Nichols School Crew Handbook

On behalf of the Nichols Crew Parents we would like to welcome the parents of all new and returning rowers. We are looking forward to a fun and successful season. Over the years the Nichols Crew Parents, along with dedicated and talented coaches, have grown the Nichols School Crew Program from just a handful of rowers into a successful rowing program.

We want to continue the tradition of strong parent involvement by encouraging parents to become involved with the organization. As the season progresses, many friendships will naturally develop between parents and rowers. Your daughter’s or son’s experience will be enhanced with your involvement and it can actually be fun.

As the program has grown in size and popularity, communicating policies and how the organization operates to new families has become more challenging. In an effort to address this need, we have developed the Nichols School Crew Handbook. The goal of the Handbook is to outline how the program operates, provide the team’s core values and explain some of the technical aspects of rowing. As always your comments, suggestions and offers to help are

invited. We look forward to a great year of rowing and friendship.

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This is a friendly reminder that your child's participation in Nichols Crew is a commitment which they have decided upon and must uphold. The coaches fully realize the time constraints that come with this commitment, but it is essential that your child be able to prioritize other activities to accommodate crew.

Part of what crew teaches is how to effectively budget time, and through that, increase the ability to focus intently on the immediate task at hand. Additionally it teaches that consistent effort while working towards long term goals through delayed gratification will carry over into all aspects of their lives; this is a lesson they will take forward with them.

Another hallmark of rowing is the interdependence of teamwork. Individual absences could very well mean the difference between the rest of the boat going out on the water or staying on land. Everyone who joins crew realizes they must respect the commitment the rest of the team has made in order for everyone to succeed. This is another invaluable lesson to be learned.

In more realistic terms, when someone misses practice it not only jeopardizes their seat in the boat, but the boat as a whole. And a boat affected is a team affected.

Please encourage and respect your child's decision to be part of a team that welcomes and appreciates their contribution, and help them develop through the sport they love.

Please note that 3 unexcused absences or violation of Nichols School conduct policy will result in dismissal from the Crew.

General Information

Crew is very different from other sports at Nichols School. First, it is one of the few, if not the only sport, that an individual can pick up in high school and reach the highest levels of the sport.

Second, the sport takes place almost exclusively off campus. All water practices take place at either at the West Side Rowing Club (WSRC) or Tonawanda Creek. Some winter training also takes place at the WSRC. This makes carpooling and parent participation essential.

Unlike most rowing programs in Buffalo we do not have a year round crew program. The Nichols Crew, in alignment with the Nichols School philosophy of students participating in a different sport each season, is strictly a spring sport. The school has however, allowed the Crew to hold winter training as an athletic option. Winter training for crew is not a lettered activity and those participating in winter training must row in the spring.

The nature of the sport requires both school and parent funding. Nichols School supports the crew by paying a portion of the WSRC dues, providing coaching stipends, paying for entry fees and association dues, and providing transportation to away regattas (not including those in Canada). Nichols also purchases ancillary items like ergometers and cox boxes for the Crew. Parents pay individual seasonal dues to WSRC, an athletic fee to NS, buy uniforms for their rowers and pay dues to the parent organization. Our parent organization, Nichols Crew Parents, provides the remainder of the support needed by the team.

The Nichols Crew is comprised of both girls and boys and is really the only co-ed sports program at Nichols. In the winter all rowers work out together, but once on the water girls and boys train separately. In the spring our practices are further divided into Varsity and Novice (first year high school rowers) squads.

It is the philosophy of the coaching staff that, in general, first year Nichols rowers will row on the Novice Squad even if they have had previous rowing experience. Exceptions may be made if the number of rowers requires an additional body to fill a varsity boat. In this case an experienced or upper class novice rower may be called up from the Novice Team.

Varsity Letters are awarded to athletes who row in at least half of the varsity races during a season. Novice rowers can earn a Varsity Letter if they finish in the top three of their event at the New York State High School Championship Regatta.

Participation Requirements

All athletes are required to:

• Pass swim test *first year only

• Watch the USRowing Safety Video *annually

• Complete and submit all necessary forms required by Nichols School: Physical Form, Athletic Code of Conduct

• Submit Crew Information Sheet and Driving Permission Form

• Pay USRowing dues and sign the USRowing waiver

• Pay WSRC individual dues on Regatta Central website. WSRC does offer hardship scholarships. Contact the head coach for application.

• Pay Nichols Crew dues, payable to Nichols Crew Team. This fee covers all food, beverage and shelter for each event for the season.

• Purchase team uniform of unisuit, jacket, long sleeved shirt, and tights for varsity rowers; shirt for novice rowers

• Participate in fundraising events

• Abide by all Nichols School conduct policies

Practice Attendance Policy

PRACTICES ARE MANDATORY. If a rower does not show up his/her boat remains on land. If you must miss practice notify your coach in advance.

Excusable reasons for missing practice are:

• Serious illness/injury

• Family emergencies

• Make up exams

Inexcusable reasons for missing practice are:

• Medical appointments

• Heavy homework

• Family outings

• After school projects

• Last minute practices called by music and/or theater department

• Last minute study groups or exam reviews

• Other sports practices/matches

• Anything other than the items listed as excusable

Practice Needs

• Running shoes

• Appropriate athletic wear.  Pants and shorts should be spandex or some other fitted material so they do not get caught in the boat seats.

• Outer wear (sweat shirt, sweat pants, hat and gloves – not cotton) for cold days

• Water proof jacket for rainy workouts

• Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen for sunny practices

• Gloves are not to be worn while erging or in the boats

• Water bottle with name on it

• Inhalers, epi-pens or other needed medication

  
  

Please label all belongings as there are many of the same item 

Regatta Packing List

• ID (passport or driver’s license) is necessary at Canadian regattas

• Uniform - may be rinsed and hung to dry for two-day races 

• Hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants (or fleece) while on land - to keep muscles warm 

• Rowing jacket or other water-resistant outerwear for use in boat 

• Socks - a rower can never have enough of these 

• Hat - to preserve body heat 

• Gloves - may not be worn during racing unless you are a coxswain 

• Sandals - to slip in and out of on the docks 

• Complete change of warm, dry clothes for after race (very important) 

• Shoes/rubber boots - an extra pair in case one gets wet 

• Blanket/sleeping bag - for keeping warm in the tents and on the bus 

• Reusable water bottle. Plastic single-use water bottles WILL NOT be provided at the tent.

In addition bring the following on overnight trips:

• Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hair brush, personal items 

• Book bag and homework - to work on during idle time 

• Medications - if needed (inform coach and crew parents) 

• Snacks and drinks - to be consumed on the bus - fruit, pretzels, etc. 

Rowers must clean up after themselves on the bus!

Please label all belongings as there are many of the same item 

Parent Survival Checklist

• Rain gear (including rubber boots) and umbrella 

• Warm hat, gloves, boots and jacket for cold weather 

• Hat, sunscreen, shorts for warm weather 

• Comfortable walking shoes and/or duck shoes 

• Camera, binoculars 

• Folding chairs (mark with your name)