| Who Rows in College? | | | | - Women's lightweight rowing is not an NCAA |
| If you love rowing and want to row in college, the | | | | sponsored sport, and its annual national championships |
| chances are good that you will find a place where you | | | | are held in conjunction with the men's Inter Collegiate |
| can be happy and fulfilled academically, athletically and | | | | Rowing Association championships (IRAs), rather than |
| personally. As a female student-athlete you have a lot | | | | with the women's NCAA championships. |
| of choices including NCAA Division I, II and III rowing | | | | The eBook Row in College - A Recruiting Guide For |
| schools, in addition to many club programs. If you are a | | | | Female Student-Athletes contains a neat way of |
| talented athlete you can be recruited to row at college, | | | | seeing which college teams race lightweight and how |
| even if you have never rowed at high school. There | | | | they compare not only to each other, but also to |
| are opportunities for lightweight rowers and coxswains | | | | openweight crews. |
| too, although your choices are more limited. | | | | Lightweight rowers should be sub-7:40 for the |
| Choosing Between Division I, II, and III Schools | | | | standard 2k ergometer test in order to be recruited by |
| There are many collegiate rowing programs of varying | | | | one of the top lightweight programs. You still have a |
| ability. You may desire top-level competition with a | | | | very good chance if you are 7:50 with good racing |
| shot at competing for a National Championship or | | | | experience and great academics. |
| racing at England's Henley Women's Regatta, or you | | | | During your senior year at high school you must make |
| may be content to train less often and compete at a | | | | sure your weight is consistently at, or below 132 |
| lower level. Whatever your ability, size or shape, there | | | | pounds, otherwise the top lightweight programs will not |
| is a program for you. | | | | be interested in recruiting you. |
| There are approximately 140 women's rowing | | | | Coxes |
| programs that are supported by the intercollegiate | | | | Opportunities exist for good coxes to be recruited. |
| athletics departments at National Collegiate Athletic | | | | Obviously coaches recruit more rowers than coxes to |
| Association (NCAA) member institutions. These are | | | | their teams, but they are always looking for coxes |
| further divided into NCAA Division I, Division II, and | | | | with the potential to make a positive impact on their |
| Division III programs. | | | | team. |
| - If you want to compete at the higher level you should | | | | - You need to proactively market your abilities, and |
| begin by looking at Division I schools. The competition in | | | | demonstrate your assertiveness and leadership |
| Division I is higher than in Division II and III, and so are the | | | | qualities as you pursue a spot at your chosen college. |
| demands on the athletes. | | | | - Send college coaches your audio tapes, which should |
| - Division II and III schools are typically smaller, have a | | | | demonstrate how you run a practice and how you call |
| different environment and offer a different collegiate | | | | both head races and sprint races. |
| experience than do many Division I universities. | | | | - You should include information from your team's |
| - Training time at Division II and III schools is much less | | | | formal coxswain evaluations to help show what you |
| than in Division I. | | | | can offer a prospective college coach. |
| - Only Division I and II schools offer rowing scholarships. | | | | - Ask your high school coach to recommend you to |
| Each school is different and has its individual pros and | | | | the coaches of colleges that you're interested in. |
| cons. It is important that you do your research and look | | | | - Make sure your weight is consistently under 115 |
| closely at everything that a prospective school has to | | | | pounds. |
| offer you. | | | | Walk-Ons and Non-Rowers |
| Lightweight Rowers | | | | You do not need to have rowed at high school in |
| Much collegiate lightweight rowing is performed at the | | | | order to row at college. There are many opportunities |
| club level only, but there are a few varsity lightweight | | | | for tall athletic women to walk-on to most collegiate |
| programs that are supported by their respective | | | | rowing programs. Good high school athletes can be |
| athletic departments. Talented lightweight rowers can | | | | recruited to row despite having no prior rowing |
| be recruited to row at the openweight level at colleges | | | | experience. The eBook Row in College - A Recruiting |
| that may not have a supported lightweight team. | | | | Guide For Female Student-Athletes contains a link for |
| Currently the main supported programs are: | | | | more information about "college prep" coaching |
| - Wisconsin | | | | services for non-rowers to be recruited to row in |
| - Princeton | | | | college. |
| - Stanford | | | | Row in College - A Recruiting Guide For Female |
| - Harvard (Radcliffe) | | | | Student-Athletes is a comprehensive guide to the |
| - Georgetown | | | | women's college rowing recruiting process. It contains |
| - Bucknell has had good success at lightweight level | | | | most of what you'll need to know and the actions you |
| recently, but unlike the others listed here does not | | | | will need to take to be successfully recruited to row in |
| specialize in lightweight rowing, but recruits athletes | | | | college. |
| who may also happen to be lightweight. | | | | |