Juniors Team Attendance/Workout Requirements

Workout Requirement:

The workout requirement for each month for the Juniors Team is as follows (coaches may make changes to individual weeks throught the year):
- September - 4 per week
- October - 4 per week
- November - 2 per week
- December - 2 per week
- January - 2 per week
- February - 4 per week
- March - 4 per week
- April - 4 per week
- May - 4 per week
Exceptions will be communicated throught the year, but are generally the following:
- November/December - The workout requirement during these months is typically reduced to 3 per week.
- Spring Break - The workout requirement is 0 over Spring Break.
- If practices are cancelled for various reasons the requirement may be reduced. Often the requirement is lowered for those that are caught up with their workouts, but not for those that have workouts to make up.
Rowers may bank up to 8 workouts through the year to use at a later time.
Make up workouts must be rowing workouts completed at practice or at home on a Concept2 rowing machine (unless otherwise approved by a coach).
Non-rowing workouts can count as workouts during a week that you might not be able to make it to practice (if you are on vacation for example), but must be pre-approved and can only be used sparingly. Non-rowing workouts can not be banked.

Coaches are willing to be fairly flexible and creative in how workouts are made up as long as there are not ongoing issues.

In Person Attendance Requirement:

The In Person attendance requirement varies throughout the year in order to focus on rowing at the more important times and give rowers breaks at other times:
- September - 4 per week
- October - 4 per week
- November - 2 per week
- December - 2 per week
- January - 2 per week
- February - 3 per week
- March - 3 per week
- April - 4 per week
- May - 4 per week
Rowers may bank up to 3 In Person days that must be used within 4 weeks.
In Person days must not be negative by the end of each month (unless you have discussed other opitons with a coach).

Coaches are willing to be fairly flexible and creative in how in person attendance is made up as long as there are not ongoing issues.

Regatta & Boat Loading/Unloading Requirements:

For on water seasons (Spring and Fall), Juniors Team Rowers may miss only one regatta (not including Midwest Junior Rowing Championship in the Spring), however attendance at all regattas is encouraged.
Chicagoland Shiver Erg Sprints is not required but attendance is highly encouraged.
Midwest Junior Rowing Championship Regatta is required
- Excused absences are allowed for one of the two days for your own graduation and scheduled exams on Friday
Rowers are required to attend boat loading and unloading for ALL REGATTAS whether they are attending a regatta or not. Rowers may miss up to 2 loading or unloading sessions per season.
- Boat loading typically happens at practice on the Thursday before the regatta. Practice typically runs late on those Thursdays (15-45 minutes).
- Boat unloading typically happens on the day that we return from the regatta as soon as the trailer returns to the Boatyard. There are a few exceptions where we might not unload right away. Those are generally communicated in GroupMe.

Regatta and boat loading/unloading requirements are not very flexible. We expect Juniors Rowers to be at regattas. It is also highly recommended that Mentor Rowers attend regattas as race experience is extremely important. There may be some flexibility, but it is limited. Events in the spring such as Prom (for example) can be worked around to some extent, but many rowers have attended their prom and a regatta in the same weekend.

Procedure for doing workouts at home or on vacation

Mark "At Home Workout" in iCrew on the Sunday AFTER you did the at home workout
Make a note in "Notes to Coach" saying what day(s) you completed the at home workout.
Do the workout and take some kind of a picture to post to GroupMe for EACH workout that you are doing. This keeps everyone accountable and allows the coach to match up what you put in iCrew what what you actually completed.

Sick/Minor Medical Issues

We definitley do not want rowers to come in if they are sick. Please keep germs at home! We also understand that you can't control when you get sick, but at the same time, it is important that workouts do not completely fall off. This also applies to minor medical issues (sprains, strains, etc.).

1 day out of practice - no makeup necessary (Assuming this occurs “within reason”. Once every 3-4 weeks would be considered to be “within reason”. If illness or minor medical issues are occurring more frequently, we may need to have a discussion and additional make ups may be required.)
2-3 days out of practice - make up 1 (if out 2 days) or 2 (if out 3 days) workouts over the following 2 weeks
4 or more days out of practice - May require a doctor’s note and requires the rower, coaches and parents to develop a “return to practice” plan (see Medical Issues below)

Medical Issues

Medical issues that are affecting the rower’s ability to be in a boat or use an erg for 4 days or more, or on an ongoing basis for 2 weeks or more.

Coaches will contact parents via email to make sure they are aware of the medical issue and determine what the treatment plan is
Rower should put a note in their Journal in iCrew and Journal notes will be used to make any updates as information becomes available
Rower, coaches, parents, and medical professionals may need to be consulted to determine a “return to practice” plan - parents are responsible for coordinating this
- Parents may need to seek the advice of a medical professional and communicate that information with a coach along with their own concerns and suggestions
- Based on that information, coaches can put together a “return to practice” plan that the parent must approve

Making Up Workouts and In Person Attendance:

Rowers may bank up to 3 In Person days that must be used within 4 weeks.
In Person days must be balanced (must not be negative) by the end of each month (unless you have discussed other opitons with a coach).
Workouts completed above the requirement will be banked to use in the future. You can bank up to 8 workouts.
Only rowing workouts will count toward your workout bank.
Non-rowing workouts can count as workouts during a week that you might not be able to make it to practice (if you are on vacation for example), but must be pre-approved and can only be used sparingly. Complete the Junior/Mentor Team Attendance Exception Form to get your non-rowing workouts approved. Non-rowing workouts can not be banked.

Temporary Commitments & Vacations

If you have an upcoming vacation or temporary commitment such as Drivers Ed, SAT Prep class, etc. please take a moment to assess how this is going to affect your rowing commitment.

If you can work within the makeup structure outlined above, then simply so that and no further action is necessary.
If you feel that you will need additional accomodations to balance your rowing commitment with this temporary commitment or vacation, please complete the following form as soon as possible. After you complete the form a coach will follow up with you to discuss: Junior/Mentor Team Attendance Exception Form

Notes on Teamporary Commitents...

Finals, Drivers Ed, SAT, SAT Prep Classes, anything else you can think of that might affect your attendance...

Work within the outlined makeup plan if at all possible.
PLAN AHEAD!!! Complete the form (Junior/Mentor Team Attendance Exception Form) with a plan or ideas for how you are going to handle the makeups.
- Even if is not within the allowed makup window, if your plan is thought out and something you think you can execute successfully, the coaches will most likely approve your plan.
There are also options to do additional workouts at home, include non-rowing workouts, etc. As long as the plan follows the spirit of the requirements and it is for a defined period of time.
Rowers can make up workouts weeks BEFORE and AFTER their temporary commitment. They can do this by attending additional practices in person, or doing additional at home workouts. Attending extra in person workouts is always encouraged.
Follow the procedure for "Doing Workouts at Home or On Vacation" above.

Notes on Vacations...

For vacations taken during the Juniors Rowing Season (from September to May).

Rowers do not have to do workouts while on vacation if they make up their Workouts or In Person requirements BEFORE or AFTER their vacation (PLAN AHEAD).
Rowers can do workouts while on vacation
- Complete the following form if you will be doing workouts while on vacation: Junior/Mentor Team Attendance Exception Form
- Obviously erg workouts are preferable if you have an erg available.
- Rowers can bike, swim, run, walk (briskly), or just about anything else you can think of, but check with a coach for specific instructions (instructions may vary based on when in the season you are going on vacation)

Rowers can make up workouts weeks BEFORE and AFTER their temporary commitment. They can do this by attending additional practices in person, or doing additional at home workouts. Attending extra in person workouts is always encouraged.
Follow the procedure for "Doing Workouts at Home or On Vacation" above.

Need An Attendance Exeption?

If you do not think that you will be able to make up workouts or in person sessions within the structure outlined above, or if you need to miss more than 1 regatta or 2 boat loading/unloading sessions in a season, please complete the following form:

Junior/Mentor Team Attendance Exception Form

A few notes:

Requirements are never waived completely. Coaches are willing to be flexible and creative in how requirements are made up to an extent, but you will have to do something.
Missing requirements or failing to follow through with a makeup plan that is put in place is likely to result in losing your seat in one or more boats, or not being allowed to complete in one or more regattas, including Midwest Junior Rowing Championship.
Please be as specific as possible as to the dates, length of time that rowing will be affected, etc. when you complete the form.
Parents, we comletely understand that there may be situations that are not in your rower's control (family health issues that may affect them getting rides to practice for example), but the coaches recommend that you allow your rower to complete the form (with your help if necessary) so that they can think through what it means to their commitment.
Coaches are very happy to work with rowers and families to find solutions, and have ideas for things that have worked in the past to make up the workouts, however, the more thought out your solution is, the better chance you have of having it be approved.

Why Is There An Attendance and Workout Requirement for the Juniors Team?

Juniors Team Goal

One of the main goals of the Juniors team is to give the kids that want to give rowing more focus a chance to do that and to try to make the team as competitive as possible. While focusing on rowing is an important criteria for the Juniors team, it is also important that the kids be able to focus on school and have a life outside of rowing. However, members of the Juniors team have to do enough workouts every week and attend enough practices in person that they are able to make improvements in both technique and fitness.

Technique

The rowers need to attend enough in person practices each week that the coaches are able to work with them on their technique (particularly the newer, younger members of the team) and that we are able to have them row with their teammates so that we can work on their timing, how they move together, etc. It’s not just about individual technique but how they move as a group, and we can’t do that if people are not at practice.There is regression in technique when people are attending less in person and working out more on their own.

Fitness

To get better at any sport, you just have to put in the work and that is especially true in rowing. Rowers have to be doing enough workouts that they are building the fitness needed to continue to improve and increase their chances of being competitive.

So what is the balance?

Our Juniors and Mentor Teams have what we think meets the goals above. It gives the rowers a chance to improve both technical and physically, as well as gives them a chance to have jobs, make sure they are keeping up in school, and be able to participate in some other activities.

Ideally, rowers on the Juniors team should be striving to do 5 workouts per week, however 4 workouts per week is allows for technical and fitness improvment while still allowing rowers to do other activities. So as a team, 4 workouts per week is required and if they are individually getting in a 5th workout every once in a while, then that's great.

Also, while it would be best for all workouts to be in person, sometimes flexibility is required for both the rower and the family. We do allow the flexibility to do some workouts at home. These workouts must be done on a Concept2 Rowing Machine, unless otherwise approved.

And then there is life…

The reality is that people get sick, they get minor injuries, sometimes they get injuries that are more ongoing, they go on vacation, they need to take SAT prep classes, drivers education, study for finals, etc. As these situations occur, talk to the coaches and we will work with you on a plan to make sure workouts are made up.

Page updated

Report abuse