Parents’ FAQs

No. Crew demands endurance, strength, discipline and an ability to tolerate the pain their muscles will experience in the last 500 meters of a race. Every potential student-athlete can develop endurance and strength through regular exercise, which we promote during pre-season Winter Conditioning. The skills and discipline of Crew can be learned. 

No. Few if any students entering Riverside High School have had any rowing experience. 

No. The Riverside Crew team does not sponsor, promote, or require any offseason activities. However, if your athlete is interested, there are several offseason rowing opportunities, including local rowing clubs and summer camps and programs, that you may be interested in, some as close as the Lansdowne Potomac Club and some as far away as Providence, Rhode Island. Participation in any of these programs is entirely at the parents’ discretion and expense. 

Yes, in many respects it is. In the words of a former Riverside Crew team member: “Crew is the ultimate team sport. One person being a hero isn’t going to make the team win the race. It takes the strength, determination, and heart of the whole team to overcome the obstacles. In a sport such as soccer, one person can get the ball, take it all the way down the field, and score a goal. In baseball, it only takes one person to hit a home run. Imagine being in a race in which only one person in your boat is rowing while the rest of you just sit there. You won’t be reaching the finish line anytime soon.” Rowing isn’t a great choice for athletes looking for MVP status. It is, however, teamwork’s best teacher.

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Crew is a Spring sport. The rowing season begins in late February and concludes in late May. Practices take place on the Potomac River after school Monday through Friday, and on Saturday mornings. Rowers are strongly encouraged to take part in pre-season conditioning which begins in mid-November. 

Generally, yes.

Some do, some don’t, while others do other non-sport activities, such as band or other clubs. 

No. Parents, siblings, or spectators are allowed in team tent area. 

The crew team has generally had one of the highest GPAs of all Riverside teams, with 50-70% of the crew team having GPAs over 3.5. They learn excellent time management skills. 

High school crew races are typically 1500 meters in length. 

Local regattas take place on the Occoquan River at Sandy Run Regional Park in Fairfax County. 

* Select Boats Only
** Qualifying Boats Only

The Riverside Crew Board provides transportation for athletes from Riverside to the Occoquan and then back to Algonkian on Saturdays for regattas. Although some upperclassmen opt to drive themselves, using the bus transportation is promoted for safety reasons.  

In the past few seasons, dues have averaged around $1,500. This fee included most costs associated with crew but does not include uniform costs (approximately $100), or championship regattas, which involve additional fees. Crew fees can be paid all at once or spread out over several payments. 

Crew is a club sport in Loudoun County schools.  As a result, we receive no financial support from Loudoun County Public Schools or Riverside High School. Rowing is supported by dues paid by each rower’s family and by fundraising activities. Income from these sources is used for coaches’ salaries, equipment purchases and maintenance, racks for our boats, regatta fees, insurance, and other administrative needs. 

Yes, rowers and coxswains earn letters. Riverside Crew athletes meet Virginia High School League and Riverside High School requirements for participation in sports and therefore are eligible to earn varsity letters year one on the team. 

Yes, there are additional expenses for required crew uniforms and travel to out-of-town regattas. The purchase of optional team apparel such as sweats, polo shirts, hats, visors, jackets, etc. is extra.

The only required gear/equipment that you need to purchase is either the team tank and trou, or team unisuit (uni). Your registration fee covers all other equipment, i.e. boats, oars, etc. The team practices and competes in harsh weather conditions.  Weather can change quickly, so always be prepared for heat, sun, wind, rain, or cold.  Here is a list of recommended clothing and equipment all athletes should have with them: 

• Water bottle!  There are water fountains at the boathouse, but athletes need drinking water while out in the boats, in cold or warm weather.
• Running shoes, athletes run after practice. 
• Tall waterproof boots
• Nylon or synthetic shorts or warm-up pants. Athletes must wear form-fitting shorts or pants. Loose or baggy shorts or pants are not allowed, as they may get caught in the boat slides. 
• A short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt made from technical fabric such as Under Armor, Patagonia Capilene, or COOLMAX. These fabrics keep you warmer and drier by wicking moisture away from skin. 
• A polar fleece jacket or sweatshirt. 
• A knit hat (not a baseball cap) during cold weather. 
• Sunglasses (or a baseball cap for warmer weather) to protect your eyes from the glare reflecting off the water.
• Gloves.
• Rain gear.
• EXTRA CLOTHES. It is likely that you will get wet while out rowing. Water splashes, and occasionally the wake from a motor launch can splash over the gunwale of the boat, leaving you drenched. It’s a necessity to have warm, dry changes of clothes. 
• Sunscreen/bug spray.

Yes. Parents help plan and conduct the activities of the Riverside Crew, including fundraising activities, team dinners, volunteer assignments at the Occoquan regattas, the annual end-of-season dinner, etc. Parents are also asked to serve as chaperones, assist with food, etc. on trips to out-of-town regattas. Support of, and participation in, fundraising is especially important. These activities not only make it possible to have a crew program but also provide a way for parents to be involved in their children’s lives and get to know their children’s friends and other Riverside parents. 

 SEND THE LETTER located on the website under “Donate – Letter Writing Campaign” to businesses, friends & family 

 SHARE Flyers and Fundraising events on personal & neighborhood social media pages 

 ASK Friends, family, and local business to become a sponsor or donate 

 EAT At Restaurant Nights (Events will be posted on social media) 

 HELP Create and work fundraising events (Door 2 Door, Pancake Breakfast) 

 SERVE on the Riverside Crew Board of Directors or as the team’s VASRA representative or LOC

Time commitments vary based on volunteer activity. As a team, Riverside Crew is required to provide 2 Local Organizing Chairs (LOCs) and various other positions for each regatta. LOCs are the same person throughout the entire season. The other positions change week to week based on parent availability. If we do not fill all the VASRA volunteer requirements for each regatta, our team will be fined.  

No. Riverside Crew, unlike other Crew teams, does not charge membership fees. Nor do we have mandated volunteer hours. 

Don’t worry, all regatta assignments will include on-the-job training! These jobs range from selling food at concession stands, driving launches for judges, serving as finish-line timers, and directing drivers into parking lots to assisting in course set-up on race days. Help is also needed before the season to prepare the equipment and to lay out lanes and markers for the racecourse, and to retrieve and store everything after the season.  

The Riverside Crew has a Board of Directors and different support POCs. The Board meets monthly, and parents are welcome to attend. 

Please email us at info@riversidecrew.org. We will do our best to answer whatever questions you may have!