Beginner/Rec Team 2025/26 Season Info

How to sign up…

Simply click on this link to set up an iCrew profile and get set up in GroupMe: https://team.sweepsandsculls.org/club-info/new-rower-registration

Fall Season 2025

• Dates: August 26-October 23

• Practice days/times: Tues/Thurs: 5:15-6:45p, Sat: 9-10:30a

• Locations:

Sweeps & Sculls Boatyard at Port Barrington Marina

1317 Behan Road

Crystal Lake, IL

Sweeps & Sculls Indoor Rowing Center

4410 Route 176

Unit #14

Crystal Lake, IL

• Fees: $500

Fees include 1 regatta (race), Head of the Rock Regatta in Rockford on Sunday, October 13 (all day event). 

We will be on the water at the Boatyard location unless otherwise indicated. There could be several reasons that we would move practice indoors. We will communicate practice information such as lineups, practice changes, etc. in a group texting app called GroupMe. Please see information below for information and links to join.

• Thurs, Sept 11  - PICTURE DAY (Arrive 15 minutes early for practice wearing team gear) (Rain Date: Thurs, Sept 18)

• Thurs, Oct 2 - Boat loading for Wisco Chase (at practice - Beginners will be helping as well)

• Sun, Oct 5 - WISCO Chase Regatta (Jefferson, WI) (Beginner Regatta Option)

• Thurs, Oct 16 - Team Event TBD

• Thurs, Nov 6 (5:30-6:30p) - Fall Fun Awards (Rowing Center)
  We always end our Fall season with some Fun Awards. These are meant to be simple and fun and a way to get the team together to celebrate our Fall season. At least one parent should plan to attend. We also use this as a training opportunity for parents. Mentor Team parents will be there to work with you and give you some details about how to help at a regatta.

Fall Regatta Opportunity:

Wisco Chase Regatta

Jefferson, WI

Sunday, October 5 (all day)

Boat loading on Thursday, October 2 at practice

Boat unloading on Sunday, October 5 at the Boatyard after the regatta

Regatta Information:

Wisco Chase is a fantastic opportunity for our new rowers to experience a regatta. We will make boats that are appropriate for rowers based on skill level and what other rowers are attending. It is important that you mark your attendance for this regatta as soon as possible so that we can plan and make sure that we have a boat that is suitable for them. If we do not get enough interest, we may not be able to put a boat together.

One adult from each family will be required to volunteer at the regatta.

Detailed information about the regatta experience including attendance and volunteer requirements will be discussed prior to the regatta.

Winter Season 2025/26

• Dates: Dec 2 - Mar 19

• Practice days/times: Tues: 6:30-7:30p, Thurs: 5:15-6:45, Sat: 9:30-11a

• Location:

Sweeps & Sculls Indoor Rowing Center

4410 Route 176

Unit #14

Crystal Lake, IL

• Fees: $500

Fees include 2 regattas (races), Southside Smackdown (Chicago) in February (morning to early afternoon), and our indoor regatta, Chicagoland Shiver, in early March (morning to early afternoon).

• Week of Dec 18-22 - First 2k Tests of Winter Season

Spring Season 2025

• Dates: March 31 - May 20

• Practice days/times: Tues/Thurs: 5:15-6:45p, Sat: 9-10:30a

• Locations:

Sweeps & Sculls Boatyard at Port Barrington Marina

1317 Behan Road

Crystal Lake, IL

Sweeps & Sculls Indoor Rowing Center

4410 Route 176

Unit #14

Crystal Lake, IL

• Fees: $500

Fees include 1 regatta (race), Indianapolis Junior Sprints on Saturday and Sunday, May 3/4 (all day event). 

We will be on the water at the Boatyard location unless otherwise indicated. There could be several reasons that we would move practice indoors. We will comminicate practice information such as lineups, practice changes, etc. in a group texting app called GroupMe. Please see information below for information and links to join.

GroupMe Information:

For changes to practice locations, team updates and information, etc. we use a group texting app called GroupMe. There are several GroupMe groups that you may want to join.

• Privateers Beginner/Rec Team (https://groupme.com/join_group/88553905/lo8Z0aF0)

This group is for everyone on the Beginner or Recreational teams including parents, rowers, etc. This is where we would put information such as location changes for practice, or any other time-sensitive communications.

• Privateers Club (https://groupme.com/join_group/43704487/XzFOWg)

This group is for everyone in the club on all teams including parents, rowers, etc. If there are general club announcements or information that needs to be shared, we would send it in this group.

• Privateers Parents (https://groupme.com/join_group/86464982/geVyVuvU)

This group is for Privateers Parents only and is used for communications regarding volunteer and event coordination that only involves parents, and other parent-related discussions or questions.

Practice Information:

Fall Rowing will give our Beginner Rowers the opportunity to work on building the strength, mobility and technique required for rowing. The focus is on having fun, learning and enjoying the sport of rowing.

There will be practice opportunities 3 days per week guaranteed. If we can not be on the water, practice will be at the Indoor Rowing Center.

Practices are never mandatory. You are welcome to attend whatever practices work with your schedule. We do ask that you mark your attendance so that we can create lineups for boats and plan practices appropriately. Attendance is marked in our iCrew App. Marking attendance accurately and not cancelling last minute is extremely important.

More information about attendance, practice schedule (rowing on the water or indoors), etc. will be given at our mandatory parent meeting on September 9 after practice. Please make sure that one parent is available for that meeting. Rowers are also welcome to attend.