Crew Selection - for HAMP CREW

How a team of rowers is broken up into boats is comprised of many elements. It’s a topic that can bewilder rowers and parents.
This page will help demystify the selection possess.

• Gender: Boats are divided into female and male rowers. Coxswains can be of either gender.
• Side: Rowers either row the left side (port), the right side (starboard), or may row either side.
• Level: First year rowers or Freshman and younger are considered Novice. Novice rowers can "row up," but once you become a varsity rower, you cannot compete as novice rower
• Attendance and Attitude: All athletes are expected to attend practices, have a positive attitude, and support their teammates.
• Erg Scores: Erg scores (time trials on the ergometer) help to determine the fitness level of the rowers, in addition to the overall power they can contribute to the boat. Remember that erging is not rowing. Very often, rowers cannot perform well on the erg and ergers cannot perform well on the water. It takes a skilled eye to tell the difference. It is rare that a boat is made up of the top 8 erg scores.
• Skill Level/Technique: Technique is the ability to row with proper form. Technique is considered before erg scores in most cases (see above).

These elements are part of what coaches look at while making lineups, but so much of rowing is a “feel thing." Coaches can never rely entirely on objective tools to measure absolute speed on the water. In fact, in most cases crew selections are based on relative measures of strength, speed, efficiency, and crew chemistry. The coach’s job in selections is to put together what she/he believes or feels will be the fastest combination of rowers. Rarely does one factor decide a boating, and rarely are boats set in stone never to be changed. We are also limited to the size boats we have. There are many times when we have 9 rowers who can make the boat go fast but only 8 seats.

What to do if you, or your rower still does not understand the coach's selection:
1. Talk with your rower calmly. Do not get over-excited as this can be an extremely emotional time for them. Understand how much work they have put in and how disappointed they are. Most of the time, they just need you to listen.

2. Determine if your rower just needs a shoulder to cry on, a push to talk with the coach, or if you should contact the coach. (Remember this can be a good learning point for your rower.)

3. If you think you need to speak with the coaches.

1. Tell your rower you are calling. If the reaction is horror (which it usually is), dig deeper and make sure you have all the information.
2. Contact your rower's coach. The Head Coach has no say in who is boated on other squads except the one she/he is coaching. As well, the Head Coach cannot force another coach to boat a rower.
3. Remember that coaches are open to conversation. Please keep it polite. Yelling will not get your rower boated.
4. Listen to what the coach has to say. If you are still unsure, contact the Head Coach. The Head coach can investigate and insure that the choice was made fairly and in sync with the program's mission.

Coach’s Note: Novice placement in racing boats may not reflect skill level; our philosophy for novice year is that everyone experiences a race.