This group is open to anyone with at least Novice sweep experience who wants workouts to improve their skills and conditioning in a friendly, social environment. Designed to be the largest group with the broadest range of abilities, the Experienced Program (EP) will be comprised of members of various levels of ability – those who cannot or don’t wish to commit to the Racing Program; seasoned rowers who want a workout and technique training; and members who have graduated from the Novice level.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 5:30 am- 7:00 am, Saturday 6:00 am- 8:00 am.
Each session is 4 weeks long.
- EP I: May 7nd –June 2ndSign-up
- EP II: June 4th – June 30th Sign-up
- EP III: July 2nd – July 28th Sign-up
- EP IV: July 30th – August 25th Sign-up
- EP V: August 27th – September 22nd Sign-up
- EP VI: September 24th – October 20th Sign-up
COST
$50 per 4-week session
$5 Drop-in rate (Members only)
Non-members may purchase EP program rows for $16 per row. This is for rowers unable to commit to a full BCR membership, including guest rowers from out-of-town clubs. Daily entrance to Boulder Reservoir is included in the cost, however, the fee does not include a season-long Reservoir Pass (Parks & Recreation card). Limit is 8 rows per calendar year. EP day rowers must give coaches notice before attending, and sign all waivers before their first row.
Rowers who have paid for the Novice Sculling program on Wednesday can sign-up up for the Experienced Program (sweep) at a reduced rate of ¾ of the Experienced fee. They may then row in either Wednesday program.
CURRICULUM and PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
- The Experienced Program combines fitness with technique for the development of more competent and fit rowers. Participants can expect their days to be a combination of rigorous workouts and technique building. Workout length and intensity will gradually increase over the sessions and the year, in response to both rowers’ input and to how well they are acquiring technique and building fitness.
- Coaches will determine the best method for planning line-ups in one of three ways. 1. Coaches may request your rowing availability for the following week by Friday; 2. Coaches may make line-ups based on who shows up that day to practice; 3. Coaches may use a combination of methods 1 and 2, as they see fit.
- As much as possible, participants will be boated with others who share their goals for the row, as well as similar levels of fitness and skill. Participants should recognize there are times when this arrangement cannot completely meet their individual goals.
-Each EP session must have at least nine (9) participants (8 rowers and 1 coxswain, or 9 rowers). If there are less than nine, the Program Committee will evaluate the situation and coordinate with the coach to decide on the best course of action to address the need for coaching and the challenge of a small number of participants. This may include combining Novice and Experienced sessions on some days, especially late in the year when numbers typically decline. If an EP session is truncated, rowers who want to pursue a different option will be offered a refund for the remainder of the EP session.
- In the event there are more boats than coxswain members participating in the EP, the Fair Coxswain system will be employed to spread coxing responsibilities around to all participants fairly. All rowers in the program are expected to cox if no dedicated coxswain is available.
- Based on coach discretion and rower interest level, the coach may structure workouts to include elements of racing such as racing starts, and can train EP rowers for local club-supported regattas, such as Boulder Sprints and Row the Rockies.
-In general, rowers who wish to join the Racing Program must first develop in the Experienced Program to continue building their skills and fitness to ensure greater success. The Experienced and Racing coaches will coordinate to decide when an Experienced rower is ready to advance to the Racing program – there is no set timeline; an individual who expresses the desire to join Racing will be evaluated for rowing ability and fitness. In order to meet the needs of a sizable EP group with diverse skill levels coaches may have boats at multiple locations on the water simultaneously. This strategy will help maximize continuous rowing time, plus accommodate varying speeds of different types of boats (4+ and 8+) and rowers with various expectations and abilities. The coach may also coordinate with qualified EP program participants (checked out for sculling equipment) to have them scull in order to maximize rowing opportunity for all participants. In this case the use of sculling equipment by EP rowers cannot interfere with sculling programs or other reservations to use sculling equipment. The Experienced coach will distribute their time between all EP boats to provide equitable coaching and ensure safety of all participants.
[Excerpt from the 2012 Program Document. View or download here.]
