PARENT FAQs
Why row?
Rowing is a full body sport that trains all the major muscle groups and increases overall fitness, endurance, strength and flexibility. High school athletes learn to work together, be accountable, set goals and have fun.
Can my child participate?
Your student may join Huron Crew if they meet the following criteria:
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They are a full-time student of Ann Arbor Huron High School. They are a full-time student of an AAPS consortium school--Community High School, Washtenaw International High School (WIHI), or ECA@EMU--AND their assigned high school is Huron based on their address.
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Students attending WTMC, Greenhills, or another private Ann Arbor High School may participate in HRA club activities and the majority of races, but may not be eligible to participate in “scholastic” races, including but not limited to Midwest, States, or Nationals. Students that attended ONE YEAR at Huron High School may have more race eligibility options. Coaches will meet with these families to discuss their options.
Does my child need to know how to swim?
Each athlete is required to pass a swim test performed by a certified lifeguard. While rowing is a safe sport and falling in the water is extremely rare, it is still a possibility and the coaches need to know that all of the athletes can swim and know what to do in case of emergency. Life-jackets may be worn, however they interfere with the mechanics of the stroke so most rowers prefer not to wear them. All coaches carry life-jackets and rescue equipment on the water during practices and are trained in CPR/AED and first aid.
Does my child need to come every day?
There are excused and unexcused absences like any sport, but rowing shells (boats) require a certain number of people in order to carry them and take them out to practice. If someone doesn't show up, their teammates wont' be able to practice. In addition, athletes that attend practice regularly are in better shape, have better technique, and suffer fewer injuries.Therefore, we encourage attendance in this sport.
What do season dues (HRA assessment) pay for?
Equipment, coaching, regatta entry fees, buses, hotels and equipment maintenance. We do everything we can to make rowing as affordable as possible, however the equipment for rowing is very specialized and expensive. Carbon fiber boats --60 feet long with 12 foot carbon oars -- transport our athletes down the river. We participate in local races, but we also give our athletes the opportunity to travel and race against regional and national level competition. For those races we rent buses and stay in hotels. There are surcharges for certain races. We offer fundraisers and scholarships to make rowing more accessible if it is out of reach for your family.
What are the different types of rowing (Sweep and Sculling)?
In sweep rowing, each rower has one oar and the oars alternate sides down the boat. This is typical of large team boats: eight person shells (8's), four person shells (4's) and some smaller boats such as two person boats (pairs). Most larger team boats have a coxswain (a small person who coordinates the boat and steers). Sweep boats make up the majority of the boats we row at Huron.
The other type of rowing is called sculling. In sculling, each athlete has two oars. These are typically smaller boats such as one person boats (singles), two person boats (doubles) and sometimes four person boats (quads). These boats typically have no coxswain and steer by themselves.