10 Most Asked Questions About West Springfield Crew

what is crew?

Crew \ 'kru \ n. the body of men and women manning a racing shell; also: rowing.  Crew (rowing) is a club sport at West Springfield High School that awards varsity letters for Spring Competition.  1999-2000 will be our crew club's 12th season.  West Springfield offers both disciplines of rowing – sweeping and sculling, making it unique among area schools. Crew is one of the fastest growing amateur sports with competitions at the high school, college, Olympic as well as club levels.

Why is it a club sport rather than a varsity sport?

Since fewer than half the county high schools offer crew to its students, crew has a club status at West Springfield without the financial support of either the school or the county. Even if more than half the county's high schools were to offer crew, its status would not change due to the costs and the limited facilities available for the sport.

what is the difference between sweeping and sculling?

Sweep rowing uses one oar per rower and is more prevalent with the larger shells know as "eights" and "fours."  Sculling requires two oars per rower and is more popular in smaller shells such as singles, doubles and "quads."  Both disciplines prepare and improve a rower for either style.  And best of all, the rower's size is not a limiting factor since events are run for both heavyweight and lightweight rowers.

what is the schedule for crew?

Crew is a spring sport with practice starting on the Occoquan, at Sandy Run Park, in late February or early March, (practice is after school, five days a week) depending on the weather.  The first regatta will take place on the last Saturday in March, with races every Saturday culminating with NOVAS (the regional championships), "Stotes" and Nationals during the last three weekends in May.  West Springfield also participates in the ISA Sculling Championships. These races are 1500-meter sprints with up to six boats in an event.

However, many rowers start in the fall, either on the Occoquan (both for novices and experienced rowers) or at Thompson's Boat Club in DC (for competitive, experienced rowers).  The format for the fall is training for "head" races that are 3.2-mile events that employ the "chase" format.  Boats are sent off every 15-20 seconds and total time determines the winner rather than order of finish.

In the winter, voluntary workouts take place at the weight room in school on a three-day a week basis.  Workouts consist of weight work, running and "erg" pieces.  For the uninitiated, the ergometer or erg, is a modern day torture device that replicates the rowing motion and is used to develop stamina.  From November to March, many rowers participate in National Team testing using the erg scores as a benchmark, culminating in local and regional Erg Competitions in February.

what are stotes and nationals?

The Stotesbury Cup Regatta, established in 1927, is the oldest and largest regatta for high school rowers in the country. Crews from all parts of the United States and Canada travel to the Schuykill River in Philadelphia for a weekend of intense but friendly competition.  It has become a West Springfield tradition to take most of our rowers there for the weekend before Memorial Day.

Nationals take place on the following week and this year they will be held at St. Andrews in Delaware on the May 26th and 27th weekend (actually, it's raced on Friday and Saturday).  Rowing is the only high school sport that has an actual National Championship and our rowers will get a chance each year to see how they stack up against the best.

What does it cost to row?  

There are four costs involved with rowing at West Springfield: 1. The Crew Booster Club dues are $35 per year for the family.  We are not part of the school's athletic booster club; 2.  The annual rowing fees are approximately (the actual figure is determined in December once we see how great the interest is and what our expenses look like) $265 per rower, due in January, when you actually officially sign up for crew; 3. Each rower is responsible for fund-raising.  Returning rowers are required to raise $500, $250 of which must be done by December 31st.  Novice rowers must raise $250 and they have the entire crew year to accomplish this; 4.  The away regattas (Stotes & SRA Nationals) are an overnight trip where the rowers are bused, stay together at a hotel and partake in team meals.  In the past, the cost was $100 per regatta. Due to our large numbers, limited events and potential qualification standards, we may not be able to take all rowers.

Why do we need to fundraise?

This year our crew budget exceeds $100,000. This total includes the cost of coach's salaries, equipment (a new eight with riggings and oars costs over $22,000), insurance, boat storage fees, regatta entry fees, etc..  The dues alone do not cover this expense.  As a result, rowers and their families participate in a series of fund-raising events to earn the money needed to run the program. Our fund-raisers include grocery/department store scrip sales, leaf raking, pizza sales, car washes, restaurant raffle, poinsettia sales, phone book deliveries (a crew favorite) and others.  You choose which events you want to participate in.  They are fun and built team unity and spirit in addition to raising the funds needed.  Don't let the fund-raising intimidate you because it's easier than you think.

What else is required?

We are a volunteer organization and ask that each family get involved and join our "crew family."  You might want to get involved with the fund-raisers, work on maintaining the shells, help organize and chaperone the away trips or help with any of the administrative tasks that on organization like ours has.  We, as a club, are required to put in some time in setting up and running the local regattas.  The work encompasses driving launches during the regattas, working the concession stands, directing traffic, etc.  In addition, for those who love getting involved with crew activities, we constantly need people to learn how to become a licensed rowing judge/referee or to get involved with the Occoquan Local Organizing Committee (OLOC) who sets up and administers the local racing course at Sandy Run. Remember that Nationals will be on the Occoquan this year and we will need all the help we can get. We ask you to help but you determine how much time you can devote.

where do I get more information?

If you are looking for general information about rowing, contact USRowing at 1-800-314-4ROW.  If you want more information about West Springfield Crew, contact any experienced parent or rower and they will be more than happy to help.  Key crew numbers are: Chuck Geyer, President; Claudia Fiebeg, Ways & Means Committee Chairperson. The Spartan Rigger newsletter will have the names and numbers of all the Board members.

why should I row or why should I get involved with my child in rowing?

Crew is the finest sport a family can get involved in.  Unlike other team sports, no one starts off with an advantage.  Hard work pays off.  Every child gets an opportunity to row in every regatta (this applies to the regattas on the Occoquan; the championship regattas require qualification), if they show up for practice and work. Crew is the most strenuous sport you can imagine that not only helps your child develop physically but mentally as well.  It teaches discipline and teamwork in the context of competition with an emphasis on fun and participation.  At the sports awards banquet at the end of last season we noted that almost half of the crew team had a 3.5 GPA or better.  The striving for excellence on the water translates to achievement in the classroom.  And as a bonus, the parents have fun too!