If you want to row in college, there is a team for everyone!
I think the best steps an athlete can take to enhance their chances of rowing in College (and excelling) is to learn to manage time well, be adaptable and be coachable - be a constant student of the sport.
A big misconception I often see is when an athlete has some success with his or her program or team and expects to jump right into a priority collegiate lineup. There is also far more autonomy in college rowing, an individual needs to self-coach as opposed to having a high school or club program providing everything. To succeed in college rowing you must continuously challenge yourself, you cannot rely solely on your high school level talent.
One of the best steps an athlete can take to enhance their chances of rowing in college is to train year round. Row over the summer and make sure you are training during the winter. If you play a different sport over the winter, keep playing that sport. But if you are not playing a sport, make sure that you are training during the winter. It will improve your fitness for the spring races.
One thing I would like to see more recruits do is to send a personal email - or better write a letter - to the college coach where you think you might consider going to school. This helps recruits standout and shows they are strongly interested in that college. Also do as much research as you can about each college so that you understand the differences between the different schools.
If you are thinking about rowing in college the most important thing to do is start the process early! Finding the right college takes time and effort and getting recruited to row in college is a multi-step process.
Learn about the different divisions of rowing and figure out which would be the best match for you. A lot of athletes want to row D1 but how well you meet their speed requirements will determine which boat you are assigned to and how much racing you get.
Never discount a D3 program or even a club team. Some are just as competitive and fast as D1.
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center website.
Create a free online profile with Next College Student Athlete. Update it often!
They will try to schedule a recruitment call to sell their paid service. You do not need to pay. Just create a free account.
Decide where in the country you want to be in, the size of the student body, the college campus, campus life, and the academic program(s) you are interested in. Create a list of schools meeting that criteria and begin visiting as early as your sophomore year. Just know coaches can’t talk to you until your Junior year.
It’s important to consider the athletic program, coaching style, team culture, and results but they are not as important as academics, the campus, and campus life in determining your collegiate success.
Row in a competitive program or at a summer camp your sophomore and junior years. The additional water time and often lower coach to athlete ratios will help you improve quickly and will show your dedication to the sport.
Communicate with college coaches in your junior year to see if they are interested in you as a potential recruit. If a coach is interested in you but you have changed your mind on their school, be up front and honest with them. Don’t lead them on or waste their time. That makes you and our program look bad!
Listen carefully to what college coaches say to you. They will often tell you exactly what they are looking for in terms of personality and erg times to be considered for recruitment and/or scholarship. Be sure you hear what they are saying and not what you want to hear!
Take your training seriously – especially winter training. You want your 2k PR close to their standards by March of your junior year so both you and they know you can reach their requirements. Spring championship race results are one of the best things to show college coaches and success in the spring often comes from proper training over the winter.
By the end of your junior year, narrow your list of schools down to 6 or fewer that you are really interested in. Fill out the online recruiting form for each of those schools.
Schedule college visits during the fall of your senior year. Take these visits very seriously! Your behavior could mean the difference between being recruited or them determining you aren’t a good fit.