Frequently Asked Questions
Team
Q: I have never rowed before. Can I still do crew?
A: Absolutely! There is no experience required for joining the Potomac Crew Team. We have a strong novice program.
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Q: Can I letter in Crew?
A: Yes! But not all rowers will earn Varsity letters. Typically, rowers who row regularly in the "upper" or "first" boats 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.
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Q: Is there a height or size requirement for rowing?
A. There are no size requirements for the Potomac 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
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Q: How big is the team?
A: The size of the team varies from year to year.
For 2007, we had 20 women and 10 men. We hope the team will continue to growin the next few years
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Q: What is the schedule for crew and when does the season start?
A: Check out the Crew Info page. The competitive Spring season starts with practices on the water in late February. The first day on the water for 2006 was February 20. The team practices Monday-Friday from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m., with Saturday morning practices in February and March. 2006 home regattas began on April 1 and ended May 20. We typically have two away regattas in May – the Stotesbury Cup in Philadelphia and the"Nationals" championships. 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.
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Q: What is a typical "Year in Crew" like?
A: We have a page that discusses what a typical Year in Crew is.
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Q: Is there any special equipment or rowing gear required of rowers?
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 $80. All other team Spirit Gear is optional.
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Q: How do I join the team?
Q: What is required to be a Potomac Crew Team member, and are there tryouts?
A: There are no tryouts for the Potomac 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, check the Spring Registration page.
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Q: What does it cost to join the crew club and row?
A: The 2007 Spring Competitive Season fee is $300.
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.
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Q: Why do rowers have to pay dues and fees?
A: Crew is not monetarily supported by the county other than a small salary for the coaches. All equipment, supplies and administrative costs are paid for through fundraising and dues.
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Q: Why is crew so expensive?
A: Here are a few examples to illustrate why crew is so expensive: A new boat can cost anywhere from $11,009 - $15,000 and up, depending upon the size. Oars cost $200 each. A cox box is about $700. A launch costs about $1000. A motor for a launch costs about $1200. Other items we must pay for include equipment maintenance, insurance, coaches training 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 insure 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.
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Q: Can I row and participate in other activities and sports?
A: ABSOLUTELY! Many of our rowers are in Spring and Fall sports. Cheerleading, Wrestling, Basketball and Swimming keeps rowers in shape during the winter months.
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Q: Can I row in college?
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 PHS 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: Potomac 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 in the Potomac High School weight room, we also have multiple ergs at the school for use during conditioning. Rowers are responsible for their own transportation to and from Crew practices. The Boosters' Board works with rowers to establish carpools.
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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 Boosters' Board gets word of any practice changes, an email will also be sent out to the team.
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Q: How can I contact Oxford Boathouse?
A: The phone number for Oxford Boathouse is 703-491-5754. (It's in the Prince William County phone book!)
Car Pooling
Q: Is there a bus my rower can catch?
A: No, buses are not provided for off site practices.
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A: Q: Can my rower get a ride from Potomac?
A: Probably not since school is out at 2:00 and coaches' preferred arrival time at the park for rowers is about 3:45. School rules are that students can't just "hang out" after school.
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Q: We don't live near anyone else – how can I get my rower into a carpool to crew?
A: Your best bet may be 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!)
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Q: Why isn't there a crew bus from Potomac to the boathouse?
A: All school buses are already dedicated to other routes (elementary or "activity" routes) and there aren't enough rowers who need this service to make it happen.
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Q: If I pay for Spring Crew but my rower has to drop out because of carpool issues, can I get a refund?
A: The Crew Boosters will issue full refunds up until the end of the second full week on the water. If there are no more weather delays, then that refund date would be March 3. If there are weather delays, that date could change. Families would need to make their decision and notify me by the deadline in order to get their refund.
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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 Links 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.
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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 (Hylton, Gar-Field, Forest Park, Potomac and Woodbridge) set up their rower support areas during regattas. It's where most Hylton 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.
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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 Boosters. 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!)
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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!
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. Snacks and drinks if desired. Regatta schedule can be downloaded from www.ncasra.org.
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Q: How do I find out when my child is rowing?
A: Regatta schedules are published on the NCASRA web site, www.ncasra.org. They may be up on Thursdays, and should be up on Fridays. Coaches will usually hand out schedules on Fridays to the rowers.
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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 (definition), rower fitness, practice participation, and rower dedication.
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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. Potomac 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 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 Potomac 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 Potomac mid-day on Thursday and return on Saturday evening.
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Boosters
Q: What is the Potomac Crew Boosters?
A: The Potomac Crew Boosters are the parents of all the Potomac Crew rowers, along with parents of graduated rowers who just can't get enough of this good stuff! The boosters provide 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 Booster's page for a list of the current board members.
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