Almost 90% of rowers
had no experience in the sport before they started college. We
are looking for motivated students who are willing to learn. We take
care of the rest.
Whether you are an incoming freshman or a junior at Northwestern, you can join the team as a “novice”. Some of our most successful athletes have discovered rowing purely by accident. All you need to do is show up to practice, and you will be taught everything you need to know.
Why row?It is an amazing feeling to glide through the water and with every stroke feel connected to the boat and to other people. Rowing gives you the chance to find an individual drive and to push yourself to your physical and mental limits. Rowing teaches you to rely on others and to share in both glory and defeat. The people you row with every day will become some of your best friends for college and for the rest of your life.
"I've been rowing for five years now and I absolutely love it. It's a great sport. Not only is it fun, but you really get to know and trust your teammates in a way that I don't think is possible in other sports. For sure you'll work hard, but it is incredibly rewarding. Even better is that most people start in college, so as opposed to other sports like tennis or soccer, where people have been playing since they were born, you'll be learning along with everyone else." -- Adam Evans |
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Who makes a good rower?
To excel in rowing, you have to be
willing to sacrifice for your teammates. Dedication to your own
training and a commitment to the team are essential. The strength and
stamina needed to win will follow.
Rowers come from a variety of backgrounds including soccer, swimming, track and
cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, and even speedskating. Some of the
most successful novice rowers had never even been part of an athletic team
in high school.
If you are willing to commit the time and effort it takes to row, you too will be successful.
Who
makes a good coxswain?
Coxswains are every bit as important
as rowers andhave a difficult job to do. If rowers are the engine that
propels a boat, the coxswain is the driver. Coxswains primarily steer,
but also serve as mini-coaches in the boat, organizing and directing
rowers during practices and races.
To be a good coxswain it is necessary
to posess the same commtiment and drive as the rowers, and in additon
have the ability to lead and organize a team.
Being small helps too.
What is novice year like?
Novice
training starts immediately after the Fall Recruitment
Informational Meeting. After a few days of learning the basics of the
stroke, you will get your first chance to get on the water in a boat
with seven other new rowers and a new coxswain. After only four weeks,
you start racing other novice crews from around the Midwest and the
country. But don't worry, all novices practice in the evening,
so you don't have to worry about early mornings!
After the fall season comes to a
close, indoor winter training starts. The purpose of winter training is
to transition from the longer fall distances to the shorter spring
sprint races. Winter training is crucial to any good crew as it builds
the athletic base needed for the upcoming spring season.
What about the time commitment?
Rowing can be one of the defining choices you make in college - both as an athlete and as a student. We'd be lying to you if we told you it wasn't a huge commitment of time. However, rowing teaches you effeciency and time management skills - rowers have excelled in almost every major and field. In fact, most rowers report seeing their grades improve during season! Anyone can tell you that rowing requires a lot of time, but in the end, it is more than worth it.
How can I get a better idea of what rowing is like?
The videos and photos on our website will give you some idea but in reality the only way to geta feel for what rowing is like is to get in a boat. Come to a few practices. They're geared towards giving you a taste of what makes rowing great.
