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“What is Anthony Wayne
Crew?”
Anthony Wayne Crew is a high
school rowing team serving the Anthony Wayne school district. Anthony Wayne
Crew is an all-volunteer organization able to exist through the generosity
of many parents, area businesses and community leaders.
“What is the difference
between a “school sponsored” sport and a “club” sport?”
Club sports are
self-supporting. They do not receive funding from the school. The school
system does not provide busses or coaches but does allow us coverage in the
yearbook, sports awards ceremonies, p.a. announcements, and a link to the
Anthony Wayne High School Web Site.
“Why does the school not
sponsor AW Crew?”
To be sponsored by the school
the sport has to be recognized by the Ohio High School Athletic
Association. Crew is not (yet) because not enough schools in the state have
teams. Although Crew is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the
country many high schools do not have access to water/boat
houses/docks/shells or funding for such necessities for a crew team.
“How much is this going to
cost me?”
Fall 2007 club dues will be $325
per season (due in three installments). A uniform is about $100 and can
usually be worn all 4 years. Optional sweats/t-shirts with logo
approximately $40. The other costs:
1. Gas for getting your
child to and from practice and regattas
2. Food you are assigned to
bring to some of the regattas (cookies, salad, etc.)
3. A night in a hotel for
some regattas
“What kind of time
commitment is this for my child?
Your child will stay busy and
out of trouble with practice 4 to 5 nights a week, plus an hour or so
de-rigging and loading boats one day, and an out-of-town regatta the better part of a Saturday
or Sunday. Some weeks
there will be Crew every day of the week and weekend. Some weeks there will
be a night or 2 or a Sunday off. It is a busy but short season--just
5-7 weeks. During the off-season there is opportunity for conditioning,
especially for those not participating in a winter sport.
“What kind of time
commitment is this for parents?”
Car-pooling allows for
parents to only have to drive once or twice a week to the boathouse for
practice/loading/unloading. Some car pools arrange for one parent to drop
off and another to pick up. Other car pools have one parent take the kids,
stay (read a book…), then bring kids home. There is always someone with
room in their car to take an extra kid to a regatta if a parent has a
conflict but most parents go to most of the regattas, as they are fun. Kind
of like a big tailgate party (no alcohol). There will be fund raising events,
most of which are in the off-season.
“Will I have to spend the
night in a hotel every weekend?”
No, the majority of the team
gets up extra early to drive to the most regattas on the morning of the
event. There are usually 2 or so regattas each season too far away to do
this (Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh…) where people do stay in hotels
near the regatta site. Many people arrange to stay with family/friends the
night before a regatta if they have some in that area.
“Does my child have to
participate in both Fall and Spring seasons or can we sign up for just one?”
No, you do not have to do
both. You join on a season-by-season basis. There are kids who just do fall
because they are in a different spring activity and visa versa.
“Does the team do anything
in the off-season (all winter)?”
Yes, during the winter the
club arranges for the team to work out at a gym together 3 nights a week.
This is not required but encouraged and is paid for out of the club
treasury. It keeps the rowers in shape and keeps up their camaraderie.
“My child has absolutely
no boating experience of any kind, is that a problem?”
No, this is a great “walk on”
sport. Kids do not have to be doing this since the second grade to be
successful! This team started in 1998 with 9 Junior and Senior girls, the
majority of whom had no experience at all. The only requirement is being
able to pass a simple swim test.
“How is my child going to
get to and from practice in down town Toledo?”
You
can drive your child all the time or join/form a car pool.
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“My child can drive; can
he/she drive to practice and to the regattas?”
Practice yes, regattas no.
“How is the food handled
at the regattas?”
The club owns tents, grills
etc. The main dish is cooked on site. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
The club provides the main dish, coffee, and hot chocolate. All other items
are brought by parents/rowers to share. You will be assigned to bring
either salad, bagels, Gatorade, water, cookies, fruit, etc. to several of
the regattas. The rest of your immediate family is welcome to eat from the
buffet. The only things not provided are drinks (other than coffee and hot
chocolate) for parents and siblings.
“What time do the regattas
start and end?”
Tent set up is usually
6:30a.m. and we usually pull out of the parking lot to head for home in the
mid to late afternoon.
“When are the regattas?”
Regattas are usually on
Saturdays, sometimes Sundays.
“What can I do to get
involved in Crew parent support activities?”
You can start by attending
the parent meetings. These are usually held on Monday evenings in the media
center at the high school during regatta seasons and less often during the
off seasons. Times and places do vary so please email the crew coordinator
listed on the contacts page to be added to our email list for exact meeting
times, dates and places. There are many ways to be an involved Crew
parent. Either at a meeting or through email, let a club officer know your
area of expertise or interest and we will find an opportunity for you.
“Do I get a break on costs
if I have more than one kid rowing?”
Yes, the fees for fall 2007
are $325 for single rowers and $600 for two rowers. We have never had more
than two rowers from a single family but there would be another price break
if you have more than two.
“Can my child try it
before we commit?”
Definitely! Have your child
come to practice for a week. Be warned – they usually love it after 1 day.
“Is there a try out for
this sport?”
No, there is not a try out.
Everyone who is willing and able is welcome as long as you can pass the
simple swim test.
“Will my child get plenty
of rowing time, even as a novice?”
Yes,
novice rowers practice separately from varsity so they get the full
attention of the coaches and just as much time on the water during practice
as varsity. There are exceptions but usually a rower is considered a novice
for 2 seasons before becoming a varsity rower. At regattas there are races
specifically for novice rowers.
“Why does practice go
over the ending time?”
Please be aware practice will
“go over” often especially for the novice as they learn to care for the
shells, launch, etc. There is a lot involved in putting them away and
problems arise. The coaches do the best they can to get kids out on time.
“Who loads and unloads the boats?”
Prior to regattas,
usually the day before, the kids load the boats onto the trailers we share
with several other clubs. The clubs load/unload together. Unloading is
usually the day after the regattas. This takes about 45 minutes.
“Why don’t they…?”
Once you
pay your dues, you are part of “they”. We welcome you to take ownership in
the club. Please help us make it better. (As Grandma says, “Complaining is
not attractive.”)
“What should we bring to a
regatta?”
- Label everything possible
with your last name!!
- Lawn chairs
- Drinks for
siblings/parents (no pop for kids please)
- Blankets
- Rain gear
- Sun screen
- Binoculars?
- Camera
- Dress in layers
- Extra clothes for a dry
ride home
- Book to read
- Assigned food for buffet
- Label everything!
- Maps/directions
- Club Cell phone list
- Kids homework for the car
- Football, deck of
cards…for siblings.
- Uniform!!
- Plastic bags (for wet
clothes)
- Wipes (for icky bathrooms)
- Towels
- Oh, and did we say to
label everything?!
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