More Info on Rowing
Did you know that more than half of the Women's US National Team began their rowing careers in college? They were walk-ons just like you.
Check out the following link and familiarize yourself with the nation's first competitive collegiate sport! Rowing 101
Do I need experience to join IU Novice Women's Rowing?
No. The IU Rowing team allows students with athletic ability and experience to try-out as Novice Rowers. If you like challenges, have a passion for working hard as a member of a team-sport, and want be a Division I Varsity Athlete at Indiana University, then rowing just might be the sport for you!
What body type is ideal for rowing?
Because rowing is a sport of leverage, most people who excel as rowers are tall and weigh between 140-190 pounds. While almost anyone can row, these physical attributes allow for certain individuals to be better suited for rowing. If you are on the smaller side, we are also looking for coxswains: small in size, weighing about 110 pounds, large in heart, and competitive in spirit.
Yes. While everyone has potential to excel as a rower or coxswain, the mentality it takes to become an excellent oarswoman is a competitive spirit of desire and determination. You must want to do well, face challenges as opportunities, give your teammates and coaches your best in every practice, and be willing to set new limits for yourself both physically and mentally. If you can commit to working towards mastering this mentality, then you will go fast!
I played sports in high school but I am nervous about learning something new. Is that normal?
Absolutely. Whether you're nervous about being good at a new sport or managing your time as a college student, let us assure you that we have the resources and know-how to help you be successful. We will teach you and equip you with what you need to reach your goals, from fitness training and rowing boats to time management skills and resources. What you must provide us with in order to be a successful rower or coxswain is the desire to learn and the will to compete.
We hold a tryout when school begins in the Fall. During tryouts, you will learn how to row in a boat as well as on our ergometers (rowing machines.) We will also run a variety of circuits and activities to determine your athletic ability. We are looking for overall athletic ability and a positive attitude
Yes. There are port and starboard positions for the rowers. There is also the coxswain position who sits in the stern (and sometimes the bow) of the boat. The coxswain is responsible for steering, calling commands, assisting with technique, executing the race plan, and providing motivation for the rowers during racing and practices.
As a member of the Big Ten Conference, IU Rowing is in the heart of the nation's top competitive rowing programs, including Ohio State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and Michigan State. Notre Dame, Louisville, Clemson, Cal, Oklahoma, and other fast crews from the East and West coasts are also competitors the Hoosiers regularly race. Check out our race schedule for more details.
We train and compete in both the fall and spring seasons. Similar to cross-country and track seasons, races in the fall are longer, usually about 3 miles in length (5,000 - 6,000 meters). We begin training for the fall season in September and race in October and November. The spring season is our championship season, which runs March through May. We begin training in January. Racing distance in the spring is shorter, but more intense: about 1.5 miles (2,000 meters).
In exchange for your hard work and dedication to team excellence, IU Rowing will provide you with a valuable support system of friends and professionals. Once on the team, you will be afforded the same benefits to which every other IU varsity athlete has access:
- A certified strength and conditioning staff and a state-of-the-art weight room in the football stadium
- Certified athletic trainers and IU Sports Medicine Doctors
- Academic advisors who are exclusively for student-athletes
- Early class registration every semester
- Free tutoring, study hall, and academic resources
- Team and individual access to an IU Athletics sport psychologist
- Student-athlete dining hall
As an intercollegiate student-athlete at IU, almost all of your costs associated with rowing will be covered by the Athletics Department. The only fees we cannot cover are initial fees associated with sport physicals and registration with the NCAA (a one-time payment.) We will cover the costs of uniforms, meals and hotel expenses for team travel, Adidas team gear, and other expenses related to being a student-athlete.