Ad Hoc Rows

Information

There are a few things to understand when you sign up for ad hoc rows...

• There is no coaching at these sessions.

• Unless you ask, there is no workout plan. I will caveat this one with one comment - most of you reading this have signed up to try to race in the Fall, so I will likely put together a weekday workout plan for you that may help give you direction. Whatever we worked on in practice the weekend before should give you a good focus for your workouts. If you have something else that you are personally trying to figure out (rowing straight, finishes, etc.), feel free to work on that. If you need some drills or suggestions, please let one of the coaches know.

• Rowers have to be “checked out” by a coach to row in a particular boat without a coach there (that would include a quad, double or singles) - if you aren’t sure what you’re checked out to row, ask a coach.

• You should be able to handle your own equipment - OR you need to make sure that people know you need help (this simply entails saying something in GroupMe). If you need help, please make sure you ask if the people helping have any time constraints and work within those (some people may have to leave to get to work).

• You are responsible for your own equipment - so making sure everything is put away correctly. You can (and should) help each other, but if someone else helps with your boat, oars, etc. please check them before you go.

Rower Responsibilities

I don’t want to scare anyone, but there is a reason that your coaches are trying so hard to stress how to use and care for all of the equipment. This equipment is there for all of you as club members to use and I am thrilled that everyone is coming out to use it this summer! It’s fantastic to see! But I feel I need to make sure that I say this just so no one is surprised if something happens - you may be held responsible for any loss or damage to equipment due to negligence on your part and unfortunately, ignorance may not be an excuse. If you aren’t sure about something, please ask! I don’t mind getting phone calls at 6a if you aren’t sure about something.

Quick explanation of why we use the reservation system

We are using the reservation system for 2 reasons.

1. Safety - All rowing clubs are required to keep a log book showing who went out on the water and when they went out, and more importantly, when they came back. iCrew gives us that feature digitally, so we are going to use the iCrew logbook for this purpose.

2. Equipment Tracking - Logbooks are also used to track equipment use which helps us keep track of damages, issues, etc. that may come up with that equipment.

Process

• COORDINATOR/PERSON THAT WANTS TO ROW: Post Ad Hoc Rows in GroupMe - At the beginning of the week, someone may put a note in GroupMe about what days may be available OR anyone can suggest a rowing time that others can join in. 

• ROWERS: Chime in to GroupMe with the following information...

  • If you want to join the row, or if there are multiple days offered, what day(s) you can row

  • If you have front end or back end time constraints

  • If you have any preferences as to what you might row

  • If you need help with an oarboard (at this point, we are going to assume that anyone that is in Otter or Wild Cat is going to need help, so just know that if you are in one of those boats, you’re going to need to coordinate timing with others to be sure you can get those boats out and get them put away)

  • OPTIONAL: If you need or want a different time please suggest that (there may be people that can meet you earlier or later - you can start rowing as early as 5a in the summer and probably should be getting off the water by about 9a - but remember if you need help with equipment, you’ll have to be sure to coordinate that)

• COORDINATOR: Day Before The Row - The day before the row, a “Coordinator” (or as Tim likes to say “Master In Charge”) will do the following:

  • Confirm who is coming

  • Talk to a coach about boat assignments

  • Put something in GroupMe with the plan for who is rowing what once they work that through with a coach

  • Check the weather to be sure that rowing still looks OK

• ROWERS: Make Your Reservation - Once the coordinator puts out the “who rows what” info, everyone should make their own reservation in iCrew. You can see this page on how to make a reservation>>

  • If you want a stroke coach, you will need to reserve that too. That is a separate reservation. If you have not used a stroke coach before, you should not check one out. PLEASE BE SURE YOU LEASH YOUR STROKE COACH to the boat. A Stroke Coach is a $500 pieces of equipment that you are responsible for when you have it checked out.

• COORDINATOR: Right Before the Row - The day of the row, the Coordinator (or Master in Charge) has the following responsibilities:

  • Dealing with last minute attendance issues (someone gets sick, substitutions, etc.) - may need to call a coach for help with this

  • See what conditions are prior to the row (storms) or when at the boatyard (fog) and decide if it’s safe to row and communicate any changes in GroupMe

• ROWERS: Day of the Row

  • Check Out for your row when you get to the boatyard

  • Check In from your row when you are done

  • See information on the reservation page about checking in and out of your row >>