Freedom Rowers 2008 Fall Rowing Program

The dates and times for the fall rowing program are listed below. Please RSVP to the team as soon as possible it you are planning on attending the fall sessions. We would like to have as much lead time as possible for planning. Do not assume that we know you are returning.

RETURNING YOUTH ROWERS

First day of rowing will be SATURDAY Sept. 6th from 3-5 p.m. We will be meeting at the Y and you will need to bring your bathing suit. USRowing has changed the minimum safety requirements so we will need to have EVERY rower re-do their swim test. Coaches will then meet you in the gym to get baseline scores for fitness (you have been working out over the summer right…????). You will NOT be able to participate with the team until the swim test is completed.

For the remainder of the season your practice times will be Monday - Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. You need to attend 4 out of the 5 practice sessions.

LEARN TO ROW YOUTH ROWERS

Our last opening for Learn to Row training for the fall will be Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday Sept. 28 from 2-5 p.m. You must be able to attend both sessions. The sessions will begin and end at Evergreen Cove, 770 Port Street in Easton. If interested, e-mail the team to receive copies of the team forms. Please bring ALL of the sign up forms with you to the Saturday practice. You will NOT be able to participate with the team until all forms are collected. The team e-mail is info@freedomrowers.org.

For the remainder of the season your practice times will be Monday - Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. You will need to attend 4 out of the 5 practice sessions. There will be a swim test at the Y the following week to verify that rowers can swim for 10 minutes.

ALL PARENTS

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

RETURNING ADULT ROWERS

First day of practice will be Monday September 8 at Evergreen Cove. The adult rowers will be switching to EARLY MORNING practice times because of the traffic/parking congestion that is occurring. The entry lane to Evergreen Cove is becoming too busy in the evenings at Evergreen Cove’s peak hours.

The practice times for the returning adult rowers will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 5:45-7:15 a.m.

We request that adult rowers make a donation to the team. A donation of $450.00 would help to cover the costs of the Youth Crew 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.

LEARN TO ROW ADULT ROWERS

There will be four learning sessions this fall.

Meet at Evergreen Cove (770 Port Street)

- Saturday September 6th 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

- Sunday September 7th 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

- Saturday September 13th 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

- Sunday September 14th 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Please bring all of the sign up forms with you to practice. We suggest that you pack a healthy snack and drinks. We will be spending practice time on and off the water.

We request that you plan on attending all learning sessions. There will be a requested donation of $250 to help support the Freedom Rowers Youth Crew. You can make a check out to Freedom Rowers and bring it to the first day of practice or long onto the web site and use a credit card. After attending the Learn To Row sessions there will be an opportunity to join the adult rowing program.

Regatta Schedule

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

Sunday, October 5th - Head of the Christiana

Saturday and Sunday, October 25th - 26th - Head of the Schuylkill - Philadelphia, PA

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