Team Rules

Gonzaga College High School Crew

Team Guide & Rules

"If you think you can or can't, you have already decided."

For Parents and Students: A guide to follow, specific to the crew team, in addition to those rules contained in the school's student handbook. Crew is the ultimate team sport that is as much about athletics as it is about life and the choices you make. Please got through this carefully and be fully aware of what is contained here in.

Attendance, Priorities, & Attitude

Practices are not optional. Be on time (3 P.M.) and expect to be at the boat house Monday through Saturday. Practices are 3 P.M. till 6 P.M. each weekday afternoon. Saturday practice times will be announced. No excuses are accepted for finding parking.

If you know you can not attend a practice, it is your responsibility to tell the coaches well in advance if at all possible. This includes being sick (either not going to school or leaving early). Not showing up without warning will be greatly frowned upon, and is grounds for dismissal from the team (coaching staff's discretion). Leave a message with any of the coaches (their phone numbers are in the crew directory, and in Mr. Radford's office).

We practice rain or shine. Practice is never completely canceled. The only things that will keep us off the water are lightning, or high winds. Listen for announcements on WZAG, or ask in Mr. Radford's office. In the event practice is canceled at the boat house, report to the Erg Room at the school and wait for a coach or captain; you will be given instructions as to what we will do.

Spring Break practices are mandatory. The exception is trips related to classes at Gonzaga. Consider this last statement when trying out for a boat. Although you are not being penalized, your seat can not be held for you while you are on a school trip.
Gonzaga Service Hours, SAT's, Etc. Schedule your service hours and volunteer projects so that they do not conflict with practice/regatta times in the spring! Please schedule SAT's for the first weekend in May as this weekend is open with no regatta scheduled. However, plan to practice in the afternoon on that Saturday.
Junior Year is a busy time, especially at the end of the season/school year. Please think ahead and know that you will have a lot of work from teachers, and high intensity workouts with the crew. You must still practice and prepare for races.
AP Exams. Plan for them. Don't wait till the last minute to study and get stressed out because of them and crew practice. Think ahead, budget your time, and get things done. You will still be practicing and racing!
JUG- Don't get it.

Penalties for absences: Rowers that are absent from practice without notification to the coaches on 3 different occasions in a season will be removed from the team. Prior to this, the coaches reserve the right to penalize the rower in the following ways:

1. Removal from current boat/seat

2. Removal from a days practice

3. Not allowing rower to race in the next regatta.

Regattas are over when they are over. You are expected to attend the entire regatta to cheer on your team mates and to put away equipment at the end of the day.

Keep things in their proper priority:

1. Family

2. School Studies (not clubs, service projects etc)

3. Crew

4. Other

If you are unable to do this, you should consider quitting crew and doing what ever is number 3.

Furthermore, you are aware of how much time it takes you to maintain your studies. Do not make excuses for not getting your work done out side of practice, and then miss practice to make things up. This will not be tolerated. Learn to balance your time. Extenuating circumstance will be considered, but remember that most teachers are willing to come in before school, lunch time, or a open period to provide help or allow you make up tests.

Crew is a sport that involves a big commitment of time and energy. It is imperative that all rowers and parents take this commitment seriously. Crew being a unique sport requires great amounts of team work. Although it is possible to replace a rower with another in the event of absence, this does not allow the boat, and team as a whole to learn, train, and compete at it's highest level. Continuity and consistency are key to creating effective boats.

Parents when considering whether to keep your son home for whatever reason or to take your son on another trip, please be aware that this effects more than just your family. This effects the boat your son is in and the entire team. A student taken from one boat requires the shifting of another student on another boat to fill their place and on down the line. Understand that as a coach, I am not telling you how to organize your family or discipline your child, but rather to make you aware of the incredible team work this sport requires. Having one person suddenly not able come to practice when they are expected can disrupt 8 other rowers and their coach; possibly leaving them stranded, unable to practice at all and wasting everyone's time.

Be considerate of your team mates and coaches. Disrespect, abuse, or improper behavior directed towards a team mate, coach, or coaches/members of another team will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the team. Such behavior is not conducive to positive improvement and is not the standard by which this team is built.

Gonzaga crew is based on a positive environment and all individuals are expected to keep this in mind. We are all involved in this team for the same basic reasons, and all work for the same goals. Your behavior effects and reflects upon us all.

Training Rules

No alcohol, drugs, or tobacco: Use of these will automatically cut you from the team. You can not be at your best if you are using these substances while training.
The team is a self policed group. You must watch out for each other. You have a responsibility to yourself and your team mates to keep yourselves from being in a position where you could be cut from the team. You have the responsibility to let the coaches or captains know if somebody is breaking the training rules.
It is important that you get adequate sleep, and eat properly so you can train hard. This is especially true the days before a race.

Workout Rules & Land Training

If injury prevents you from doing the land training it is the coaches decision as to whether you will practice on the water or not. This includes erg tests.
If you are able to practice less than four days a week you probably will not race. The final decision is up to the coaches.
Come prepared (running shoes, spandex shorts/tights, extra clothes, rain gear) and ready to workout. If you don't have workout clothes, you will not practice.
You should be dressed, and have your water bottle filled by the start of practice.
Always train in groups.
Always be in the area designated by the coach.
Be aware of what is going on around you. If someone bothers or confronts you, turn and walk away. Return to the boat house immediately and tell a coach!
Do the workout assigned to you by the coaches. Do not change it, add to it, or skip it. Such actions are grounds for dismissal from the team. Such actions negate the workout and the goals for it. All workouts have a purpose.

Boat House Rules

Do not use or move things that do not belong to you.
Everybody must help in getting the boats on and off the water, and setting up and taking down the motor launches each day. When it's you turn, be ready to do it. We have limited space and time to get things done in, let's not waste it.
There is no running or horseplay in the boat house, or on the docks and ramps.
Do not interfere with another team's practice. To ensure you are not in anyone's way, be in the area designated by the coaches at all times! Don't wander off.

*Safety Rules*

Everybody must take a swim test before going on the water for the first time each year. You are excused if you can provide valid certification as a life guard.
All oars are floatation devices. They will keep you afloat.
If your boat swamps (fills with water) or turns over, stay with the boat! It will not sink. Hang on to it until you are picked up by a coaches launch. NEVER LEAVE THE BOAT!!!
If you catch a crab, and are thrown overboard, try to keep your head down until the boat has passed. Try not to panic. Come up and tread water. The coaches launch will pick you up. Also, the crew should stop immediately and lend help.
When in the boat and on the water, follow the instructions of the coxswain and coaches quickly and properly. The coaches and coxswain know how to control the boat and keep practices as safe as possible.
Dangerous behavior of any kind while on or off the water is immediate grounds for dismissal.

It is always the coaches 1^st mission to make sure that practices, travel, and regattas are conducted in a safe manner. It the students responsibility to follow direction so as to achieve that mission.

Other

You are responsible for your own equipment; boat, oars, uniforms. It is the students responsibility to set up/break down the coaches launches with equipment, put out/put away oars, and check the shell for loose or damaged parts on a daily basis. Not doing these things are grounds for the crew not rowing on that or the next day.

Rowers are responsible for all intentional or irresponsible damage to equipment belonging to Gonzaga or another team. Responsibility goes as far as helping repair or pay for damaged items as necessary.

Your racing shirt is for racing only! It is not to be used as a workout shirt, and it is not to be traded. At a championship regatta, you may bet another school your shirt on the basis of winning or losing the event, but be very certain: If you lose you must give it up.

Bring nothing valuable to the boat house; there is no secure place for your things. The crew storage shed is for equipment and the coaches convenience.

Always bring extra dry, warm clothes.

Guidelines for Receiving a Varsity Letter

To receive a varsity letter you must row, consistently, on the Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8 (2V), or Light Weight 8. This includes practices and races.

It is the coaches privilege to give varsity letters to other boats, or individuals based on outstanding effort or accomplishments during the season.

Anyone not receiving a varsity letter, who completes the entire season, will be awarded a junior varsity letter. This includes freshmen.

Conclusion

These rules and guidelines are for your benefit. They will be posted in all workout areas at the school and boat house. They are not intended to discourage , but rather to make sure that we are all on the "same page." The coaches are here to teach and guide each rower, but success ultimately lies with the individual and their parents. If each rower works to the best of their abilities, keeps a positive attitude, and supports each other, then we will have a winning crew team. You represent Gonzaga Crew. You get what you put into it. Good luck.

Coaching Staff & Athletic Director, Gonzaga College High School Crew

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Please Return this slip of paper to a coach, noting that you have read and understand what is contained here in. Please retain the entire set of guidelines for your records and referral!

Students Signature

Parents Signature

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