| 1. |
Who can become part of the RCRC Junior Crew? |
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Anyone between the ages of 13 and 19 is eligible to join. |
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| 2. |
Is previous rowing experience required? |
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No rowing experience is necessary to join the crew. Those new to the sport
will be taught to row from the ground up. First year rowers compete in a
special novice category designed for less experienced crews. |
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| 3. |
What level of fitness is necessary? |
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Although rowing is an extremely strenuous sport, there is no minimum level of
fitness necessary to join the crew. Workouts for novices are designed to
ramp up gradually, giving the rowers a chance to gain strength and endurance
without overstress. Generally, rowers do not compete in their first race
until they have undergone several months of training and conditioning. |
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| 4. |
What level of swimming ability is required of crew members? |
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The sport of rowing has an excellent safety record, but on rare occasions
situations arise in which rowers find themselves in the water. These include a
boat flipping, a collision with another boat, being involuntarily removed from a
boat as a result of an oar’s momentum ("crabbing"), and falling off a dock.
Although Junior Crew members are never allowed on the water without an
accompanying powered launch operated by a coach or other adult, it's important
that rowers are competent swimmers. |
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| 5. |
How much a time commitment must a rower make? |
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The team generally works out five days a week, although in their first few
months on the crew novices will have only four practices per week. Training sessions run
for
two hours. Workouts are generally structured so rowers have one day off
during the week, and train for one weekend day. Except on weekends, teams
train in the late afternoon. |
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| 6. |
What about a teen who
participates in fall sports at school? Can that person join the crew late? |
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It is acceptable for students participating in fall sports to join the crew
midway through the season. However, because most costs associated with
operating the club are fixed, those joining late will still be required to pay
the full participation fee. |
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| 7. |
Where does the team work
out? |
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Practices are held on Lake Washington, the turning basin at the Port of Sacramento.
The port offers generally calm water with little other boat traffic. The RCRC
boathouse is just west of the main docks at the port
(see map for more details). The
facility adjoins the boathouses of the U.C. Davis crew. |
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| 8. |
Are workouts held during bad weather? |
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Workouts are held rain or shine. The only conditions that drive rowers off
the water are high winds or thunderstorms. When those conditions prevail, crew
members work out on stationary "Erg" rowing machines or participate in other dry
land fitness activities. It's worth noting that during the winter months, rowers
are routinely on the water well after dark. RCRC is fortunate to be able to work
out at the Port of Sacramento, a body of water that's sheltered, well lit, and
has little other boat traffic. |
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| 9. |
What if a rower has to
miss a workout? |
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The most successful crew members are those who attend practice every day. However,
sometimes situations arise that force a rower to miss one or more workouts.
Rowers are not penalized for scattered absences, but those who miss an excessive
number of practices will not be allowed to compete. In the event that a rower
must miss a workout, it is that individual's responsibility to notify the coach. |
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| 10. |
Why does it cost so much to participate? |
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Novice rowers are charged $810 per year, while continuing crew members must pay
$750 annually (see dues page for more details). These fees pay for the club membership, coach's salaries, use of
equipment, entry fees to all regattas, food at competitive events, and, in the
case of novices, a racing uniform. RCRC actually has some of the lowest fees of
any West Coast rowing club. |
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| 11. |
Why do Junior Crew members pay so much more than adult members of the club? |
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Fees for adults cover only the membership in the club. Adult RCRC members must
pay extra for coaching, race entry fees, et cetera. |
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| 12. |
Are discounts available for families with more than one member on the crew? |
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Unfortunately, there is no discounted family rate.
Fees are calculated based on how much it costs to run the club on a per person
basis. so it is not feasible to offer reduced fees to some individuals. |
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| 13. |
Why are parents required
to contribute 20 hours of volunteer work to the club? |
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In the past, the majority of the volunteer
effort that has been required to keep RCRC functioning has fallen on a small fraction of the membership.
This created a situation that was inherently unfair, so last year the RCRC Board
of Directors voted to impose a 20-hour volunteer commitment on each family. The
board feels that a 20-hour commitment spread over an nine-month season is
unlikely to work a hardship on anyone. A variety of volunteer activities are
available (see volunteer page for more
details). |
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