ARLINGTON ROWING ASSOCIATION. Membership Handbook.

ARLINGTON ROWING ASSOCIATION Membership Handbook www.arlingtonrowingassociation.org

Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Board Members and Trustees... 2 Social Media and More... 3 Be in the Know... 4 Brief Introduction to Rowing... 5 Rowing- The Ultimate Sport... 8 Boat Positions and Diagrams... 10 Rowing Opportunities... 11 US Rowing On-Line Waiver... 12 Instructions for US Rowing Waiver... 12 What to Expect at a Race... 13 Fall Races... 14 Spring Races... 15 Practice Gear... 16 Race Gear... 16 Arlington Crew Fees- What am I paying for?... 17 Parent Volunteer Hours... 17 Arlington Safety Rules and Procedures... 18 Parent Guidelines... 19 Rowers Guidelines... 20 Rower Contract... 21 Receipt Acknowledgement for Athlete/Parent: ARA Membership and Safety Handbook... 22 Notes... 23

Introduction The Rules, Guidelines, and Procedures of the Arlington Rowing Association are presented to facilitate the safety and enjoyment of competitive rowing. Combining good judgment and common sense on the water, and on land, can prevent accidents and minimize equipment damage. Together we can maintain a safe environment in which to row and socialize. This document is published on the Arlington Rowing Association website, www.arlingtonrowingassociation.org. Changes to this document may be issued periodically, and will be distributed to head coaches, as well as parents. Changes or updates will also be found on the website. The Arlington Crew Team is divided into 4 different groups:. 1. 7 th and 8 th Grade all rowers and coxswains 2. Novice any rower or coxswain in high school in their first calendar year of rowing regardless of their grade in high school. 3. Freshman all Freshman rowers will be able to row in this category. 4. Varsity all experienced high school girl and boy rowers and coxswains who have completed their novice year. (Please note that a Coach may select a rower from another group. This will be at the discretion of the Coach, and will be based on the rower or coxswain ability.) 1 P a g e

Board Members and Trustees Position President Name: Contact Information: ArlingtonCrewPresident@gmail.com Responsibilities The President shall: Preside at meetings of the Association. Appoint the chairperson and members of all committees. Have the usual duties and powers that accompany the office. Deal with all complaints and issues with coaching staff, rowers, and parents. Vice President Name: Contact Information: ArlingtonCrewVicePresident@gmail.com Treasurer Name: Contact Information: ArlingtonCrewTreasurer@gmail.com Secretary Name: Contact Information: ArlingtonCrewSecretary@gmail.com The Vice-President shall: Shall perform the duties of the President if he/she is absent or unable to perform his/her duties. Assist the President. Audit the Treasurer's records on an annual basis, and report the findings to the Board of Directors in writing, no later than June 30. The annual report shall be in writing and submitted at the Annual Meeting of the Association. Organize and schedule the Board Meetings. The Treasurer shall: Collect and be responsible for all money collected by and for the Association, and shall deposit them in an account established with a local bank. Disburse funds by check only. Keep a record of all receipts and disbursements, and turn over all records to his/her successor. Be a member of the Finance Committee. The Secretary shall: Record the Minutes of all meetings, and prepare all Association correspondence. These minutes will be completed prior to the following meeting. Hold the Master Copy of the By-Laws, Membership List, and Equipment List, as well as maintain a Record of Committee Membership, and Committee Reports. Turn over all records to his/her successor. Be responsible for all communications to the schools regarding regattas, registration, and events. Trustees Trustees do not have to head a committee. Trustees are an extension of the Board. They will help with recruitment, maintaining equipment, the food tent, public relations, the high school trophy case, fundraising, communications, and anything the Board deems necessary. 2 P a g e

Social Media and More This is the Technological Age. As such, you may find us on the following media sites: Media Source Find Us Arlington Rowing Association (ARA) @ArlingtonRowing @arlingtonrowingassociation www.arlingtonrowingassociation.org You may send photos to: arlingtoncrewphotos@gmail.com. 3 P a g e

Be in the Know Please sign up to receive text message notifications from Remind 101 regarding practice, races, and anything else crew related. 4 P a g e

Brief Introduction to Rowing Bow: The forward section of the boat. The first part of the boat to cross the finish line. The person in the seat closest to the bow, who crosses the finish line first. Bow Coxed Boat: A shell in which the coxswain is near the bow instead of the stern. It s hard to see the coxswain in this type of boat, because only his/her head is visible. This position allows the coxswain to virtually lie down in the bow thereby reducing wind resistance. It also allows for better weight distribution. Button: A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock. Coxswain: Person who steers the shell. He/She is the on-the-water coach for the crew. Crab ( Catching A Crab ): A stroke that goes bad. The oar blade slices into the water at an angle and gets caught under the surface. Ergometer (ERG): Is a rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing motion. The rowers choice is the Concept II, which utilizes a flywheel and a digital readout so that the rower can measure strokes per minute and distance covered. German Rigging: A different way of setting up which side of the boat the oars are on in a sweep boat. Instead of alternating from side to side all the way down in a German rigged boat, two consecutive rowers have oars on the same side. Lightweight: Refers to the rowers, not the boats. There is a maximum weight for each rower in a lightweight event, as well as a boat average. 5 P a g e

Oar: Used to drive the boat forward. Rowers do not use paddles! Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the movement. Power 10: A call for rowers to do 10 of their best and most powerful strokes. It s a strategy used to pull ahead of a competitor. PR ( Personal Record ): A rower's fastest personal recorded ERG time to date. Rigger: The triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oars. Run: The run is the distance the shell moves during one stroke. You can figure it by looking for the distance between the puddles made by the same oar. Sculls: One of the two disciplines of rowing the one where scullers use two oars or sculls. Slide: The set of runners for the wheels of each seat in the boat. Starboard: Right side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of movement. Stern: The rear of the boat; the direction the rowers are facing. Straight: Refers to a shell without a coxswain, i.e. a straight four or straight pair. Stretcher or Foot-Stretcher: This is where the rower s feet go. The stretcher consists of two inclined footrests that hold the rower s shoes. The rower s shoes are bolted into the footrests. 6 P a g e

Stroke: The rower who sits closest to the stern. The stroke sets the rhythm for the boat; others behind him must follow his cadence. Stroke Coach: A small electronic display that rowers attach in the boat to show the important race information like stroke rate and elapsed time. Sweep: One of the two disciplines of rowing the one where rowers use only one oar. Pairs (for two people), fours (for four people) and the eight are sweep boats. Pairs and fours may or may not have a coxswain. Eights always have a coxswain. Swing: The hard-to-define feeling when near-perfect synchronization of motion occurs in the shell, enhancing the performance and speed. 7 P a g e

Rowing- The Ultimate Sport Rowing is a Total Body Workout. Rowing only looks like an upper body sport. Although upper body strength is important, the strength of the rowing stroke comes from the legs. Rowing is one of the few athletic activities that involves all of the body s major muscle groups. It is a great aerobic workout, in the same vein as cross-country skiing. It is also a low-impact sport on the joints. Rowers are Among the World s Best Athletes. Rowing looks graceful, elegant, and sometimes effortless when it is done well. Don t be fooled. Rowers haven t been called the world s most physically fit athletes for nothing. The sport demands endurance, strength, balance, mental discipline, and an ability to continue on when your body is demanding that you stop. Sweep (like a broom) and Sculling (with a c ). There are two basic types of rowing: sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing, athletes hold one oar with both hands. In sculling, the athletes have two oars, one in each hand. The Boat. Although spectators will see hundreds of different races at a rowing event, there are only six basic boat configurations. Sweep rowers come in pairs (2s), fours (4s) and eights (8s). Scullers row in singles (1x), doubles (2x) and quads (4x). Sweep rowers may or may not carry a coxswain (cox-n), the person who steers the boat and serves as the on-the-water coach. All eights have coxswains, but pairs and fours may or may not. In all sculling boats and sweep boats there are no coxswains. A rower steers the boat by using a rudder moved with the foot. The Categories. Rowers are categorized by sex, age and weight. Events are offered for men and women, as well as for mixed crews containing an equal number of men and women. There are junior events for rowers 18 or under, or who spent the previous year in high school, and there are Masters events for rowers 21 and older. There are two weight categories: lightweight and open weight. The Equipment. Today s rowing boats are called shells, and they are made of lightweight carbon fiber. The smallest boat on the water is the single scull, which is only 27-30 feet long, a foot wide, and approximately 30 pounds. Eights are the largest boats at 60 feet, and a little over 200 pounds. Rowers use oars to propel their shells. Sweep oars are longer than sculling oars, typically with carbon fiber handles and rubber grips (although some sweepers still prefer wooden handles). Sculling oars are almost never wood. The Crew. Athletes are identified by their position in the boat. The athlete sitting in the bow, the part of the boat that crosses the finish line first, is the Bow Seat or No. 1 Seat. The person in front of the bow is No. 2, then No. 3 and so on. The rower closest to the stern that crosses the finish line last is known as the Stroke. The Stroke of the boat must be a strong rower with excellent technique, as the Stroke is the person who sets the rhythm of the boat for the rest of the rowers. SPM not MPH. Rowers speak in terms of Strokes Per Minute (SPM), literally the number of strokes the boat completes in a minute s time. The stroke rate at the start is high 38-45, even into the 50s for an eight and then settles to a race cadence typically in the 30s. Crews sprint 8 P a g e

to the finish, taking the rate up once again. Crews may call for a Power 10 during the race a demand for the crew s most intense 10 strokes. Race Watching. The crew that s making it look easy is most likely the one doing the best job. When watching a race, look for a continuous, fluid motion from the rowers, synchronization in the boat, clean catches, i.e. oars entering the water with little splash, and the boat with the most consistent speed. Teamwork is Number One. Rowing isn t a great sport for athletes looking for MVP status. It is, however, teamwork s best teacher. The athlete trying to stand out in an eight will only make the boat slower. The crew that is made up of individuals willing to sacrifice their personal goals for the team will be on the medal stand together. Winning teammates successfully match their desire, talent and blade-work with one another. 9 P a g e

Boat Positions and Diagrams 10 P a g e

Rowing Opportunities There are many rowing opportunities to grow and continue the sport of rowing in college if desired. Listed below are some suggestions. 1. Please check out Regatta Central www.regattacentral.com, US Rowing www.usrowing.org, and www.row2k.com for many summer camp opportunities. Rowers are encouraged, not required to go to a summer rowing camp. 2. Please check out Row2k.com for great deals on used ERGs. 3. All Freshman-Senior rowers are encouraged, but not required to attend the world s largest indoor rowing event (ERG Race) in the Winter. This event is called Crash Bs. Please check our website for this event as it gets closer. 4. Rowers are encouraged to participate in winter training. 5. Please ask the Varsity coaches about the recruitment process. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, please download the NCAA rule book (www.ncaa.org) about athletic recruitment. 6. Rowers are encouraged to row in the area with one of the summer rowing leagues during the summer. 11 P a g e

US Rowing On-Line Waiver NOTE: The waiver process for all athletes UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE MUST be completed by the parent or guardian. In addition to registration with ARA, each rower needs to complete his/her US Rowing waiver every calendar year. All rowers will be required to complete the on-line waivers by the end of the second week of practice. The waivers are required by HRRA for all races. New rowers need to provide confirmation of completed waiver to their coach by the deadline set by the coaches for each season. If you completed the form for another organization this year, you will need to complete the form again for ARA. All rowers, coxswains, and coaches need to sign the annual US Rowing online waiver. Please sign up as a US Rowing Basic Membership. There is an administrative fee of $7.75. Pursuant to US Rowing this fee will be annual and may increase nominally over the next couple years. All ARA athletes will need to complete the online waiver in order to participate. US Rowing provides insurance to our club in order to protect our members. The organization also oversees a few of the regattas that we attend, and the waivers are linked directly into race registrations. Instructions for US Rowing Waiver 1. Sign into the USRA portal at https://membership.usrowing.org. 2. On the Join USRowing screen click on Join under the Individuals box. 3. On the next screen, enter information in the appropriate boxes. In the Club or Team Name box type ARL and select Arlington Rowing Association-Arlington H.S. A dropdown Club Code Verification box will appear. Type in our club code: TYHWX, and then click on Submit Code. Now click on the Search button. If you are under 18 years of age, a Parental Consent dropdown box will appear. Your parent or guardian must click on yes in this box. 4. The Membership Levels box will appear. Select Basic Membership and then click the submit button. 5. A Member Editor screen will appear. Fill in the appropriate information and then click the submit button. If you are under 18 years of age, the Parental Consent dropdown box will appear again. Your parent or guardian must click on yes in this box. 6. The Member Waiver screen will appear. Fill in your parents/guardian name in the appropriate box, check the I understand and agree to the terms of the waiver box and then click the submit button. 7. The Anti-Doping Compliance screen will appear. Check no then click the submit button. 8. The Payment screen will appear. Fill in the appropriate information for payment and then click the submit button. 9. The Confirmation screen will appear. Print this screen or print the confirmation e-mail and give it to you coach at the next practice. 12 P a g e

What to Expect at a Race 1. The first time you ever experience a regatta is like no other experience. It is beautiful sweet chaos or that's what it appears to the first timer. You will see rows and rows of trailers. 2. The Coaches will not know where the trailer (shell carrier) will be until the day of the regatta. This is also true for the Food Tent. 3. All rowers will be at the shell carrier. At the shell carrier they will be preparing the boats for races. Every rower is responsible for helping load and unload the boats, and rig the boats. 4. The next important step is to find the Arlington Food Tent. Every regatta separates the food and the shell carriers. You will find lots of food tents ours will be labeled Arlington. 5. The Food tent is also for the spectators and the rowers. It is usually $10 for the day. 6. Bring a chair, a book, and a blanket. It is a long amazing day! 7. Bring an umbrella our rowers will race in snow, rain, and sleet. 8. Most directions and information can be found under the host website and Regatta Central. 13 P a g e

Fall Races Races and race attendance changes from year to year. These are some of the races that Arlington may attend. 1. All races in the Fall are between 4K and 12K long or longer and the competing rowers do not start together at a starting line. Instead they are started one after another with the winner being determined after all boats have completed the race. The fastest time over the measured course wins. 2. All rowers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Regattas, as well as their own hotel accommodations. 3. Rowers ARE NOT allowed to drive themselves to and/or from any races. A violation of this rule will result in dismissal from the team. Race Location Helpful Tips Head of the Fish - usually the last week of September Head of the Housatonicusually the first weekend of October Mohawk Fall Classic or SYR Chargers Row Head of the Charles - this is a lotto event Tail of the Fish - this race concludes the Fall Saratoga Lake- Hosted by SRA Connecticut Hosted by New Haven RC Scotia, NY Syracuse, NY Boston- hosted by CRI Saratoga Lake Hosted by SRA It is very muddy and cold mud boots or rain boots is a suggestion, hand warmers. Cars must be parked at a parking garage and a shuttle taken to the race site. Courses are very unique. It is chilly, please dress in layers! The largest Regatta on the East Coast. It is very muddy and cold. Mud boots or rain boots is a suggestion, as well as hand warmers. 14 P a g e

Spring Races All of the races in the Spring are 1500 meters long. All boats in the heat start at the same time and race to the finish line. Some races will be timed instead based on the number of participants at the Regatta. During the Spring, we are a High School Sport, rowers must stay with the team, and take the school transportation to and from the Regattas. Race Location Helpful Tips Dutchess Cup Poughkeepsie Be mindful of the weather. Triangulars (Novice & Varsity) Poughkeepsie Be mindful of the weather. HVRL Championships Poughkeepsie Be mindful of the weather. Row for a Cure Poughkeepsie This is a fun charity event. The rowers and coxswains usually dress up and mix their own boats. WARS Poughkeepsie Be mindful of the weather. Novice Championships Greenwood Lake This is a wet launch. Saratoga Invitational Saratoga Saratoga has a mind of its own, be prepared for all four seasons of weather. New York State Championships Saratoga Saratoga has a mind of its own, be prepared for all four seasons of weather. Stotesbury Philadelphia It is very hot. There is a limited food tent please bring water and dress for warm weather. Nationals TBD 15 P a g e

Practice Gear Practice UNI or practice shirts (big t-shirts are not acceptable as they will get caught in the slides). Spandex shorts and/or pants (they must be snug so they do not get caught in the slides). Running shoes (you will run very often during the season). Sweatshirts (preferably zipup) and sweatpants (for running outside and rowing when it is cold). Water bottle (at least one liter): NON-DISPOSABLE TYPE. Healthy snack for before or after practice (orange, energy bar, etc.) Sandals or Crocs (slide-type for getting in and out of the boat quickly). Change of clothing (including a warm sweatshirt or fleece). Rain Gear. Please note: It is much colder and windier at the river. Do not go by conditions at school or home. Make sure you have everything listed above. Wrench 7/16 and 3/4. Race Gear Uniform and the long sleeve base layer shirt also known as the banana shirts. Rain Gear. Running shoes. Sweatshirt (preferably zip-up) and sweatpants (for running outside and rowing when it is cold). Water bottle (at least one liter): NON-DISPOSABLE TYPE. Blankets. Mud Boats. Sandals or Crocs (slide-type for getting in and out of the boat quickly). Handwarmers. Change of clothing (including a warm sweatshirt or fleece) Plastic Garbage Bags. Please note: Weather can change quickly and drastically by these rivers. Wrench 7/16 and 3/4. 16 P a g e

Arlington Crew Fees- What am I paying for? The question that is regularly asked is what am I paying for? Crew is school sport, why am I paying for my child to participate? To clarify- Arlington Rowing Association is a club sport in the Fall, and a limited school funded sport in the Spring. In the Spring the school helps to fund the bus transportation to the regattas, coach salaries, and a small budget for equipment. In the Fall, the organization must pay for the coach salaries, regatta fees, insurance on the trailer, food trailer, maintenance, lease/rent, equipment, and hotels for the coaches. In the Spring the Association covers the insurance, the lease/rent, coaches and bus driver hotels, regatta fees, and trailer fees. How can we reduce the cost of rowing? The answer is fundraising. It is so important to have volunteers. The more ARA can fundraise the lower the cost will be. There are individual fundraisers that will impact your own personal rower s cost, and there are group fundraisers that are designed to help ARA overall. Parent Volunteer Hours As many of us know, it takes a village to raise a child, and it absolutely takes a village for ARA to function. Every family will be required to pay a volunteer deposit of $100. The deposit may either (1) be returned at the end of the season once the required 10 hours are completed, or (2) held and used for the following season. Please note that two of the required ten hours must be at the food tent. Ways to become involved: 1. Join the ARA Board. 2. Help at the Food Tent. 3. Sign up for a Fundraiser. 4. Plan a Fundraiser come to a Board Meeting and share your ideas. 5. Join a Committee- there is plenty to do! 6. Ask there is always a need for extra hands. 17 P a g e

Arlington Safety Rules and Procedures 1. All rowers/coxswains must pass a swim test. Swim Test dates will be communicated to both rowers and parents. 2. All rowers/coxswains must comply with instruction given by a Coach. 3. On water rowers will comply with the directions of their coxswain and coaches. 4. Rowing is a unique sport and the Hudson often has a mind of its own. New and experienced rowers may have limited water time depending on their ability, weather conditions, and river conditions. Arlington coaches will decide if the water is safe for their crew to row on. In these matters the coach s decision is final and not subject to question or review. Their primary concern is the safety of their rowers. Sometimes, other schools will decide to go on the water, and this does not have any bearing on our coach's decision. We do not follow other schools. 5. When the rowers are not able to go on the river it DOES NOT mean practice is or will be cancelled. There are alternative workouts or land practices. Land practices are just as important as water practices. Land practices allow for coaches to perfect rowing techniques, as well as to develop core muscles and to gain endurance. 6. There are monthly Board Meetings that everyone is encouraged to attend. There will be an executive session in the first 30 minutes, and the rest of the meeting will be opened to all. Minutes will be posted on the website. 7. We share the boat house with many other teams, we must keep our boat house and bay clean and free from any garbage. 8. Consumption of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances and/or illegal drugs and substances by any athlete is prohibited both in-season and off season. Any infractions of this rule MAY result in dismissal from the team. 9. At ALL TIMES, both in-season and off season, you will conduct yourself in a courteous, civil and proper manner as befitting an Arlington athlete. This includes at practices, at races, at school, at the mall, on-line, and in any face-to-face, personal, voice or electronic communications. You are representing your team, your school, and your community. The first quality a coach will look for in an athlete is sportsmanship 10. Crew is a synchronized endurance team sport. Coaches will be looking for specific abilities, attitudes, qualities, and a 100% level of commitment. The absence of a high level of any of these traits could affect your position in a boat and on the team. Attendance at all practices is mandatory; it will be a major factor in compiling boat line ups. 18 P a g e

Parent Guidelines 1. Please drop off and pick up your rowers on time. 2. No parents are allowed in the boathouse or near the launching area during practices without the request of a coach. 3. No parent is permitted to speak to a coach and/or rower when a boat is being carried by rowers, or during practice time. Coaches are available for pre-arranged parent conferences before practice, after practice, or via email. 4. During away regattas, no parents are allowed in the Arlington staging area, which includes the shell carrier and launching areas. Rowers will come to the food tent when available. 5. Please do not pick up your rowers early from practices and/or regattas (unless there is an absolute need expressed to the coach prior) as the entire team is responsible for putting away equipment, cleaning up and meeting with coaches for end of practice/race notices. The coach will dismiss the team. Rowers will be involved in packing up the food tent at the end of races. 6. Please be mindful of scheduling appointments during the season. If your rower is absent, his or her boat cannot row and his/her seat in a boat is jeopardized. 7. In the event a rower has to miss a practice, please have your rower call, text, or email her/his coach as soon as possible. Please provide plenty of notice. 8. Please support your rower in her/his responsibilities to the team. We understand it is a large commitment of time. Crew is the pinnacle of all team sports and coaches expect commitment and dedication from all of the team members. 9. Please do not contact coaches by cell phone after 8pm; emails are welcomed at your convenience. 10. Any and all line-up decisions are at the coaches discretion. Please understand that many rowers would like to continue this sport in college, and as in college, many of the line-ups are not decided on until race day. 11. If an issue arises with a rower, it is the ROWER S responsibility to bring it first to the attention of their captain. (Novice and modify please go directly to your coach). If not resolved, then the rower and the captain will bring it together to their coach, and if still not resolved THEN the parent and the rower will bring it to the attention of the Board President NOT the coach. 12. Please be mindful that coaches are there to coach our rowers. Please do not approach them directly during practices or races. (You would not approach a football, baseball, or soccer coach on the field. Please do not approach a rowing coach). Please email your child s coach with questions or concerns. Coaches are employees of the Arlington Central School District not Arlington Rowing Association. 19 P a g e

Rowers Guidelines 1. Everything you do and say must reflect favorably upon yourself, your teammates and the coaching staff. 2. You will treat everyone associated with this team with courtesy and the highest respect. If you have any difficulties with anyone or the way in which the program is run, then you will seek to resolve it directly with the person involved or with a coach. 3. You will work hard in school. 4. You will treat your mind, body and soul with respect, in a fashion consistent with your role as a member of this team. 5. You will work hard all the time unless told to go easy, even during drills. 6. You will adhere to the 5P rules: Preparation: You will be ready for practice on time (with proper clothes, shoes, water, snacks) and you will eat a healthy diet. Poise: You will maintain composure on and off the water, and you will demonstrate relaxed and calm effectiveness under all condition. Precision: You are personally accountable for your craft from the ERG to the boat, and will put into practice what your coach and coxswains tell you. Power: Your effort will be relentless. You will train hard for your goals, and make it your practice to recover well. Progress: You will always improve and have measurable progress. Please understand these rules are for the safety of ALL of our rowers and our coaching staff. The coaching staff thanks you for your support and understanding. Violations of the rules by a rower, will be dealt with by the coach. The coach will give the rower rowing development activities as the coach sees fit. Violations of the rules by a parent will be dealt with by the board. If these rules are not followed, then the parent will be subject to a disciplinary hearing in front of the Executive Board. Consequences of not following these rules may result in being suspended from watching races, or removed from the team without a refund. 20 P a g e

Rower Contract 1. Rowers need to be at the boathouse at least 15 minutes prior to practice to change, get the launch in, place oars by the launching area, etc. 2. You must let your coach know one day in advance in order to have an excused absence. Acceptable excuses include academic reasons, religious events or illness. (Your cousin s birthday party is NOT an acceptable excuse). 3. If you are absent from practice without informing your coach, then you will be subject to coach-imposed rowing development activities. Missing practice jeopardizes your boat s chances of doing well throughout the season. 4. Crew is a sport that consists of teamwork, commitment, and hard work. Rowing is a synchronized, endurance sport. Individual attitudes will not be tolerated with this sport. Teamwork is paramount. 5. Boathouse rules and guidelines are to be strictly followed. Handbooks are available on the Arlington Crew website. Please read the handbook and return the sign-off sheet. 6. All rowers will respect our equipment and practice areas. All rowers will clean up the landing/storage area after EVERY practice. There will be no bottles, wrappers, or trash left around the areas we practice EVER! 7. At the beginning of practice, take all of the launches and your assigned set of oars out of the house. At the end of practice, put the launches and all other equipment back in the house. You cannot leave until ALL of the equipment is put away and the coach informs you that you can leave. 8. All rowers will show respect for each other, all coaches, and our wonderful Arlington Parent community at all times. 9. You will IMMEDIATELY notify your coach if you get injured and/or sick at practice, or at a race. You will not hide, conceal, disguise, and/or camouflage any injury, no matter how minor. 10. If a rower is suspended from school for any reason, or is deemed academically ineligible to participate in school sports and/or activities, then the rower will be equally ineligible to participate in Arlington activities and/or regattas. Reinstatement of his/her prior position/seat in a boat will be up to the discretion of his or her coach. This is not a suspension from the team. The rower still has the responsibility to attend practices and assist the team in other ways, but will permitted to race until their eligibility has been reinstated. I,, have read and agree to the above. Rower Signature Date: Parent Signature Date: 21 P a g e

Receipt Acknowledgement for Athlete/Parent: ARA Membership and Safety Handbook Name: I understand that I am responsible for reading and understanding the information in the Arlington Rowing Association (ARA) Membership and Safety Handbook (the "handbook"). Parents/Guardians are responsible for ensuring their rowers understand this information. I understand that this handbook contains the rules and behavioral expectations for Arlington Rowing Association participants that rowers are expected to follow. I understand that failure to follow these rules may result in suspension from Arlington Rowing Association programs and events, reduction in participation, and removal from Arlington Rowing Association programs and events. I understand that participation in Arlington Rowing Association programs and activities is a privilege, not a right, and participants are expected to exhibit exemplary behavior and leadership skills at practice, regattas, and in the community, or that privilege may be removed. I understand that the most up to date Arlington Rowing Association rules and safety information is available on the club s website at: www.arlingtonrowingassociation.org. I understand and agree to follow and comply with all of the rules and safety procedures that are outlined in the handbook. If I have any questions about information contained in this handbook, then I will ask the Board to discuss those questions with me. Failure to sign and return this form does not relieve me from complying with and understanding the information enclosed in the handbook. I understand that I will not be able to participate until this form is submitted. Participant Signature: Date: AND (if participant is under 18) Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: 22 P a g e

Notes 23 P a g e

CREW THE TRUE TEAM SPORT Why be ordinary when you can be EXTRAORDINARY! Visit us at: http://arlingtonrowingassociation.org/ 24 P a g e