Race Day Information
Racing & Traveling
Tips for Rowers
All rowers on the team are expected to attend each race. After all, that is what the team trains for! Please consult the regatta schedule and make sure the coaches know if for some reason a rower can't make a race. When a rower is training for a particular season it is assumed that he or she can make it to the races on the schedule. Please let your coach know if this is not true at the START of the season. We will travel as a group and will always travel as cheaply as possible to keep down the travel cost per rower. Travel arrangements are made for the entire team and per rower regatta costs are calculated prior to each season and included in the season's fees. We do not charge per race, so refunds will not be made if your rower is unable to row in a particular regatta.
Uniforms
Uniforms will be ordered at the start of the winter season for those athletes who do not own them yet. Athletes own their uniforms for their 4 years of high school and are expected to keep track of them. You cannot race if you don't have a uniform so don't lose them! If you outgrow your uniform we can send it back in for resizing. Athletes are expected to show up to regattas with a CLEAN uniform. You represent the school at races and we want to look our best.
A Rower's Race Day
Race Day Information for Parents
Regattas are generally much like daylong outdoor swim meets. Each regatta follows a similar schedule but each venue has its own schedule. The final race schedules are posted to competing teams a few days before the event. It's only then that we have a good idea of when each rower will race. However, because rowing is an outdoor sport, delays in the event schedule are very likely. It is for that reason that we encourage rowers not to plan something important on race days. When we travel, our return times to the Madison area are only estimates and the rowers will call from the bus when they are about an hour from town. If we are going to be late returning home we will certainly have the rowers call.
Many of the regattas we race in have event information online. If you are looking for an estimated time for your rower's race, go to our regatta schedule. We will have links to each regatta when available. Ask if your rower is rowing in a 4 or an 8; novice, varsity or JV and you can find race information at the regatta website.
Parents are more than welcome and are encouraged to attend races to see their rowers compete. It is nice to have a comfortable chair, a good book for in-between races, and comfortable shoes for walking. Binoculars can be helpful to see your kids more clearly coming down the race course.
A one-day race would start very early, around 6 or 7am. Most often the team eats breakfast at the hotel or a local diner. If not, the chaperones provide breakfast food at the racecourse. Then the rowers gather at the boat trailer to unload, rig and prepare the equipment as well as meet with their coach. At this point the chaperones are setting up the tent and laying out the snacks and drinks. The Head Coach usually sends rowers to help prepare the tent area but only when the trailer is unloaded and the boats are all rigged. When the squads meet with their coaches they learn of their race times, plans, etc. and are told when to meet the coaches back by their boats prior to racing.
Most rowers will race twice on race day depending on the length of the race, the regatta schedule, and equipment demand. The general rule of thumb is for rowers to meet at their boat 1 hour prior to their race start time. If there is time they are encouraged to go back to the tent to relax and refuel before the race. Coxswains are in charge of keeping their particular squads together. When the squad meets, last minute items are taken care of and the rowers and their coaches have a pre-race boat meeting. Then the rowers take their oars down and launch their boat. After the race the crew docks and has a post-race boat meeting.
At the end of the regatta, the entire team helps de-rig the boats and load them on the trailer and helps the chaperones pack up the tent area. This process usually takes no longer than an hour after the final event. You are expected to help with all aspects of getting the boats ready for travel as well as cleaning up the tent area. Your parents have generously donated their time to have food and drink for you. You will be expected to respect them by helping to clean up all garbage and equipment and by gathering ALL of your belongings.
Qualifications for Racing
Your coach makes every effort to race all of its rowers. Because rowing is done in 8's and 4's it can make things difficult when there are odd numbers of rowers on a squad. This is one reason why the coaches like to enter each squad in multiple events (i.e., a novice boys 8 and a novice boys 4). If there are an odd number of rowers on a squad then the coaches will attempt to make sure that each rower races in at least one of the events.