FAQs for Prospective Rowers and Coxswains
Posted on August 31, 2008
Last modified on June 25, 2009
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What is TJ Crew?
TJ Crew is a competitive high school program for both boy and girl rowers. Our rowers compete successfully on the local, state and national levels. The Jefferson Crew team has over 120 athletes participating each year.
Do I need experience to join?
Almost all rowers who join TJ Crew have never rowed before. Through daily practices with top rowing coaches, rowers get into excellent physical condition and learn rowing skills and teamwork. If you are strong and tall, you may naturally be a good rower. If you are small and lightweight, you may make a good coxswain.
Where do we row? What time are practices?
In the Spring, the team rows on the Occoquan at Sandy Run Regional Park, about 20 minutes from TJ. A bus will be available for freshmen to ride from TJ to Sandy Run. Rowers usually form carpools home (parent or student driven).
Novice rowers practice four afternoons after school during the week, as well as Saturday mornings (until regattas start, and then Saturday is race day). On Wednesdays and Fridays, the students leave school at the start of B block and head down to the river. On the other days, the students leave immediately after school, at 3:50 pm. Tuesday is usually a day off for the novice rowers. Practices run until about 6:30 pm or 7:00 pm (as the season progresses and the days are longer, the boats are able to stay out a little longer but all rowers must leave the park by 7:00 pm).
Like other Spring Sports, TJ Crew holds practices during Spring break.
I thought crew was a Spring Sport – what’s this about Fall Rowing and Winter Training?
Crew is a spring sport, running from the end of February through the end of May, but if you are not participating in a winter sport, we highly recommend that you take part in our winter training program that begins in mid-November at TJ. Many of our experienced rowers participate in Fall Rowing Programs either on the Occoquan or Potomac Rivers. This helps them stay in shape and develop their rowing skills. These programs are not run by TJ, and the students participate with students and coaches from other local rowing clubs.
Where does the team compete?
The Crew team participates in several regattas during the Spring season. Most of these regattas are held on Saturdays during April and May. In addition, the team usually travels in April to St. Andrews in Delaware to compete (day trip). In May, select boats usually participate in the Stotesbury Cup Regatta (Philadelphia) and SRA National Championship (location varies from year to year).
Is TJ Crew a Varsity Sport?
Even though Crew is a club sport at TJ, athletes can earn Varsity Letters after their freshman year. Generally, rowers on the top two boys and girls boats earn a Varsity Letter, as well as rowers on the third boat, if they compete in certain races.
Why do we have to pay membership dues?
Crew is a varsity sport at TJ, but unlike other high school sports, receives no financial support from Fairfax County since crew is considered a club sport. Crew is managed by parents through the Thomas Jefferson Crew Booster organization, a volunteer organization of dedicated crew parents. The Boosters provide the resources necessary to conduct a successful crew program at TJ. The Boosters are responsible for raising the money to pay for the entire program, including the racing shells, coaches' salaries, boathouse rental, and equipment. In addition to the dues paid by team members, the Crew team also raises money through the sale of Sally Foster wrapping paper and grocery gift cards and by holding fundraising events (such as the annual yard sale and craft fair held each fall).
Membership dues are set each year by the Boosters. For the Spring 2009 season, membership dues were $500 per rower or coxswain. In addition to dues, team members have to earn “money points.” For the Spring 2009 season, returning rowers/coxswains had to earn 43 points and novice rowers had to earn 23 points. A money point is earned by engaging in an activity that earns $10 for TJ Crew. Alternatively, rowers may buy out all or a portion of their money point obligation by contributing a like amount to crew in cash (for the Spring 2009 season, this is $430 for current rowers and $230 for novice rowers).
For Booster questions, contact the President, at TJCrewPresident@gmail.com
How do I earn Money Points?
You can earn money points by purchasing Sally Foster wrapping paper, Grocery Gift Cards, or Holiday Gift Cards.
See the Fundraising section of the website for more information on Grocery Gift Cards (generally, for every $300 in grocery gift cards, you earn 1 money point).
The October 2009 OARacle (newsletter) will have information and order forms for Sally Foster and Holiday Gift Cards. The newsletters, along with the order forms, are posted on the website on the file browser.
Will you be holding any informational meetings?
We encourage freshmen and upper class novices (and their parents) to join us at our Crew Interest Night on October 14, 2009 at 7:30 pm in the TJ Cafeteria. We will also be holding an open house on a Sunday, in October at the TJ Boathouse at Sandy Run Regional Park – come and try rowing with us!
We will also hold an All Family Meeting to kick off the season in February 2010.
Students interested in rowing should contact the Crew Captains at TJMensCaptains@gmail.com or TJWomensCaptains@gmail.com to get on the captains’ email distribution list.
The Crew Captains also hold Crew Interest meetings in the Fall and Winter during 8th period. Watch for the announcements.
How can I learn more about TJ Crew?
In addition to contacting the captains and the boosters, please read our newsletter, the OARacle. The OARacle is published several times a year and posted online. The first issue of the year (usually early October) contains all the information and forms you need for registration, fund raising forms, money points, etc. Another issue will be posted before the season starts, with additional information on registration, uniforms and other pre-season information. During the Spring season, the OARacles contain information on the regattas.
The Crew Handbook is posted on the website on the file browser (under "other") and contains information about the team and its policies.
Important Dates for 2009-2010:
Wednesday, October 14, 2009: Crew Family Interest Night, 7:30 pm, TJ Cafeteria
Sunday, October 2009 (Date to be announced): Open House at Sandy Run Regional Park, 1 – 3 pm
November - February: Winter Training, TJ Cafeteria, 4:00 pm
February 2010 (Date to be announced): All Family Meeting, TJ Cafeteria, 7:30 pm
Late February 2010: Spring Season begins, Sandy Run Park
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