Parental Involvement


Parent Involvment is critical to the success of the program. There are many opportunities to get involved including regatta planning, fundraisers, or acting as a chaperone at one of our races.

When your child decides to do crew you will be asked about your volunteering preference. This is to help us identify the parents willing to volunteer for each activity. We understand that this may be a larger commitment than any other sport you have been involved with in the past but Crew is a unique sport requiring unique funding and operations.

  • Volunteer for at least one fundraiser or event per season.
  • Provide or arrange transportation for your rower to all regattas and events.
  • Communicate with your rower's coach about any concerns you may have. Let them know when you think they are doing a good job too!
  • Hand in all necessary paperwork and fees for your athlete. Rowers without complete paperwork and fees will not be allowed on the water to practice or race.
  • Contribute your skills and resources. If you know how to repair motors, love to talk about nutrition, or have a friend who loves to teach teambuilding let coach know! We are always looking for new ideas for fundraisers too.

Communication with Coaches

Parental involvement is the anchor that stabilizes the team and it is also the rudder that helps to steer the team to overcome challenges and remain successful.

Many students report that one of the most attractive aspects of rowing is that there are no "stars" on which all the attention is focused. More than any other sport, a crew is selfless and represents the essence of "teamwork." So, as often as you cheer for your child, it is also very helpful to cheer for the team.

Your child's coach plays an integral part in forming their athletic experience. They get to know your kids pretty well. Although it's always encouraged for you to communicate with your kids to understand their experiences with crew, there also may be times when you have questions, compliments or concerns for their coach. Please communicate with the coach if the need arises. However, as you listen to your kids and determine if a conversation may be necessary with a coach, please keep in mind a few helpful hints. Rowing is a physically demanding sport, so parents should be prepared to hear the occasional complaint from their son or daughter. Keep things in perspective, knowing that the coaches are always looking out for the best interests of the individual members and the Team. Parents experienced with the MCDS crew program will tell you that for every complaint they have heard from their kids about blisters, a sore body, and having coaches that worked them too hard, they will have observed their kids maturing both physically and emotionally as a result of this incredible team sport.

Like any school system, the need for equipment and supplies always outweighs the school's resources. So, participation by parents in any and all aspects of fund raising is crucial to the success of the team. Get involved by volunteering to help with event planning and fundraising throughout the year.

Avoid getting involved in "seating" disputes. Coaches have the absolute prerogative to assign seats in the various boats. Coaches may assign seats based on strength, endurance, height, weight, skill, experience, or simply to give someone more experience. On top of that, sometimes different combinations of rowers will cause different results - it is all geared toward finding the best combination for speed. When your rower complains about where he or she is being seated, listen sympathetically, but then encourage the rowers to stick with it and try harder over the next few weeks. It may not sound fair, but seat selection cannot be democratic. Someone has to make the decision.

Chaperones

When we travel, rowers will be accompanied by chaperones. These are typically parents. Regardless of who they are, they are the ruling forces for the trip. If you are a parent interested in volunteering as a chaperone, please contact one of the coaches!

Financial Commitment

Rowing, like other club sports, requires commitments of time and money. To be a member of MCDS Crew, there is a fee of $600 which can be broken down into three categories.

The first category is the general fund. This fee goes towards the general maintenance of equipment including boats, docks, piers, tools etc. A portion of this also gets set aside for the purchase of new equipment.

The second cost category is for travel to races and spring training. This fee includes a lot of important travel related expenses. First, it covers the entry fee for the regatta. It also covers the gas needed to transport the boats. Any required lodging costs is included, as well as meals (usually buffet style) and transportation (gas) for getting the kids to races.

The final cost category is uniforms. Once a uniform has been purchased it is used for the duration of their career as a rower with MCDS. The uniforms are tailored to specifically fit the rowers.