Team Guidelines

“My greatest power in life is my power to choose. I am the final authority over me. I make me.”

In Pursuit of Excellence, Terry Orlick

1. Show up for EVERY practice ON TIME:

Coming to practice is an absolute minimum requirement for being a member of this team. It is expected by the coaches and your teammates that you attend every practice. For some reason you foresee you will miss practice please tell the Head Coach as soon as possible with at least 1 day prior to missing practice. If you miss practice and fail to notify the Head Coach, you will not be boated the next practice. As your coach, I will choose the people who shall practice and compete based on the choices they make to show up and be on time.

2. Practice with intensity, purpose, and desire:

Showing up is only the first step. In order to maximize your potential, you must give your best effort at every practice. This does not mean that every practice is going to be a personal best, but you should go home confident that you gave everything you had on that particular day.

3. Show yourself and your teammates respect:

Rowing is one of the most team-oriented sports in existence. There are no superstars. It takes every single person on the team to achieve our goals for success; thus, we must all learn to trust one another. We earn this trust through daily commitment to ourselves and to our team/mates.

4. Represent the Vineland High School Boy’s Crew Team with pride and honor: By making this team, you have earned the privilege. Choosing to be a member of this program means that you have accepted the responsibility to represent yourself, the team, the coaching staff, the athletic department, and the school in a dignified manner. You are a visible member of the school/community – people look to you as an example, as a role model.

Coaches Commitment to the Team

As your coaches, we are also a member of this team. In order to achieve the goals we pursue, we must work together. Therefore, it is important for you to know what you may expect from us:

1. We will follow and adhere to the team guidelines.

2. We will do everything in our power to help this team achieve our goals.

3. We will be fair to each person as an individual.

4. We will enforce rules and policies for the good of the team.

Boat Selection Policy

“The one thing over which you have absolute control is your own thoughts.

It is this that puts you in a position to control your own destiny.”

Paul G. Thomas

Boats will be selected based on the following criteria:

· Eligibility

· Practice performance

· Erg scores

· Seat racing

· Attitude/attendance

· Teamwork

1. Eligibility

Everyone who competes must be eligible, academically and otherwise.

2. Practice Performance

At every practice, the Coaches gather information about boat selection. We are

always looking at skill level, physical capabilities, and work ethic.

3. Erg Scores

Erg scores are used as ONE measurement in boat selection. They can be very indicative of someone’s raw strength and potential as a rower. They do not tell the whole story, though. Therefore, it is important to pull your hardest while training and testing on the ergs AND it is important to do the same in the boat.

4. Seat Racing**

Seat racing is a technique we use on the water to evaluate the individual contribution of a rower in a crew. Again, this is ONE measurement used in boat selection. We will talk more about seat racing before we start doing it (in the spring).

5. Attitude/attendance

A good attitude and attendance record are minimal expectations. An exceptional record in this area can boost you in the rankings if you are borderline.

6. Teamwork

A crew must work together, both physically and mentally. A great crew has strong individuals AND strong teamwork. We are looking for the best all-around fit.

**Fall line-ups will be chosen on 5 of the 6 criteria listed above. We will not seat race for fall races.

Travel Policy

Travel to Practice

• Athletes who have a driver’s license can drive independently to and from practice. You will have to sign a disclaimer to drive to the Harris Boathouse.

• All athletes who do not have a driver’s license can not drive independently to and from practice. There will be a school bus that will pick up the athletes at the

11-12 building and take them to practice. However, it is the parents or guardians responsibility to pick their son up after practice at the Harris Boathouse.

• Only athletes with a driver’s license can drive to practice. If you do not have a driver’s license you cannot drive with another team member who does.

• The bus will leave at a specified time; team members must not be late. If you miss the bus, you can not find another way of transportation to practice. It is your responsibility to be on time; therefore, you have missed practice.

• Only team members and coaches are permitted to ride the bus.

Travel to Races and Training Trip

• All team members must travel with the team to the regatta site, no independent traveling is allowed.

• The bus will depart for a race site at a scheduled time. The bus will not wait for stragglers. Please be at the designated site at least 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.

• Team members will be allowed to leave the race site with a parent/guardian only if the Head Coach has given prior approval.

• During travel, if a team meal is arranged, it is for team members and coaches only.

• Only team members are allowed to stay in our hotel rooms.

• It is a team and school violation to use drugs, alcohol, or any tobacco product during any team travel.

• Team members are expected to conduct themselves with class and good manners at all times during team travel.

• Team members must comply with curfews assigned by the coaching staff.

• Team members are expected to wear Vineland High School or VHS Boy’s Crew attire during travel and at the race site. BE PROUD, you are representing yourself, your team, your school and community.

Varsity Letter Eligibility

“Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS.”

Bo Schembechler

• All first year rowers are eligible to row in the Novice category. Once, a rower has rowed a season as a Novice they are no longer a Novice.

• All first year rowers are eligible to make a Varsity boat, if the coaching staff sees fit through the boat selection process.

• All returning rowers are eligible to make a Varsity boat only.

• Our goal is to be able to race a 1^st Varsity 8 (1V8), 2^nd Varsity 8 (2V8), Lightweight 8 or 4, a Novice 8 (1N8), and a 1^st Varsity 4 (1V4). However, there are many possibilities pending athletes.

• All athletes pending attitude, attendance and work ethic over the course of the school year and boat raced during the Spring season are eligible for a Varsity Letter.

• Varsity level boats are all boats traveling to Spring regattas with the exception of the Novice 8.