GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL CREW HANDBOOK 2016-2017 GERMANTOWN FRIENDS CREW HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABOUT GFS CREW .............................................................................................................. 1 MISSION ................................................................................................................. 1 HISTORY ................................................................................................................. 1 VESPER BOATHOUSE .......................................................................................................... 2 2016-2017 CREW CONTACTS ............................................................................................. 2 COACHES ................................................................................................................ 2 PARENT COORDINATORS ....................................................................................... 2 TEAM CAPTAINS ..................................................................................................... 3 2016-2017 SEASONS .......................................................................................................... 3 FALL SEASON – AUGUST 29, 2016 THROUGH NOVEMBER 6, 2016 ....................... 3 WINTER SEASON - NOVEMBER 14, 2016 THROUGH FEBRUARY 11, 2017 ............ 5 SPRING SEASON – FEBRUARY 18, 2017 THROUGH MAY 20, 2017 ........................ 6 NATIONALS - MAY 22, 2017 THROUGH JUNE 11, 2017 ....................................... 10 SUMMER – MID-JUNE THROUGH LATE AUGUST ................................................. 10 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL SEASONS ................................................................... 11 VARSITY AND NOVICE TEAMS .............................................................................. 11 LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING ....................................................................................... 11 WHAT TO EXPECT AT PRACTICE ........................................................................... 12 WHAT TO WEAR/BRING TO PRACTICE ................................................................. 13 REGATTAS/RACE DAY EXPECTATIONS ................................................................. 13 PARKING ............................................................................................................... 14 RACE RESULTS ...................................................................................................... 15 BLISTER CARE ....................................................................................................... 15 NUTRITION INFORMATION .................................................................................. 15 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS .................................... 15 PARENT COORDINATORS ..................................................................................... 15 OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES .................................................................. 15 VOLUNTEER LAUNCH DRIVERS ............................................................................ 16 PSRA SPRING VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS ........................................................ 16 THE SPRING TENT ................................................................................................. 16 GLOSSARY OF ROWING TERMS........................................................................................ 19 APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................ A-1 VESPER BOAT CLUB WAIVER ............................................................................... A-2 LETTER RE: LIGHTWEIGHT CERTIFICATION ......................................................... A-3 SAMPLE TENT SIGN UP GENIUS .......................................................................... A-4 BOAT CLASSIFICATIONS ...................................................................................... A-5 GFS CREW ARCHIVES........................................................................................... A-6 i ABOUT GFS CREW Welcome to GFS Crew. The sport of rowing is demanding and richly rewarding, but also confusing to those new to the sport. This handbook will help parents and athletes through the first year and beyond. MISSION Germantown Friends School is dedicated to reaching that of God in every person. Our mission is to seek truth, challenge the intellect, honor differences, embrace the city, and nurture each student's mind, body and spirit. GFS athletics encourages all students to develop their capabilities to the fullest extent possible. Participation in athletics focuses on cultivating the principles valued by the school community with its Quaker roots including truthfulness, simplicity, self-discipline, respect for others and respect for one’s self. Through the tradition of rowing, GFS students have the opportunity to engage in a sport that provides unique opportunities to promote personal and community growth through teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. HISTORY Rowing is a new and fast growing sport at GFS. Prior to the spring of 2015, athletes at GFS rowed through a privately run program for students whose schools did not have their own boathouses or programs. In the summer of 2014, the private program lost its space on Boathouse Row leaving GFS athletes without a place to row or a program. Coach Aaron Preetam, former GFS Crew parent Mimi McKenzie, and a determined group of GFS administrators stepped up to create the GFS Rowing Program. We are grateful to Aaron for his inspiring leadership and dedication, to our first Assistant coaches - GFS Sixth Grade teacher Jeff Fetterman and Blair Edelin Bradley - for going well beyond the responsibilities of their positions, to former GFS CFO Mina Fader for finding funds and providing incredible behind the scenes logistical support, to Head of School Dana Weeks for empowering and supporting these folks, and to several crew parents and former crew parents who generously bought the first boats and donated to crew scholarship. Without them, this program would not be possible. Unlike long-established rowing programs, GFS Rowing has no budget from the school or an endowment and accordingly must charge rowers to cover the annual operating costs. However, GFS is committed to making crew available to all athletes so there is financial aid available and a student is not required to be currently receiving financial aid from GFS to be eligible. While current families are not expected to take on the full cost for items that will be used for multiple years, the regular annual cost of running crew (lease costs, boat rentals, coaches, insurance, equipment, etc.) is more than the revenue that GFS is currently receiving from crew families. School and some generous crew parents and coaches are not only making up the annual operating shortage but are also covering the capital investment and scholarship. Please consider becoming a part of this generous tradition by making a gift to the GFS Crew Program. For a new program, GFS Crew has already had remarkable success. At the conclusion of this Handbook is an Archive containing GFS Rowing Achievements to date. VESPER BOATHOUSE GFS Fall and Spring Crew row out of Vesper Boathouse, 10 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Athletes are only permitted in the boathouse during the scheduled practice times and when a coach is present. All gear should be stowed in the erg room. Rowers are permitted to use the facilities to change and not socialize. A gender-neutral bathroom is located next to the kitchen. 2016-2017 CREW CONTACTS COACHES Aaron Preetam, Varsity Head Coach [email protected] 618-521-4358 (cell) Jeff Fetterman, Novice Head Coach [email protected] 267-496-5108 (cell) Denise Cirelli, Assistant Coach [email protected] 610-209-6495 PARENT COORDINATORS Susan Smith & Wayne Zukin, Parent Communications [email protected]; 267-252-9581 (cell) [email protected]; 267-847-1297 (cell) (parents of Lily Zukin ’18) Nancy Kelleher, Tent & Parking Pass Coordination [email protected] 215-606-7748 (mother of Luke Cartrite ’18) Audrey Pancoe, PSRA Representative and Coordinator [email protected] 215-768-2756 (cell) (mother of Sam Pancoe ’18) 2 Kathleen Hogan, Fan Wear [email protected] 773-960-3750 (cell) (mother of Ayla Malefakis ’19) TEAM CAPTAINS Gabe Sher ‘17, Men’s Crew Captain James Wright ’18, Men’s Crew Captain Sam Pancoe ‘18, Women’s Crew Captain Lily Zukin ’18, Women’s Crew Captain 2016-2017 SEASONS FALL SEASON – AUGUST 29, 2016 THROUGH NOVEMBER 6, 2016 The fall rowing season, September through November, is the long distance training and racing season for crews. The fall regattas follow a “head race” format, where the course is significantly longer and boats leave the starting line one-by-one at set intervals, primarily racing against the clock and allowing many crews to compete simultaneously. Athletes New to Rowing - Learn to Row/Swimming Proficiency Requirements Athletes new to rowing (novices) must complete a learn-to-row program and show proof of swimming proficiency. Learn to Row programs are offered by local rowing organizations and usually take 2 weeks to complete. They are typically offered in the summer and fall. Athletes interested in joining the fall crew team who have not completed a learn-to-row program should contact Aaron Preetam for details on how to fulfill that requirement and for information concerning proof of swimming