? on DS just getting email recruiting him for rowing

DS is figuring this out himself, but I myself, would like to know what info others on here may have on the rowing team and also on the fact that they contacted him and the best way to respond.

Like, because they emailed him, would this be something they strongly urge him to do and he needs to say yes? Or is there time for him to feel things out in rowing and different sports during Plebe Summer before committing? DS has looked at all the opportunities the USNA has for sports and rowing wasn't one that he mentioned an interest in. This may be due to the fact that we don't have rowing for a sport around here too.

Thank you for taking time to respond

DS got a similar e-mail from the lightweight rowing coach last year before plebe summer. He was interested, even though he had never had an opportunity to row in high school. Plus Navy rowing has a pretty good competitive team and DS was ready for something new. DS ran Cross Country (2x state qualifier) and wrestled (4x regional champ/state qualifier, 4th junior yr, 2nd sr yr) in high school. I think the letters may be sent to those in a certain weight range who have shown athletic success. Rowing is a demanding sport but one that a lot of competitors don't really enter until college level. In the end he went to the information session/practice during plebe summer and decided it wasn't his calling. He also went to wrestling, rugby, and played company intramural soccer. Eventually was asked by a company mate to try cheer squad. Good upper body strength and balance for lifts. He made the squad and really enjoys the camraderie of being involved with various sports. It also gave him some opportunities to travel during Plebe year that a lot of non varsity Plebes may not get. If your DS is interested, encourage exploration. They will find a niche.

Spanky58ggpt said:

DS got a similar e-mail from the lightweight rowing coach last year before plebe summer. He was interested, even though he had never had an opportunity to row in high school. Plus Navy rowing has a pretty good competitive team and DS was ready for something new. DS ran Cross Country (2x state qualifier) and wrestled (4x regional champ/state qualifier, 4th junior yr, 2nd sr yr) in high school. I think the letters may be sent to those in a certain weight range who have shown athletic success. Rowing is a demanding sport but one that a lot of competitors don't really enter until college level. In the end he went to the information session/practice during plebe summer and decided it wasn't his calling. He also went to wrestling, rugby, and played company intramural soccer. Eventually was asked by a company mate to try cheer squad. Good upper body strength and balance for lifts. He made the squad and really enjoys the camraderie of being involved with various sports. It also gave him some opportunities to travel during Plebe year that a lot of non varsity Plebes may not get. If your DS is interested, encourage exploration. They will find a niche.

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Thank you for sharing your son's experience. That answers a lot for me. Sounds like the rowing coach at least wants to encourage my son to check rowing out, but that is all. Nice to hear that your son found his spot. I look forward to hearing from my son how things work out for him.

My DS actually emailed the lightweight rowing coach Steve Perry about a month ago expressing interest in the team. Instead, he ended up getting a brown envelope from the Sprint Football coach inviting him to come out for that team.

Was your DS contacted by the Lightweight or Heavyweight coach? I am curious as to what this means, if anything. I'm suspecting that it does have more to do with, as suggested above, kids with a certain height/weight being funneled into various sports, but just curious if anyone has any more info.

Thanks in advance!

Our DS received the same email for rowing. The email was sent to 171 other incoming plebes, which leads me to believe there was some height/weight/sports criteria that was met and a mass email sent out. I think I read about this on another post.

DS has no prior rowing experience, but has shown some interest. He thinks the water might be a nice place to be in the Summer. Of course maybe not so nice in winter! The nice thing about rowing is they field a freshman team which competes against other institutions, giving plebes a rare opportunity. Rowing is incredibly physically demanding, which may or may not be what they want right out of the gate.

I'm going to be on the women's crew team (I've rowed for two years/was recruited during the school year), and a few weeks ago the coach sent all of the recruited girls an email welcoming us to the team. Of the 18 or so girls who were "recruited," only 5 or 6 of us actually have any prior rowing experience.

Rowing is unique in the fact that it has a "novice" (women) or "freshman" (men) team. This is basically a beginner team with beginner boats. You learn the whole sport from the ground up, and at regattas you race other school's novice/freshman boats. Every rower goes through this, and it's a great way to learn the sport.
My guess is the Navy rowing coaches are recruiting appointees who are strong athletically but aren't going into another varsity sport in order to fill out the novice and freshman teams. Rowing is great for transferring strength and endurance from another sport. I was a competitive swimmer for years before I started rowing, and I know my strength from that really helped.

A lot of schools (Ivies, Stanford, etc) will also recruit nonrowers who might have potential in the sport. There are actually more women rowing in college than there are in high school -- you don't have to have been rowing for a million years to be good at it. I once heard a story about a guy at Harvard or Yale who started rowing his sophomore year, and by senior year was on the Olympic team (I don't know if this is actually true, but it isn't too implausible).

As for saying yes, I would encourage your son to do so. I had no idea what I was getting into with rowing, but it's a fun sport and he should at least check it out. The coaches understand that he's completely new to it, and won't hold it against him if he eventually decides it's not for him. From what I've heard, everyone will have a chance to try their hand at it during plebe summer.

Sorry for such a long response. I just thought more information would help you figure it out.

Dolphins, Thanks for writing. It's nice getting to know people before possibly meeting them on i-Day. DS was contacted by the heavy-weight coach.

cfire, So glad you wrote. I had gone back to my son's email to see if it was sent to anyone else and saw the numbers, so it's nice to hear from someone who got the same thing. I'm guessing our sons may meet if your son has an interest and our son likes the idea of trying rowing. Yes. The idea of them getting to compete in their first year does sound exciting.

vjb16, nice hearing from a soon to be plebe . Congratulations to you! Writing long was fine by me because I like the details. My son was a competitive swimmer too. So maybe rowing is the natural way to go since times were faster than what he has been going,for him to make the swim team at the academy. So we shall see. Maybe he will meet you sometime along the way . Have a good plebe summer and many successes for yourself!

USNA just appointed a new men's rowing coach, which might explain a new "outreach" program. My former-Mid son rowed @ the Academy w/ no previous experience, so here are a couple random observations:

Pros: Great for fitness, great for camaraderie, great to get to know upper classmen in a friendly environment, and a great escape for plebes. Because crew is kind of an orphan sport -- meaning it doesn't have a huge following, and doesn't involved hundreds of athletes -- no one seemed on top of schedules for practice, workouts, races, or travel. Result: a tiny bit of flexibility and invisibility that plebes treasure. My former-Mid also found warm-ups a pleasant relief from whites/Dixie cup. And he absolutely loved rowing.

Cons: Like any sport, crew takes time Mids don't have -- but since something like 1/3 of the Brigade plays intercollegiate sports, it certainly can be done. Also like many sports, crew can cut into leave time (likely to eliminate spring break). During winter months, crew practices on ERG equipment where my son sustained a back injury after a couple years that threatened his ability to serve, and ended his crew career. A friend's son on USNA's lightweight crew had a similar experience, and two kids I know who rowed @ Harvard did, as well. Beware of over-training (and zealous coaches).

Oh, and pros for parents: If you can get to any regattas, you'll have an opportunity to hang out w/ your Mid (not the case w/ some other sports). I made dear friends via the crew parents' listserv. We've stayed in touch, even though my son didn't row his last year and a half, and all our kids have graduated.

Oh,NorthernCalMother. You gave me valuable amounts of insight. Thank you so much for posting your son's experience! And yours! Hearing about spring break really hit me hard. Though, where there's a will, there's a way I will find him

Everything you said, I hope my son will take to heart. The biggest thing is staying healthy. How is your son now? Enjoying his Navy career?

NorthernCalMother said:

USNA just appointed a new men's rowing coach, which might explain a new "outreach" program.

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I hadn't heard that. Is this the new frosh coach, replacing Matt Spalluzzi? If so, who is it? I didn't think that it would be announced until next week.

Rick Clothier has retired as head coach of the Naval Academy rowing after 38 years. Rob Friedrich, who's been there 11 years and is very well-regarded, will replace him.