FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
TEAM
I have never rowed before. Can I still do crew?
Is there a height or size requirement for rowing?
What is the schedule for crew and when does the season start?
What is a typical "Year in Crew" like?
Is there any special equipment or rowing gear required of rowers?
What is required to be a Forest Park Crew Team member, and are there tryouts?
What does it cost to join the crew club and row?
Why do rowers have to pay dues and fees?
Can I row and participate in other activities and sports?
PRACTICE
Q: What is the Oxford Boat House?
How do I find out if Crew practice is cancelled?
Why do I have to drop off and pick up my child in the upper parking lot?
Why doesn’t my child always get out at the same time every day?
How can I contact Oxford Boathouse?
CAR POOLING
Is there a bus my rower can catch?
Can my rower get a ride from Forest Park?
We don't live near anyone else – how can I get my rower into a carpool to crew?
If I pay for Spring Crew but my rower has to drop out because of carpool issues, can I get a refund?
REGATTAS
Why does the team have to arrive so early for a regatta?
What should rowers bring to regattas?
What should spectators bring to the Point?
How do I find out when my child is rowing?
How did my kid end up in this boat?
Why isn’t my kid in a boat at every regatta?
What are Crew Team volunteer positions?
What are NCASRA volunteer positions?
What is Launch Driver Training?
FOREST PARK CREW BOARD
TEAM
A: Absolutely! There is no experience required for joining the Forest Park Crew Team. We have an excellent novice program.
A: Yes! But not all rowers will earn Varsity letters. Typically, rowers who row regularly in the "upper" or "first" boats for at least one Spring season and have rowed for at least two Spring seasons will receive a Varsity letter. Other rowers will receive a Certificate of Participation. Basically, the better you are, the more your chances are of earning a Varsity letter.
A. There are no size requirements for the Forest Park Crew Team. Taller rowers may have some advantages, but smaller rowers can make up for that with technique and fitness! And we can always use smaller students as coxswains.
A: The size of the team varies from year to year. For 2007, we had 73 men and women rowing in our program.
A: Please look at the Event Calendar to see what a typical year looks like for Crew.
The competitive Spring season starts with practices on the water in late February. The first day on the water for 2007 was February 20. The team practices Monday-Friday from 3:15 to 6:00 p.m. The practices within these time frames are set by the various coaches and are provided at the beginning of the practice season
2007 home regattas began on March 24 and ended May 12. We had two away regattas in May - the Matthews Regatta on May 5 in Matthews, Virginia and the Stotesbury Cup in Philadelphia on May 17-19. If any upper boat qualifies at the State Championships, they can move on to the "Nationals" championships. The location varies each year but in 2006, the team traveled to Saratoga Springs, NY, on May 25-27.
A Fall Crew program is offered by the Prince William Crew Association (PWCA) and usually starts in mid-September and runs through the first week in November. PWCA is part of the Prince William Rowing Club (PWRC).
Winter conditioning begins the week of Thanksgiving and continues until we move on the water in the spring.
In addition, a one week Summer Crew program is offered by the Prince William Crew Association (PWCA) and usually starts in late June and runs for two weeks. Athletes get an orientation to Crew during their week. If a rower signs up for the first week and wishes to participate in a second week of rowing, they can. Two week rowers work on improving skills learned in week one. There is an additional charge for a second week of camp. PWCA is part of the Prince William Rowing Club (PWRC).
A: Click on this link to view a Year in Crew.
A: The only required rowing gear is the team uniform, known as a "uni" which is pronounced You-Knee. Unis are ordered during Spring Registration, and typically cost about $60. Rowers will need a pair of rowing shorts or rowing tights which can be purchased separately at area stores. All other team Spirit Gear is optional and available in the Crew Store which opens on the website in early February on the website.
Q: What is required to be a Forest Park Crew Team member, and are there tryouts?
A: There are no tryouts for the Forest Park Crew Team. Everyone is welcome. To join, you must have a current school physical, pass a simple swim test, complete the registration paperwork, and pay your team dues. For more detailed registration information, click here.
A: The 2007 Spring Competitive Season fee is $600*.
The Winter Crew fee is approximately $100.
The Prince William Crew Association (PWCA) offers a Fall Crew program for about $140. PWCA is part of the Prince William Rowing Club (PWRC). All rowers are highly encouraged to participate in this program if they do not have a fall sport that conflicts.
* Prospective and current team members and parents can earn up to 200 service points through fundraising and holding various positions on the Crew Board and committees which can be applied against Spring dues.
A: Crew is not monetarily supported by the county other than a small salary for the coaches. All equipment, supplies, insurance and administrative costs are paid for through fundraising and dues.
Here are a few examples to illustrate why crew is so expensive:
- A new eight costs anywhere from $16,000 and up.
- A new four costs anywhere from $12,000 and up.
- Oars cost $350 each
- A cox box is about $700.
- A launch costs about $1200.
- A motor for a launch costs about $1400.
- Other items we must pay for include equipment maintenance, insurance, coaching fees, regatta entry fees, administrative expenses, etc.
Rowing is an expensive sport both in terms of cost and time but the rewards are great! You and your parents will learn that the “whole” must participate in order to win. The organization behind the team is directly proportionate to how well that team performs. Parents support their kids by encouraging their kids not to miss practice, they encourage their kids to condition hard and eat well, they participate aggressively to ensure success in fundraising so the equipment and facilities can be upgraded (constant and ongoing), and they also willingly volunteer so vital tasks that are needed for the program to run smoothly can be fairly distributed and accomplished.
A: Yes. Many of our rowers are in chorus, cheerleading, marching band, wrestling, basketball and swimming all of which keep our rowers in shape during the winter months.
A: Yes, if your college has a crew team. Many colleges (large and small) have crew. Many college rowers START rowing in college; as an experienced rower or coxswain, you can be a serious asset to the team and many Forest Park crew graduates have and continue to row at the college level.
What if my college doesn't have a crew team??
There are local rowing clubs that are interested in having an experienced rower in their shells.
PRACTICE
Q: Where does the team
practice?
A: Forest Park Crew rows out of the
Oxford Boathouse
at Lake Ridge Park located at 12380 Cotton Mill Drive in Lake Ridge.
During the Winter conditioning season the team typically works out at
Gold's Gym in Dillingham Square in Lake Ridge.
Rowers are responsible for their own transportation to and from Crew practices. The Crew Board works with rowers to establish carpools.
Q: What is the Oxford Boat House?
A: The Oxford Boat House is the place the team keeps their boats and out of which they practice. It is in Lake Ridge Park at 12380 Cotton Mill Drive in Lake Ridge.
Q: How
do I find out if Crew practice is cancelled?
A: Generally, only high winds and lightning will cause a practice to be
cancelled. Cold, light rain and moderate wind will not generally cause
a practice to be cancelled.
Rowers should listen to the end-of-day announcements if the weather is iffy – if practice has been cancelled or changed in any way, an announcement will be made. As soon as the Crew Board gets word of any practice changes, an email will also be sent out to the team.
Q: Why do I have to drop off and pick up my child in the upper parking lot?
A: Lake Ridge Park requests that due to the number of rowers from five high schools and overriding concerns for safety; that rowers be dropped off and picked up at the upper lot to avoid possible pedestrian-auto accidents. It also provides a specific location so that parents and rowers may wait securely knowing that they have not missed each other in the pick up process as the dismissal time varies according to the demands of weather, boat repairs, and dock traffic.
Q: Why doesn’t my child always get out at the same time every day?
A: Sometimes weather or mechanical issues preclude a boat from returning as quickly to the dock as anticipated. Other times, there is a crowd at the dock and it takes longer to remove the boat from the water. Sometimes, rowers may also get out a bit earlier if they have achieved that day’s training goals quickly or if one or more members need to leave early for work or other obligations.
A: The phone number for Oxford Boathouse is 703-491-5754. (It's in the Prince William County phone book!)
CAR POOLING
A: Yes. Forest Park Crew contracts with the County for a bus to provide one way service from school to the boathouse. Parent's must pick their child up at the boathouse after practice. Bus passes are sold during Crew registration in the Spring. If a sufficient number of student purchase bus passes to offset the cost of the bus, a contract will be signed with the school. So far Forest Park Crew has sold a sufficient number of bus passes every year to have an after school bus to the boathouse.
A: Probably. Car pools can be arranged for pick up at Forest Park HS.
A: Your best bet is to purchase a bus pass to take your child to the boathouse. Otherwise you may be able to arrange for your rower to ride the bus home with a friend – either another rower who can take him/her to crew, or a friend who lives near someone who can offer a ride to crew. You may just have to go a bit out of your own way to help give rides home in return. (Remember to have your rower pack an after-school snack and bring water!)
A: First, a coach must stay and wait for you with your rower(s). If you arrive within the first 25 minutes after the end of practice, you should still be able to get into the park to pick up; if it's later than that, the coach and your rower(s) will most likely be at the gate to the park waiting for you. If this happens on a regular basis, you'll need to make other pick up arrangements.
A: The Crew Board will evaluate all requests for refunds on a case by case basis. A formal policy for refunds is posted HERE.
REGATTAS
Q: Where are
the regattas held?
A: Local regattas are held on the Occoquan River
reservoir at the
Sandy Run Regional Park
in Fairfax County. For directions to
Sandy Run
see the
Sandy Run page. Rowers will report to the
Oxford Boathouse
at Lake Ridge Park and will row over to the regatta site from there. Parents
can drive to the park to watch the regatta and cheer for the team. The
parking fee is usually $10 per car and helps offset the costs of park
rental, shuttle van service, regatta administration and park clean-up.
Away Regattas are in Matthews, Virginia (See Matthews page) and in Philadelphia for the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. Directions to Stotesbury can be found on the links page under Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia (Stotesbury Cup Regatta)
Q: Why does the team have to arrive so early for a regatta?
A: The coxswains and lightweights have to report to Sandy Run prior to the regatta for weigh ins and meetings. As this is a team sport, the entire team supports them by arriving together. This enables everyone to assist with setting up the launches and loading the equipment necessary for transportation to the point for the team’s use. Then the rowers get out their respective boats and row over together. This takes time but allows everyone to support the entire team.
Q:
What is "the Point?"
A: The Point is a spit of land just past the
Grandstand and finish line area at the
Sandy Run
regatta site. It is the place that the
Oxford House
teams (Forest Park, Hylton, Gar-Field, Potomac and Woodbridge) set up their
rower support areas during regattas. It's where most Forest Park parents
will gather to cheer on the team. To reach the Point, pay your dollar to
take the regatta shuttle van down to the finish line area, follow the path
to the Grandstand, continue past the grandstand and keep following the path
around. If you don't want to take the shuttle and are up for some
great exercise, you can take the trail from the parking area to the point.
Allow 20 to 25 minutes for your trail hike and wear good hiking shoes.
Q:
What should rowers bring to
regattas?
A: Each rower's idea of the "gotta haves" is
different, but here's a basic list to get you started. Remember to label
your stuff with your name!!! Rowers will bring their stuff to
Oxford house
and it will be loaded onto the launch boats and taken to the point by the
Team Launch drivers. It's a very good idea to put your stuff in plastic bags
or water-resistant duffels – the launches can be wet!
- First and foremost – appropriate weather gear like sunscreen, hats/visors, sunglasses, rain gear, jackets. Layer, layer, layer!
- Clean, dry socks!
- Sleeping bag or blanket and pillow.
- Money for concession food and T-shirts.
- Personal snacks and drinks if desired – the boosters will provide food and drinks.
- Whatever you need or want to keep you occupied during the day, such as cards, books, homework, CD or MP3 players (at your own risk!)
Q:
What should spectators
bring to the Point?
A: Each spectator's idea of the "gotta haves" is
different, but here's a list of ideas to get you started. Keep in mind that
you'll be carrying whatever you bring from wherever you end up parking to
the shuttle van stop, then hauling it on the van, then schlepping it around
the path to the Point – it's really not that far, but can seem like forever
if you're carrying a heavy load! Plan accordingly if you plan to hike
the path in lieu of the shuttle.
A folding camp chair. Appropriate weather gear like sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, rain gear, umbrella, poncho, jacket, blanket. Binoculars. Camera. Money for concession food and T-shirts. Wet ones or disinfectant soap. Snacks and drinks if desired. The regatta schedule can be downloaded from www.ncasra.org or the regatta schedule page.
Q:
How do I find out when
my child is rowing?
A: Regatta schedules are published on the NCASRA web
site,
www.ncasra.org or on the regatta schedule
page. They may be up on Thursdays, and should be up on Fridays. Coaches will
usually inform rowers of schedules on Fridays. Times on schedules are
guides only. On days where inclement weather is imminent, regatta
officials may start races early in order to complete as many events as
possible before foul weather arrives. At large regattas, events can be
delayed up to 30 minutes. As a rule of thumb, plan on arriving at the
regatta an hour to an hour and a half prior to your child's event.
Q:
How did my kid end up in this
boat?
A: First, it's important to know that boat selection
is a coaching issue – specific questions should be addressed directly to the
coaches.
Generally, boat selection is based on a combination of factors such as
experience level, rowing skill, erg scores, rower fitness, practice
participation, and rower dedication. The following are general areas
that affect boat placement:
Rowers:
o Active participation
o Attitude
o Consistency
o Attendance and punctuality
o Erg scores
o Experience and past performance
o Level of personal responsibility
Coxswains:
o Active participation
o Attitude
o Consistency
o Attendance and punctuality
o Leadership and motivation
o Experience and technical knowledge
o Level of personal responsibility
Q: Why isn’t my kid in a boat at every regatta?
A: Sometimes there are more rowers than seats in a boat. This is good for the team as it allows the boats to race every weekend even if a team member is injured or absent. Unfortunately, it means that sometimes rowers need to take turns rowing. Coaches attempt to put together the best boat possible given the rowers available any given weekend and still to row every single one of their rowers during the course of the season. This is a sport where the athletes benefit most from having the greatest amount of diversity. Therefore, those rowers that can row either side of the boat or both row and cox have the greatest likelihood of being able to fill a seat at any given time. All rowers will row in a regatta prior to the end of the season. Those on shore assist still participate in the team activities during a regatta with land chores such as launch loading and unloading, boat maintenance, carrying oars, docking, collecting or returning rowers shoes and spare clothes when they race as well as the all important cheering on their team.
Q:
What is an "away regatta?"
A: Away regattas are those that are not held on the
Occoquan and that require team transportation and boat
transportation. Forest Park Crew typically participates in two or three away
regattas each season:
-
Mathews Regatta in Mathews, VA, is a day trip. It is usually held the first Saturday in May. The team and chaperones are transported by school bus. The bus normally departs at 3am and returns between 5 and 6pm.
-
The Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia, PA, is the highlight of the Crew Season for the upper boats. The team and chaperones are transported by charter bus. We leave Forest Park High School mid-day on Thursday and return on Saturday evening.
-
"Nationals" is the championship regatta for our area. Boats must qualify for entry during the season. The team and chaperones are transported by charter bus. We leave Forest Park High School mid-day on Thursday and return on Saturday or Sunday evening (depending on travel distance).
Q: What are Crew Team volunteer positions?
A: Forest Park Crew utilizes a number of volunteers to help set up and take down team equipment during the regatta season. On Friday evening, a pair of volunteers meet at the boathouse and load equipment onto the team launches. The volunteers and launch drivers head over to the Point (via the Occoquan River). At the Point, the tents and gear are assembled and tied down for the night. Saturday morning tent set up volunteers arrive at Sandy Run and help assemble the tent and tables for the regatta. Saturday take down volunteers arrive at Sandy Run and help take down equipment, then they meet the team at Lake Ridge Park and help stow the gear in the Team Room.
Q: What are NCASRA volunteer positions?
A: It takes many volunteers to put on regattas each weekend. NCASRA assigns each team a number of positions that have to be staffed each weekend. Parents sign up for various jobs (a complete listing is on the NCASRA website - www.ncasra.org). Teams who fill and staff all volunteer positions get a portion of the regatta proceeds at the end of the season. Teams who do not fill or miss assigned duties are penalized $50 per incident.
Q: What is Launch Driver Training?
A: In order to drive a launch (14 foot Johnboat) for NCASRA regattas, parents must attend a 3 hour course one time. The course dates and times are announced in February on the NCASRA website (www.ncasra.org/). Parents can register on line (there is no fee). Once trained, you do not have to get the training anymore. Launch Driver training for team boats is done in house. In house training will not qualify for NCASRA Launch Driver training.
FOREST PARK CREW BOARD
Q:
What is Forest Park Crew, Inc.?
A: Forest Park Crew, Inc. are the parents of all
the Forest Park Crew rowers, along with parents of graduated rowers who stay
on for the joy of the sport! The organization provides support to the
team in many ways such as: Fundraising to purchase, upgrade and maintain
equipment; providing food and shelter during regattas; filling volunteer
slots at "home" regattas; handling logistics for away regattas like lodging,
transportation and food; taking care of maintenance on the shells and
equipment; towing and maintaining the crew trailer.
See the Board page for a list of the current board members and committee chairs.
A: Look at the Board page for a listing of current board and committee chairs. You may also e-mail any of them from that page if you have further questions.
A: PWCA stands for Prince William Crew Association. They are the landlords of the boathouse at Lake Ridge Park. They maintain the property and work on improvements to the boathouse facility. PWCA operates through a memorandum of understanding with Prince William Park Authority. In addition to the Park Authority, PWCA must coordinate operations with the Fairfax County Water Authority who own the water rights to the Occoquan River. The attached chart (pdf format) shows the relationship of the boathouse to PWCA, the Park Authority, NCASRA and other organizations who use or operate programs through the boathouse.