Rowing in College?

[Penaldo#7]

Hello everyone,
I am 18 yrs old, 183 cm tall, and 77 kg. I am considering rowing in college, even though I am already at a university that sadly does not have a men's team, only a woman's. I have never rowed on the water before, and I have been erging for about 5 months. I am unsure of many rowing terms, and I lack some knowledge about the rowing community, however, I believe I am very coachable.
Times:
2k: 6:45
6k: Have not done it, but 30 min distance is around 7950 meters
500m: 1:25.9

[Tsnor]

Talk to the women's team coach.

See if she can place you with a nearby school that has a team or with a local rowing club.

Most schools with a rowing team also have a learn to row program because most high schools don't teach rowing. It's possible the women's program at your school will let you join the women's learn to row program so you can see what it's like and build skills to get you onto another school's team.

Where are you located ? Our OTW club grabs and trains people like you in the Spring with "learn to row" classes and a "novice" team. You would be one of the younger members of a "masters" program. Hopefully your coach can hook you up with the equivalent organization in your area.

You can learn erg'ing with internet advice and youtube videos. On the Water rowing is different, you need to be part of an organization to take part, and it takes a year or two in a boat to get competent.

[Mike Caviston]

Talk to the women's team coach.

See if she can place you with a nearby school that has a team or with a local rowing club.

Most schools with a rowing team also have a learn to row program because most high schools don't teach rowing. It's possible the women's program at your school will let you join the women's learn to row program so you can see what it's like and build skills to get you onto another school's team.

I actually don’t know what advice the OP is looking for, but he isn’t going to get anything from his university’s women’s team. That’s not how college sports work at all. A varsity coach isn’t going to meet with some random student, let alone “place” them with some other school or program. A women’s program couldn’t possibly allow a male to sit in with their novices, for any amount of love or money. Varsity coaches don’t have the time or interest in mentoring anyone not affiliated with their team. Imagine somebody knocking on Nick Saban’s door and saying “I’ve never played football but I’ve done some decent workouts. Can you set me up somewhere I can get some skills and maybe get on a team?” Even though most schools with a football team also have intramural programs, does that seem like something the coach would do?

[aussie nick]

Talk to the women's team coach.

See if she can place you with a nearby school that has a team or with a local rowing club.

Most schools with a rowing team also have a learn to row program because most high schools don't teach rowing. It's possible the women's program at your school will let you join the women's learn to row program so you can see what it's like and build skills to get you onto another school's team.

I actually don’t know what advice the OP is looking for, but he isn’t going to get anything from his university’s women’s team. That’s not how college sports work at all. A varsity coach isn’t going to meet with some random student, let alone “place” them with some other school or program. A women’s program couldn’t possibly allow a male to sit in with their novices, for any amount of love or money. Varsity coaches don’t have the time or interest in mentoring anyone not affiliated with their team. Imagine somebody knocking on Nick Saban’s door and saying “I’ve never played football but I’ve done some decent workouts. Can you set me up somewhere I can get some skills and maybe get on a team?” Even though most schools with a football team also have intramural programs, does that seem like something the coach would do?

it would be an extremely shitty college coach who, when approached by a student of the institution by which they are employed, albeit one of a different gender, was asked for advice about getting into their sport but couldn't take a few minutes to point them in the appropriate direction.

The Nick Saban analogy is distracting and barely relevant (and might not even be accurate). He is a priggish multi millionaire with one of the biggest jobs of it's kind in the world. In my experience the vast majority of sports coaches and other people in teaching/coaching positions, are delighted to be asked for help and advice when people are interested in their 'subject' and are extremely generous with their time

[jamesg]

I am 18 yrs old, 183 cm tall, and 77 kg.

The sooner you get your hands on a pair of sculls the better; it's not too late.

[Joebasscat]

Talk to the women's team coach.

See if she can place you with a nearby school that has a team or with a local rowing club.

Most schools with a rowing team also have a learn to row program because most high schools don't teach rowing. It's possible the women's program at your school will let you join the women's learn to row program so you can see what it's like and build skills to get you onto another school's team.

I actually don’t know what advice the OP is looking for, but he isn’t going to get anything from his university’s women’s team. That’s not how college sports work at all. A varsity coach isn’t going to meet with some random student, let alone “place” them with some other school or program. A women’s program couldn’t possibly allow a male to sit in with their novices, for any amount of love or money. Varsity coaches don’t have the time or interest in mentoring anyone not affiliated with their team. Imagine somebody knocking on Nick Saban’s door and saying “I’ve never played football but I’ve done some decent workouts. Can you set me up somewhere I can get some skills and maybe get on a team?” Even though most schools with a football team also have intramural programs, does that seem like something the coach would do?

it would be an extremely shitty college coach who, when approached by a student of the institution by which they are employed, albeit one of a different gender, was asked for advice about getting into their sport but couldn't take a few minutes to point them in the appropriate direction.

The Nick Saban analogy is distracting and barely relevant (and might not even be accurate). He is a priggish multi millionaire with one of the biggest jobs of it's kind in the world. In my experience the vast majority of sports coaches and other people in teaching/coaching positions, are delighted to be asked for help and advice when people are interested in their 'subject' and are extremely generous with their time

Since Mike’s experience does include involvement with a women’s program at a large land grant university (Michigan) I would think he is simply providing his thoughts giving his experiences and observations at Michigan. Maybe they would be different at a smaller school, I certainly don’t know.

Hope the OP can locate someone who can steer him in the right direction. James has provided some sound advice it would seem.

[T_M]

For what it's worth, when I transferred to Cal in the 80's, I walked in the offices where the Crew coaches were. One of the assistant coaches asked if he could help and I and told him of my interest in rowing for Cal. I had no experience save for working out with some of the rowers from my JC (Orange Coast College in So Cal). He was very accommodating and invited me to meet him and the team at the Boat House for a workout. I did so a few times but ended up abandoning my plans due to the fact that as a walk on novice, I would have had to finance my own transportation to the competitions. I was poor college student paying my way through college at the time and couldn't swing it. Yes, we had a men's team, but the spirit of mentorship and growing the sport was alive and well.

[Mike Caviston]

it would be an extremely shitty college coach who, when approached by a student of the institution by which they are employed, albeit one of a different gender, was asked for advice about getting into their sport but couldn't take a few minutes to point them in the appropriate direction.

Is “take a few minutes to point them in the appropriate direction” the same as “place you with a nearby school that has a team or with a local rowing club” or “let you join the women's learn to row program”? The OP’s university has no men’s program, and if there were a club program nearby he wouldn’t have to ask for advice here, so there’s no solution that will “take a few minutes”. It wouldn’t be a shitty coach declining to take that on, it would be one already busy doing a very demanding job and probably prohibited from doing anything specific due to university and athletic department policies, Title IX implications, etc.

The sooner you get your hands on a pair of sculls the better; it's not too late.

The point is that he wants to but doesn’t know how.

For what it's worth, when I transferred to Cal in the 80's, I walked in the offices where the Crew coaches were... He was very accommodating and invited me to meet him and the team at the Boat House for a workout.

But you were a 6’ 3”, 200lb male walking into a men’s team office. If there were no men’s team and you walked into the women’s team office, the response would probably not be the same. OTOH, if a tall athletic female walked into the women’s team office, they might get a response similar to the one you got.

[Tsnor]

I actually don’t know what advice the OP is looking for, but he isn’t going to get anything from his university’s women’s team. That’s not how college sports work at all. A varsity coach isn’t going to meet with some random student, let alone “place” them with some other school or program. A women’s program couldn’t possibly allow a male to sit in with their novices, for any amount of love or money. Varsity coaches don’t have the time or interest in mentoring anyone not affiliated with their team. Imagine somebody knocking on Nick Saban’s door and saying “I’ve never played football but I’ve done some decent workouts. Can you set me up somewhere I can get some skills and maybe get on a team?” Even though most schools with a football team also have intramural programs, does that seem like something the coach would do?

I'm sorry your experience was so different.

I was a walk on in the late 70s. Members of the current rowing team grabbed me based on nothing (as far as I could tell) and invited me to try out. The coaches who taught me to row were excellent and supportive. They weren't the head coach (Nick Saban), they were the freshman coaches. Where I row now all the local coaches know each other. Someone would find a way to make something happen. Given the weather, likely it would not be until spring.

Imagine somebody knocking on Nick Saban’s door and saying “I’ve never played football but I’ve done some decent workouts. Can you set me up somewhere I can get some skills and maybe get on a team?” Even though most schools with a football team also have intramural programs, does that seem like something the coach would do?

Clearly from my experience yes. Football players play in high school in the US. Someone coming into University without football skills already turned down many many opportunities to learn football. Rowers don't row in high school with a few exceptions.

This is what a Div 1 school with a strong rowing program does, and I'd be shocked if it was a surprise to you.

"Rowing Walk-On Brochure (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania rowing programs will host a meeting for all interested walk-on prospects this Wednesday, Aug. 28 (the first day of classes). The meetings will take place in the Donaldson Room, which is located at the south end of Weightman Hall on 33rd Street near Spruce. (Weightman Hall is the building that closes up Franklin Field at 33rd Street).

The women's meeting will take place from 6-7 p.m., followed by the men's meeting from 7-8 p.m.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR...
While the prototypical rower is tall and lean, we are looking for athletic people with a desire to work hard, a competitive spirit, and a willingness to learn a new sport. If the challenges associated with becoming a Division I athlete sound interesting to you, then you are exactly the type of person we are looking for! "

[jamesg]

Surely if there's water there'll be more than one boat club within bike distance. How else do people go rowing?

[Mike Caviston]

I was a walk on in the late 70s. Members of the current rowing team grabbed me based on nothing (as far as I could tell) and invited me to try out. The coaches who taught me to row were excellent and supportive.

Where did you walk on? I walked on at U of M in 1979. It was a small club program and I learned alongside women as well as men and was taught by women as well as men. It was a cooperative and supportive atmosphere. Over the years the club grew and the men’s and women’s programs gradually formed identities as separate teams, though administratively they operated under the same club format to pool resources. Then, in the 90’s everything changed. Many universities, including Michigan, added women’s varsity rowing to their roster of university-funded sports. Michigan, like many schools, simply elevated the women’s club program. But from that point, the programs were separate and unequal. Different boathouses, different equipment, different staff, different operating budgets. The Michigan men’s club program was somewhat lucky that the women’s club coach was hired as the varsity coach, and he at least had some sympathy for the men’s program. For a couple years, they were able to train at the same indoor facility the women used (just not at convenient times). At other schools with the men’s club/women’s varsity dynamic, there was generally no contact and often bad blood between programs. And in situations where women’s teams were started but no men’s program existed, and resources are limited, there is no incentive for women’s programs to support men’s rowing.

This is what a Div 1 school with a strong rowing program does, and I'd be shocked if it was a surprise to you.

A few universities, such as Pennsylvania, offer both men’s and women’s rowing as varsity sports. That has nothing to do with the OP’s situation of a school with an established women’s program but no men’s. No one is addressing the practical implications of that situation in the real world of today, and not just offering fuzzy remembrances of days past or offering platitudes about cooperating for the overall good of the sport.

[Tsnor]

I was a walk on in the late 70s. Members of the current rowing team grabbed me based on nothing (as far as I could tell) and invited me to try out. The coaches who taught me to row were excellent and supportive.

Where did you walk on? I walked on at U of M in 1979. It was a small club program and I learned alongside women as well as men and was taught by women as well as men. It was a cooperative and supportive atmosphere. Over the years the club grew and the men’s and women’s programs gradually formed identities as separate teams, though administratively they operated under the same club format to pool resources. Then, in the 90’s everything changed. .

I rowed at U Penn in 1976. I didn't stay close to the program so would not know if anything changed like at U of M in the 90s. The walk on brochure I posted was current, so they are still recruiting students with no rowing experience.

I currently row on the Hudson near Poughkeepsie. Our club is one of several in the area, there are a bunch of high schools sharing the boat house and some nearby colleges. We've had rowers and coxswain appear from Marist, a nearby school. I rowed in a masters boat a few years ago with a 13/14 year old who was too big for his junior boat; he wanted to row so the high school coaches and our club worked it out. There is also occasional cross sharing between our club and high school rowers and coxswains. Our coaches aren't saints, but they are paid below minimum wage for the hours they put in and do it for the love of the sport. So if the OP was in this area I expect that the women's coach would have steered him to a club like ours, and that our coaches and club leaders would have made something work.

This time of year I think most of the training at university for walk ons is being done in tank rooms. It wouldn't shock me if the Woman's coach at his university stuffed OP in an empty seat in the tanks if they had one. Maybe my thinking here is 70s rather than 90s or current. (I'm willing to share my rose colored glasses).

[Mike Caviston]

Our club is one of several in the area, there are a bunch of high schools sharing the boat house and some nearby colleges. We've had rowers and coxswain appear from Marist, a nearby school.... So if the OP was in this area I expect that the women's coach would have steered him to a club like ours, and that our coaches and club leaders would have made something work.

A community club program is apples to oranges different from a university varsity program. Policies and eligibilities aren’t the same, regardless of the sympathies of coaches. Marist rowers have rowed for your club, but have you rowed for Marist? If the OP was in an area with several clubs, he wouldn’t need to be steered.

It wouldn't shock me if the Woman's coach at his university stuffed OP in an empty seat in the tanks if they had one.

It would shock me senseless. Universities and athletic departments have policies about non-members using facilities and receiving attention from coaches – again, regardless of the coach’s sympathies.

We should wait and see if the OP comes back and offers any more information.

[mjk]

It wouldn't shock me if the Woman's coach at his university stuffed OP in an empty seat in the tanks if they had one. Maybe my thinking here is 70s rather than 90s or current. (I'm willing to share my rose colored glasses).

It sounds nice, but I dont think a coach would be willing to do that. There's risk in taking a random student who isn't associated with the athletic department and who hasnt completed a physical and having them participate in any way. Best they could do is point them to a local club