Oklahoma Sooners
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Women's Rowing
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OU recently named Leeanne Crain as the first head coach of its new rowing program. The Sooners will utilize the Chesapeake Boathouse on the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City until an OU boathouse is built.
View more information about the sport here. Below are answers to frequently asked questions for potential OU rowing student-athletes.
Do I need experience to try-out for the team?
No. We have a "novice" team designed for those with no prior experience. You will spend a year with this team learning the sport with many others who are also new to rowing. We also have a "varsity" team for those who have rowed in high school or who have finished their novice year.
What do I need to do to try-out?
There will be an informational meeting the first week
of school in the fall. At the meeting, we will hand
out some paperwork, talk about the team, introduce
the coaching staff and some current rowers and further
explain the try-out process. If you cannot attend the
meeting, please email Coach
Crain.
If I don't know how to row, how will you decide
who makes the team at tryouts?
Tryouts will last 14 days, and you will spend time
learning how to row in a boat as well as on our rowing
machines (ergs). We will also do different activities
to determine your athletic ability. We are looking
for overall athletic ability and a positive attitude.
It's not necessarily about who the best athlete at
tryouts is, but who has the most potential as a rower
and team player.
Are there different positions on the team?
Yes. There are port and starboard positions for the
rowers. Port side rowers use an oar that is attached
to the left side of the boat and starboards use one
attached to the right side. There is also the position
of "coxswain". The coxswain sits in the stern
(and sometimes bow) of the boat, and is responsible
for steering, calling commands, assisting with technique,
and providing motivation for the rowers during racing
and practices. If you are less than 120 lbs., you may
want to consider becoming a coxswain.
How big is the team?
We will carry between 55-65 athletes on our roster.
What are practices like and how often are they?
After the initial try-out period, practices will start
out 5 days a week, about 1½ to 2 hours a day.
Once we get closer to our first fall race, we will
begin practices 6 days a week and continue with that
schedule for the rest of the year. Practices vary slightly
depending on the time of year, but they usually entail
rowing on the water, rowing on the rowing machines
(ergometers), running, lifting, and flexibility/body
core exercises. During the fall semester, we will come
up with a practice schedule that will accommodate your
class schedule.
Where does the team practice?
Water practices will take place at the Chesapeake Boathouse
(www.chesapeakeboathouse.org), until the new OU Boathouse
is constructed. Land practices will take place on campus
in the intercollegiate athletic facilities.
How long is the rowing season?
There are actually two seasons. We begin training for
the fall season in September and race in October and
November. The fall races are longer, usually about
3 miles in length. When we return from the winter break
in January, we begin training for our championship
season, which runs March through May. The majority
of racing is 2000 meters or about 1 ¼ miles.
Does the novice team get to travel too?
Yes. The novice and varsity squads travel together
to most competitions around the country. We typically
travel with 4 to 5 boats of athletes, as there are
different events and boat classifications.
How much will it cost?
As an intercollegiate student-athlete at OU, almost
all of your costs associated with rowing will be covered.
You will only be required to pay for nominal fees associated
with athletics physicals and registration with the
NCAA. We will cover the costs of uniforms, travel,
and other expenses related to being a student-athlete.
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Please email Coach
Crain with
any questions.
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