Welcome to Freedom Rowers Fall 2008 Program

Practice Sessions for RETURNING Youth & Adult Teams: SEPTEMBER 8 - NOVEMBER 7

*LEARN TO ROW Practice Sessions for Youth & Adult Teams will begin SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th

This memo contains important information about the Fall Season. Please read it in its entirety.

Youth Schedule

Youth practice schedules are M, T, W, Th, and F afternoons from 3:30p to 5:30p. Rowers will meet at the YMCA. We will be using the YMCA bus to transport the youth to Evergreen Cove. Youth rowers are NOT allowed to drive themselves to practice and parents are NOT to drop off or pick up the youth from Evergreen Cove during the week day practice times. 

Saturday morning practices will be from 7:30a to 9:30a. Saturday practices will be mixed practices with the youth and adult teams rowing together. Youth rowers should be dropped off and picked up at Evergreen Cove.

PARENTS MEETING - NOT OPTIONAL - Tuesday, September 9th at 5:45p. Location in Easton to be announced. 

OPENING DAY FOR RETURNING ROWERS, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8th: All returning youth rowers are to report to the front lobby area of the YMCA at 3:30p dressed for a workout (to establish base line strength and endurance).

OPENING DAY FOR LEARN TO ROW ROWERS, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6th: All rowers are to report to the front lobby area of the YMCA at 9:30a dressed for a workout in the gym (to establish base line strength and endurance). Swim tests and safety review will also be conducted for all youth rowers. Youth rowers need to bring a swimsuit and gym clothes.

Youth rowers are required to attend FOUR practice sessions per week. We will ask for individual practice schedules in advance of the season so the coaches can plan the training sessions.

Freedom Rowers will participate in regattas this season.

We request that families of youth rowers make a donation to the team. A donation of $250.00 would help to cover the costs of the program. You can make a check out to Freedom Rowers and bring it to the first day of practice or log onto the web site to use a credit card. If the donation is a financial burden to your family, please contact us and we can make arrangements as needed.

Adult Schedule

Adult practice schedules are M, W, and TH evenings from 5:30p to 7:15p. Saturday morning practices will be from 7:30a to 9:30a. Saturday practices will be mixed practices with the youth and adult teams rowing together. 

OPENING DAY FOR RETURNING ROWERS, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th: Adult rowers are to report to Evergreen Cove for all practice sessions as weather permits. Rowers are to park along the entry road, NOT in the Evergreen Cove parking lots.

OPENING DAY FOR LEARN TO ROW ROWERS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th: All adult rowers are to report to the front lobby area of the YMCA at 9:30a dressed for a workout in the gym (to establish base line strength and endurance) and review safety procedures. Adult rowers are to report to Evergreen Cove for all future practice sessions as weather permits. Rowers are to park along the entry road, NOT in the Evergreen Cove parking lots.  

Adult rowers are requested to attend two practice sessions per week. We will ask for the individual practice schedules in advance of the season so that the coaches can plan the training sessions.

We request that adult rowers make a donation to the team. A donation of $450.00 would help to cover the costs of the program. You can make a check out to Freedom Rowers and bring it to the first day of practice or log onto the web site to use a credit card. if the donation is a financial burden to your family, please contact us and we can make arrangements as needed.

Regatta Schedule

Sunday, September 21st - Charlie Butts Scullers Head of the Potomac

Sunday, October 5th - Head of the Christiana

Saturday and Sunday, November 1st - 2nd - Head of the Occoquan

OTHER REGATTAS TO BE ANNOUNCED AS DATES OF THE REGATTAS ARE MADE AVAILABLE

All Rowers

We will be sending forms via e-mail that will need to be filled out and returned by the first practice session. WE MUST HAVE ALL FORMS RETURNED BEFORE A ROWER CAN PARTICIPATE IN ANY FREEDOM ROWERS TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

Team communications are done primarily by email. Please make sure we have your email address. Parents of youth rowers: if you have a separate email address that you would like added to the mailing list to help keep you "in the loop," please let us know.

Practice times will be dedicated to on-the-water training as much as possible. Additional time for strength and cardio training will be on your own as suggested by the coaching staff.

Volunteer Opportunities 

Running the Freedom Rowers program and crew teams requires a great deal of effort. If you can consider volunteering for any of the positions listed below, please let us know.

• We will need help preparing for the regattas the day before the races and during the race times. Please let us know if you would be interested in assisting with the travel and regatta preparations. 
• We will need bottled water delivered to the launch site as we do not have access to the buildings at Evergreen Cove. If you can deliver cases of water periodically throughout the season please let us know.
• We will need our gas cans filled twice a week. Please let us know if you can assist with transporting gas for the chase boats.

No amount of time or talent is too small. Freedom Rowers relies heavily on its dedicated volunteers. Any assistance you can offer to help us grow and strengthen the program is necessary and much appreciated.

We look forward to a great season and the adventures of travel and competition. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are planning on rowing this season!

Sincerely,

Freedom Rowers Board of Directors and the Coaching Staff
www.freedomrowers.org

TEAM PHONE: 410.829.1691