in track and field.  CCR competes in the Massachuseets Public School Rowing Association.

Summer Season

The Summer Season is scheduled based on coaches availability and interest.  In the past we have run a competitive and recreational programs.

Fall Season

The Fall races are know as “Head” races, such as the world famous Head of The Charles Regatta in Boston. Head races are about 3 miles in length and tend to include crews from high schools, colleges, national teams, and rowing clubs all competing in the same regatta under different divisions. Crews begin Head races with a staggered start and race the clock as well as crews that they may encounter along the race course. These exhausting, endurance races can take over 20 min. and are the rowing equivalent of a marathon.

Winter Crew

During the winter months CCR runs land-based workouts and weight lifting. This gives rowers a chance to work on ergometers and receive more one-on-one coaching. These sessions allow coaches to teach the fundamental, physiological aspects of training in more detail.

Crew Races

Crew races are probably unlike any other competitive event that you have attended. Race days are often long and arduous. They usually begin early in the morning and include 3 – 4 hours of travel, hours of equipment rigging and de-rigging, additional hours of waiting and, finally, a relatively brief period of racing. What makes it all worthwhile is the fact that it is a family event! Your children need your attendance and support on race day to make their commitments worth the tremendous effort they invest. And more importantly, it is a great day for everyone involved!

We urge you to try and make as many meets as possible. Home meets are usually a few hours long and are held at the Town Landing at Lake Wequaquet (get there early as parking is extremely limited).