Q:  How do I join?

A:  It’s easy.  There are no try-outs.  There are no cuts.  Contact the coaches or the booster club, who can answer specific questions.  If the school year has begun, you can just come to the boathouse when one of our scheduled practices is starting. Or drop by as practice ends if you want to talk with us.  Try it for a bit. If you like it, we’ll help you with our paperwork, etc. You’ll need a VHSL physical; please get that done ASAP.

Q:  Is it too late to join?

A:  No.  It’s never too late.  Well, almost never; it takes a bit of time to learn our sport.  If you want to race this fall, then joining in October is pushing it.  If you want to race this spring, we prefer you join before March.  No matter when you join, we’ll be happy to have you.

Q:  Do I need to be a good athlete to join?

A:  No, not really.  The athletics will come with time.  If you do the work, then you’ll become an athlete.  We start slow and build into the sport with plenty of focus on correct motions first.  If you join at the beginning of fall, then you’ll be able to keep up for the rest of the year.  The winter and spring are more intense, but you still have time to build up your abilities.

Q:  Do I need to be a good swimmer?

A:  No.  Crew does not involve swimming unless something goes wrong.  This is rare, but being on the water requires a margin of safety.  So, you must be able to swim.  Don’t worry; we’ll help you learn.  Our swim test requirements are very simple and we have several people on the team who can help you get better in time to row (the first two weeks of learning are done on land).  There are multiple chances to test your swimming.  If you don’t pass, we’ll keep working until you do.

Q:  What if I can’t run?

A:  Our Granby study hall athletes jog from school to practice. At the same time, all other teammates do the same cardio in the park near the boathouse.  It’s a big part of our routine.  Running is a great way to build your endurance, but it’s not the only way.  People who can’t run can still be part the team.  And, you’ll have plenty of chances to build endurance.

Q:  What if I participate in another sport?

A:  That’s fine, and it might be ideal.  Young athletes benefit greatly from cross-training.  You are welcome to train with our team any time you like.  Participation in just one season or in the entire year can be arranged.  But remember, you need time to learn rowing before you can race.  Joining late in any season lessens the chance you will be ready to compete.  As for the team’s dues, participation in only a portion of the year lessens the total financial obligation required.

Q:  Can I come watch some rowing before I decide to join?

A:  Yup.  We can arrange a time for you to drop by and observe.  Riding in the launch is usually possible, but not always.  It’s also a good idea to talk to team members about the sport if you know any of them.

Q:  Do I have to attend a specific school to be a part of the team?

A:  We are a club, accepting students in 8th to 12th grades from public, private, and home schools.  Anyone who wants to row should contact us.  This includes athletes who will row for their private school team in the spring. Only one of our races in the whole year, State Championships, is “scholastic”. But otherwise we all race together. If you are interested in building a lineup to represent your school in May, we will be happy to take you to States (assuming you’re fast enough).

Q:  I’ve never rowed.  Should I do a summer rowing camp to get a head-start?

A:  Unless it’s our camp, the answer is NO!  Please let your first days/weeks rowing be with us.  Most rowing camps are too short to properly teach the rowing stroke.  As a result, they move at a pace that breeds bad habits.  We takes great pride in our rowing technique, our patient instruction of novices, and our impressive novice racing results.  Besides, rowing camps are much more fun at the end of your novice year (not before).

Q:  When and where can I get a VHSL physical?

A:  The family doctor is always an option.  But NPS offers physicals at specific times of the year (mostly summer, and the first week of school). Even if you don’t row, get a physical. That way, you can do any NPS sport.

Q:  When and where is the next swim test?

A:  There are usually three swim tests scheduled at the beginning of the fall.  In the spring there will likely be one scheduled test to make sure anyone new is good to start getting on the water.  When a new student joins we can get their swimming tested on an as-needed basis.  Get on the team’s email list and you’ll be informed about the details.