Crew Manual

Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School Crew Manual (revised 2010)

Background Information

Crew is the sport of rowing a lightweight boat (shell) as fast as it will go! At Bishop Sullivan, our shells are powered by four sweep rowers and is steered by a coxswain (cox-n). In sweep rowing, each rower handles a single oar in a shell approximately 42 feet long (for a 4-person shell). We have recently acquired a 65 foot long eight.

Crew as a sport has several unique characteristics. While teamwork plays an important role in all "team" sports, it is absolutely critical in rowing. A boat's success is dependent on all four rowers putting forth 100% effort, in unison. Crew is as much a mental endeavor as it is a physical one; the psychological pressure not to let your team down can be astounding. This concept of teamwork serves team members well, in school and throughout life.

Physically, rowing requires a near-perfect blend of power, coordination and endurance: power in the delivery of each independent stroke, coordination in the timing of the delivery of the strokes, and endurance in the ability to sustain that output for up to 1500 meters. The integrated delivery of the legs, back, upper torso and arms for each stroke, up to 35 strokes per minute over a race lasting 6 minutes is unlike any other athletic endeavor. Post-event exhaustion can only be partially overcome by the satisfaction of a job well done and the occasional thrill of victory. See the appendix for a list of rowing terms.

Crew also imparts a serious sense of discipline, which seems to carry over to better performance academically by requiring careful budgeting of time between sports and schoolwork.

Bishop Sullivan Catholic High Crew

The Bishop Sullivan Catholic High crew program was established in the spring of 2000 and continues to grow in size. We will continue to build on the experience and success of last year.

Goals

The Bishop Sullivan crew program has established the following goals that reflect the nature of the program as a club sport and the needs of the program over time:
1. To have everyone row as often as possible in as many regattas as possible.
2. As a team, to have all crews compete in and finish every event.
3. To continue to acquire boats to increase rowing opportunities for students.
4. To promote a spirit of camaraderie, enjoyment, responsibility and dedication where students learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, in addition to learning to row.


The Bishop Sullivan Catholic High Crew Program

The sport of rowing (a.k.a. “crew”) in the Hampton Roads is coordinated by the Eastern Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (EVSRA). Both public and private high schools participate in crew. Bishop Sullivan will compete against Norfolk Collegiate, Norfolk Academy, Cox, Maury, Granby, Hickory, Great Bridge, First Colonial, Cape Henry and Saint Margaret (of Tappahannock). Crew has strong support from the administration, the athletic director, and the Crusader Club. The majority of the support for the program, however, comes from the student/athletes and/or their parents. The contributions of the both the student/athletes and their parents in time and transportation are the cornerstone of the program's success.

Inventory of Equipment

Bishop Sullivan's crew program has benefited from the dedication and commitment of student/athletes and parents. As of 2008 we have acquired the following inventory:

2 older Schoenbrod Intercollegiate 4+ fiberglass shells
2 new (2007) Wintech 4+ carbonfiber shells
1 older Schoenbrod Intercollegiate 8+ fiberglass shell
24 oars (8 old spoon/tulip blades, 8 older hatchet blades, 8 new C2
BigBlades)
4 ergometers
1 outboard motor
1 safety boat

and considerable support equipment (life vests, gas cans, spare parts, etc.) . Boats and equipment are maintained by the coach and coxswains.

Practices

On-the-water practices are currently held on the Lafayette River from the Sigrid Robertson Rowing Center at Lakewood Park in Norfolk. When on the water, the shells are accompanied by a safety boat manned by the coach and containing life jackets and other safety gear, such as blankets. The safety boat remains within 100 yards of the shells at all times. Megaphones are used to communicate between the safety boat and the shells. All student/athletes must pass a swim test to demonstrate their ability to handle themselves in case of an accident. The coach at the start of the season holds demonstrations on safety and recovery.

Weight training and conditioning practices are held in the Bishop Sullivan Catholic High weight room or on the track. When students are not on the water they should be working out with their crew. Distance running is a team effort headed by the team captains.
Transportation

Transportation to practice and regattas is the responsibility of each family. Junior and senior members of the team often form carpools. One of the school’s busses makes a run at 3:30 to the boathouse (but does not return to school. Ultimately, however, transportation is the responsibility of individual families. The school van is used to transport the shell to away regattas.


Rower's Equipment

The equipment required for the rower consists of running shoes, workout clothes, and a water bottle. Suggested clothing include: polypropylene or spandex pants or shorts, long underwear shirt, wool or fleece hat, long running tights, wool socks, a polar fleece jacket, sweats (tops and bottoms), and a hat for sunny days. Weather in March, April and May can be very cold. Crew team shirts are provided by the crew club. Racing uniforms shirts/unitards for the boys and girls are provided by the school.

Fall Training

Learn-to-row training will take place in the fall. Scheduled sessions will be arranged to accommodate students’ availability. The boat will often consist of a mixed crew (boys and girls). There are a couple of long “head races” in the fall in which we hope to enter our most experienced crew.

Off season Conditioning

The off season conditioning and weight training begins on the first of December. Winter conditioning is optional for those students who are not involved in a fall or winter sport at Bishop Sullivan. It is highly recommended for all other rowers and is a very important part of the program. Off-season conditioning will consist of 2-3 days of weight training and aerobic conditioning per week. A completed VHSL Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form is required before participation in winter conditioning will be allowed. There is an indoor “erg race” sponsored by the Hampton Roads Rowing Club in mid-February where team members can compare their conditioning with other high school students on indoor rowing machines.

Student/Athlete Standards

The Bishop Sullivan crew program adheres to all B.S. Catholic High School athletic standards. In order to participate in crew, the student/athlete must subscribe to each of the following standards to remain eligible. These standards include, but are not limited to:

* Proof of a valid physical exam within the last calendar year. All physicals are to be turned into the
Athletic Director’s Office.
* Demonstrated ability to pass a swim test that consists of swimming 50 yards and treading water for 10
minutes, fully clothed.
* Compliance with VHSL and crew program eligibility rules. This includes maintaining passing grades
to participate.
* Attendance at all scheduled practices. Only those absences approved by the coach will be excused.
* Failure to attend practices will affect team status.
* Missed practices may be made up at the discretion of the coach.
* Absolute compliance with Bishop Sullivan Catholic High's no smoking/alcohol/drug abuse policy.
* Completion of the USRowing waiver.

Boat Selection

The coach selects individuals for boats based on many factors. Rowers demonstrate their physical ability on rowing machines called ergometers. The coach also looks for good rowing technique in the boat, which is developed over time and with concentration at practice. Attitude and attendance at practice play a role in boat selection as well. In all cases, the coach reserves the right to use a certain amount of subjective judgment in making these decisions.

2010 Crew Season

Crew season officially begins March 1st and goes through mid May. Practice during the season is held before or after school on weekdays and on some Saturdays and Sundays. Regattas are held weekends (usually Saturdays.) The scheduled regattas and the anticipated schools are as follows:


March 13: Mock Regatta - Training session for Parent volunteers.
March 20: Season Opener (at Botanical Garden)
March 27: Spring Fling (at Botanical Garden)
April 17: Spring Regatta II (at Botanical Garden)
April 24: EVSRA Championship (at Botanical Garden)
May 1: Tidewater Crews Regatta, a.k.a. “Big Mathews” (at Mathews, Virginia)
May 8: Independent School Regatta (location TBA)
May 15: Occoquan Classic (in Occoquan, near D.C.)
and/or, possibly, The Stotesbury Cup Regatta (in Philadelphia)

Depending on the performance of individual crews, selected student/athletes may be entered into events at the Occoquan Classic Regatta (northern Virginia) or the Stotesbury Cup regatta (Philadelphia). Regattas start as early as 7 a.m. and last for the better part of the day, ending around 3 p.m. The larger regattas often last until 4 or 5 p.m. All crew parents and family members are invited to cheer for BSCHS at regattas. You should bring your own lawn chairs, seat cushions and/or blankets.

Regatta Events

A regatta consists of races referred to as events. Events consist of different sizes, classes and configuration of shells. The events during a regatta include varsity and novice classes. Boys and girls compete is separate races. All schools in the area compete in fours. Some schools also field eights.

Regatta Locations

Regattas are held at one of four locations. Locally, the Lake Whitehurst venue adjacent to the Botanical Gardens is the preferred site due to the sheltered conditions. Most regattas will be held there. Entrance to the Gardens costs $5 per car, but a yearly family pass allowing unlimited admittance is available regattas are held on adjacent to Azalea Gardens. The Lafayette River regattas are held at the Robertson Rowing Center where we practice. We also would like to travel (about a two hour drive north of school) to participate in the Mathews Regattas held at Williams Wharf in Mathews, VA, near Gloucester, VA. This year we will participate in a regatta at Richmond for the first time. Students should arrange their own transportation to local regattas. Away regattas (Mathews, Richmond, Occoquan) transportation will be provided by the school.

Lettering

To letter, a student/athlete must meet Bishop Sullivan academic criteria, be in good standing and be a superior athlete. In good standing means participation in support activities, fund raising activities and helping to maintain the equipment. As a club sport with varsity status, varsity letters are awarded according to standards established by the school and the coaches. As a general rule, varsity letters are awarded to rowers who compete in interscholastic competition.

Spring Sports Awards Night

Usually held in the end of May, this school-sponsored event recognizes the achievements of all athletic teams during the spring season. Varsity letters, stars, and other awards are presented at this time.

Coaches, Parents, and the Crusader Club

Our program is fortunate to have dedicated, experienced and involved individuals on our coaching staff. The coach is Mr. Bousquet, a math teacher and senior class moderator at BSCHS. Mr. Bousquet is a US Rowing Level I certified coach. Assisting Mr. Bousquet are parents of team members. Parents are needed to assist at regattas (as timers, skiff operators, even “go-fers.”) There is an opportunity for parent volunteers to receive free training in regatta positions and to become US Rowing-certified referees. The Crusader Club works with the school to support the Bishop Sullivan crew program. The Crusader Club consists of parents of student/athletes who help support all the extra-curricular activities of the school. Parents who wish to support the crew team should join the Crusader Club to coordinate their efforts. Strong involvement from parents and from the Crusader Club allows the crew program to grow and succeed.

Liability Insurance

The United States Rowing Association (USRA) provides liability insurance to all involved in conducting its sanctioned regattas. Such insurance facilitates the conduct of regattas with the large number of volunteer workers without whom the events would not otherwise be possible. The USRowing waiver must be completed and on file with the coach before students attend on-the-water activities.


Glossary

Shell - The racing boat. Shells come for single rowers, pairs, fours, and eights. Fours are the most common type in local interscholastic racing. A four is approximately 42 feet long, narrow (about two feet wide at its widest point), and weighs about 180 pounds. Shells are finely designed and constructed pieces of equipment.
Oars - Longer than the garden variety type for rowboats - some 12 feet in length and like shells, lightweight and finely designed.
Riggers - The metal apparatus from the side of the shells upon which oarlocks are fitted to handle the oars.
Slide - Two tracks upon which the rower's seat is fixed. The seat moves forward and backward on the slide, enabling the rower to "gather up" his or her body at the start of the stroke and then use the combined power of the legs, back, and arms when actually executing the slide.
Sweep - A shell configured so that each rower has one oar. Oars on a sweep shell are normally alternated from side to side.
Scull - A shell configured so that each rower has two oars, one on each side of the boat.
Coxswain - The person who sits at the stern of the shell and steers, gives commands to the crew and generally acts as an "on-site" assistant to the coach. Because coxswains don't pull an oar, relatively lightweight people are sought for the position; however, a good coxswain will have as much competitive spirit as the rowers and can make a considerable difference to a crew's success.
Stroke - The stern-most rower in the boat that sits just in front of the coxswain. The stroke sets the pace for the rest of the crew, responding to the urging and encouragement of the coxswain.
Port and Starboard Rowers - In sweep rowing, the designation of a rower according to whether he or she normally rows with an oar on the port or starboard side of the shell.
Catch - The start of a rowing stroke. The crew literally "catches" their oars in the water while beginning the stroke.
Release - The act of getting the oar out of the water at the end of the stroke and beginning the recovery (gathering the body with the knees coming up) for the next stroke.
Crab - Not the hard or soft-shelled variety. A rower catches a "crab" when his or her oar doesn't enter the water properly at the catch, and the blade buries itself to varying degrees in the water instead of flowing smoothly through the stroke. Crabs slow a boat down and are to be avoided if possible, but all rowers experience them at one time or another.
Set - The term "set" refers to the extent to which the boat is balanced from side to side while rowing. A crew rowing in such a way that the shell is not dipping to port or starboard continually is said to have good "set" in its row.
Power 10- a set of strokes when the crew makes an extra effort to "get everything on the oar" and make the shell go faster. (Can be power 15 or 20 also). Used in a race to try and get a tactical advantage on the other crew(s).
Ergometer - A rowing machine. An "erg" allows beginning rowers to learn the basics of the stroke before going on the water and all rowers to develop their conditioning.