GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL CREW HANDBOOK 2017-2018 1 GERMANTOWN FRIENDS CREW HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABOUT GFS CREW .............................................................................................................. 1 HOW TO READ THIS HANDBOOK………………………………………………………………………..1 MISSION ................................................................................................................. 1 HISTORY ................................................................................................................. 1 FUNDING………………………………………………………….…………………..……………………………2 VESPER BOATHOUSE .......................................................................................................... 2 2017-2018 CREW CONTACTS ............................................................................................. 2 COACHES ................................................................................................................ 2 PARENT COORDINATORS ....................................................................................... 3 TEAM CAPTAINS ..................................................................................................... 3 2017-2018 SEASONS .......................................................................................................... 4 FALL SEASON – AUGUST 28, 2016 THROUGH NOVEMBER 7, 2016 ....................... 6 WINTER SEASON - NOVEMBER 14, 2017 THROUGH FEBRUARY 10, 2018 ............ 6 SPRING SEASON – FEBRUARY 21, 2018 THROUGH MAY 19, 2018 ........................ 7 NATIONALS - MAY 21, 2018 THROUGH JUNE 10, 2018 ....................................... 10 SUMMER – MID-JUNE THROUGH LATE AUGUST ................................................. 11 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL SEASONS ................................................................... 12 VARSITY AND NOVICE TEAMS .............................................................................. 12 RULES OF THE RIVER ............................................................................................ 12 WHAT TO WEAR/BRING TO PRACTICE ................................................................. 12 LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING ....................................................................................... 13 WHAT TO EXPECT AT PRACTICE...........................................................................14 REGATTAS/RACE DAY EXPECTATIONS ................................................................. 15 PARKING ............................................................................................................... 16 NUTRITION GUIDELINES .......................................... 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BLISTER CARE ....................................................................................................... 17 ROWING IN COLLEGE/COLLEGE RECRUITING…………………………………………………...18 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS .................................... 19 PARENT COORDINATORS ..................................................................................... 19 PARENT PAIRING PROGRAM…………………………………………………..…………….……….…20 VOLUNTEER LAUNCH DRIVERS ............................................................................ 20 PSRA SPRING VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS ........................................................ 20 THE SPRING TENT ................................................................................................. 20 GLOSSARY OF ROWING TERMS........................................................................................ 24 APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................ A-1 GFS BOATS……………………………………………………………………………………………………..A-2 VESPER BOAT CLUB WAIVER ............................................................................... A-3 SAMPLE TENT SIGN UP GENIUS .......................................................................... A-4 i TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page BOAT CLASSIFICATIONS ...................................................................................... A-5 SCHUYLKILL RIVER RACE COURSE……………………………………………………………………A-6 GFS CREW ARCHIVES........................................................................................... A-7 -ii- 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. HOW TO READ THIS HANDBOOK The first thing you might notice about this handbook is that it is jam-packed with information. It is looooong and, understandably, difficult to absorb in one sitting. Our recommendation is that you read through the handbook as thoroughly as you like on a first reading, then return to it frequently as specific questions arise. You’ll see that the table of contents is comprehensive and will lead you to answers for most if not all questions that arise during the rowing year. 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. Beginning in 2010 with only one single sculler, Andrew Bair, followed by a handful of GFS rowers, GFS rowing has grown in a short time to include 32 rowers as of Spring 2017, with countless accomplishments (see Appendix A-7), and the inclusion of James Wright (’18), making it through the USRowing selection camp to become a member of the 2017 Junior National Team competing in Lithuania in the summer of 2017. Nearly all GFS alumni rowers continue to row in college; some rowing for NCAA Division I teams, others participating in college clubs. Although GFS has rowed out of the Vesper Boat Club since 2015, athletes at GFS previously 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. FUNDING Like many similar high school rowing programs, GFS Rowing is not an official school team; it is an affiliated club and, as such, must charge rowers to cover the annual operating costs. Generally, the fees for rowing are: $850 for Fall crew, $0 for winter crew, and $2600 for spring crew. GFS is committed to making crew available to all athletes. There is financial aid available to rowers; 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 currently receives from crew families. GFS and some generous crew parents and coaches not only make up the annual operating shortage but also cover the capital investment and scholarship funds. 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. Save the date! New in 2017, GFS Crew will host a fundraiser on Sunday, December 3 at the Vesper Boathouse. There will be a silent auction and, of course, great food and fun. Lots more information to come on this event. 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. Parents are not allowed in Vesper. All gear is stowed in the erg room. Rowers are permitted to use the facilities to change. A gender-neutral bathroom is located next to the kitchen. Please do not cross Kelly Drive. 2017-2018 CREW CONTACTS COACHES Aaron Preetam, Director of GFS Rowing and Head Coach [email protected] 618-521-4358 (cell) Brian Severi, Novice Head Coach [email protected] 2 610-256-3130 Caroline Fregeau, Assistant Coach, Varsity [email protected] 484-568-3325