Aug. 21, 2009

SAN DIEGO - Prospective athletes interested in trying out for the 2009-10 San Diego State women's rowing team will need to attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Aztec Athletics Center auditorium.

SDSU women's crew is a nationally competitive collegiate sport sanctioned by the NCAA. Rowing is the second-largest sport on campus next to football with an average of 70 women participating each year. The sport begins training in the fall with the bulk of competition taking place during the spring semester.

No previous rowing experience is necessary. However, a potential student-athlete should be dedicated, focused and committed to the team concept. Full-time enrollment at San Diego State is required. Smaller athletes are also encouraged to join as coxswains.

In order to be part of any Division I collegiate sports team, all student athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Please visit the website for details and more information about NCAA certification.

Physical examinations are also mandatory before attending tryouts for the crew team. The necessary paperwork is online and can be filled out by a family physician after the completion of the physical. Click here to view and print the paperwork. Please bring the completed form to the informational meeting along with the medical form that you are required to fill out.

There are potential scholarship opportunities available. A checklist for athletes wishing to try out is available by clicking here. For additional information or if you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact assistant coach Alison Abrams at (619) 594-8911 or by e-mail at aabrams@mail.sdsu.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need experience to join the team?
No experience is necessary to join the rowing team. All athletes new to the sport will be placed on the Novice squad where they will learn the basic techniques of rowing. Those athletes coming in with experience will be placed according to their skill level on either the varsity or novice squad.

What do I need to do to join the team?
All interested students are highly encouraged to attend the informational meeting on Wednesday, Sept 9th at 6 pm in the Aztec Athletics Center. If possible, each student should try to have a physical examination completed with the SDSU physical form (click here to view and print). All students should also visit the NCAA Eligibility Center NCAA Eligibility Center and start the registration process.

If I don't know how to row, how will you decide who makes the team at tryouts?
There will be a two-week session of try-outs that will consist of various tasks and activities. This will include learning how to use the rowing machines with proper technique and learning how to row in an actual boat. There will also be a timed 1-2 mile run to test your athleticism along with a swim test. The coaches will be looking for motivated, athletic, team oriented and coachable athletes.

Are there different "positions" on the team?
There are different positions on the team. Each boat has 8 rowers and 1 coxswain. Each rower is assigned a position in the boat as either a port or a starboard. Port side athletes row to their right side and starboard side athletes row to their left side. The coxswain is generally a smaller athlete (120 lbs or less) who sits in the stern of the boat and helps the coaches run practice. They help correct technique, motivate the rowers, steer, and keep everyone on pace.

How big is the team?
The team usually consists of about 35 returning varsity athletes, 15 recruited freshman, and about 25 walk-on athletes. In total, the crew team will have around 75 athletes.

What are practices like and how often are they?
After the team roster is finalized, the regular practice schedule will go into effect. The novices will be practicing 5 days a week on the water. Practice will last approximately 2 hours. There will be double practice on Tuesday. The second practice will be on campus on the rowing machines lasting 1 hour.

Where does the team practice?
The team practices at Mission Bay Aquatic Center off of Santa Clara Point in Mission Beach. The land workouts are held on campus at the Aztec Athletics Center.

How long is the "rowing season"?
The crew season is broken up into two parts. The fall season starts in September and lasts until mid November. During this time the team competes in long distance races known as head races. The spring season starts in January and lasts until May and the team participates in shorted sprint races.

Does the Novice Team get to travel, too?
The novices travel to the majority of the races with the team. Most traveling occurs during the spring season.

How much will it cost?
Joining the SDSU Crew team only has a few initial fees that are associated with the NCAA certification and cost of a physical examination. Other than those costs, the Aztec Athletic department provides funding for everything from uniforms to travel expenses.