<p>I am a junior lightweight rower who wants to row for an IVY like Harvard, Yale or Princeton. I have contacted coaches via email, but have never met them face to face. I plan to visit colleges this summer. When should I visit these coaches for a direct meeting? After or before July 1st? Is it advisable to take the initiative and visit them first to express serious interest?</p>
<p>Also, what should usually happens during the first meeting between a coach and a potential recruit? What should the rower ask or talk about?</p>
<p>Hi readingforfun:
Have the coaches all responded? You will need an erg score at minimum sub 6:45 and those schools recruit closer to 6:35. Are you in that ballpark?</p>
<p>Are you a rising senior or junior? If the coaches have replied, visit them as soon as possible. At a visit, you usually talk about your rowing and other athletic activities, your academics. It’s hard to advise you on what to ask because it depends on your athletic/academic level and experience. You ask question about the program, the practices, how students combine sports and academics, usually tour the facility. I’d recommend to go to their web sites and read up on their programs and recent results (IRA’s), and you’ll have a bunch of questions to ask, particularly of Andy Card. (You may not want to ask Butt or Crotty what happened.)</p>
<p>ya dude i’m going through the same thing right now what are your times? it definitely seems like these schools go for moreso sub-6:40 but i just started this spring and i’m not quite yet there so that would be awesome if they took that into account and took me in. academically though it seems like your safe with like a 2100-2200 or above SAT and like a 3.7 gpa… i’m really only focusing on my rowing times though because the coaches all told me my academics looked good enough. good luck but don’t take a spot from me haha</p>
<p>I went through the recruiting process last summer and definitely recommend meeting with coaches face to face. You can get a better feel for how the coach interacts with his rowers and whether or not you like his/her vibes. Once you get further into the process this (for me, at least) was key factor in determining my college choice. At the meeting you’ll talk about what he expects, what you expect, etc and any other questions you have (come in with questions prepared–one meeting I sat down and the coach literally said, “what do you want to know?”). You can find lists online of questions to ask but consider study abroad possibilities, the retention rate of the program, how many seniors are on the team, how many freshman are in ____ boat, etc. Each program is different so try to learn the nuances of each team. For instance, at one school I would have been a “top recruit” with the program being ‘built’ around the recruitment class of 2015, where another school has well-established programs that I would be honored to be a part of as opposed to building a program.</p>
<p>Honestly, I wouldn’t mention study abroad. Many coaches actively discourage study abroad because you’re expected to also row in the fall, so it may raise a red flag. A coach may bring it up as a special added benefit of his/her program. Also, with men, freshmen cannot row in varsity boats (at least not at IRA’s). Since you’re interested in LW rowing, the list of possible teams is quite short, and you can really do your homework. Look at their web sites, go to row2k and read up on the team’s performance. Also keep in mind that some schools may be academically rated higher but are lower in terms of athletics, so it may be easier to get in with a slower erg time (e.g. Penn or Columbia).</p>
<p>My son just got interested in rowing. His cousin got recruited and we’re wondering if his body type is right for lightweight rowing. He’s about 6’1" now and could still be growing and he weighs 147. His cousin, who’s a heavyweight, says that lightweight rowers are generally shorter and stockier but looking online, it looked like there were lots of guys his height. He’s a rising junior. We’re wondering if he starts working out a lot if he’ll gain weight or if all the excercise will keep his weight down.</p>
<p>Are there any schools that aren’t Ivy caliber - like maybe Wash U - that would recruit someone with decent stats who isn’t a world-class rower? Or could it help you get in?</p>
<p>Also, his cousin said it’s better to be a heavyweight because more of them are recruited. Don’t know if it’ll be possible for him to bulk up that much.</p>
<p>Just going through the process now with my son. (heavy, not light) There are many top lightweight rowers who are your son’s height. They have to weigh in at races at 155. (or perhaps 160 for college, I’m not certain) I wouldn’t worry too much about bulking him up or watching the pounds. His body will naturally tell you where it is meant to be. I have found that the successful lightweights are naturally within range when they are in peak condition. That doesn’t mean that some boys have to watch what they eat, but starving a teenager too much is counterproductive. They lose strength when they have to drop too much weight. The best bet is to see how he develops over the next year. The bottom line is that coaches are all interested in 3 things - erg times, grades & test scores.
Oh, I almost forgot . . . Wash U. has a club team, so no help from the coach there. There are a number of schools that have division 3 teams, but not specifically lightweight teams. Your son would likely be tall enough for these teams if his erg times are good enough. Some division 3 teams are - Williams, Trinity, Colgate, Bucknell, Weslyan.</p>
<p>One more thing - While the Wash. U. coach may not have pull with admissions, I have heard that the club crew team is fun and the kids really enjoy it. You never know, it might be a good match for your son.</p>
<p>At 6’1" amd 147 pounds I would never encourage my son to lose weight. We were just wondering if he would have to somehow gain 25 pounds of muscle over the next year or so which seems impossible. He just grew over 3 inches this year and only gained 4 pounds.</p>
<p>So if they have a club team it doesn’t help him get in at all?</p>
<p>His grades are pretty good - 4.1 - hardest curriculum and we’re hoping he’ll get over 700 on all 3 sections of the SAT - so not IVY caliber. He might like Georgetown. Wondering if crew could make a big difference.</p>
<p>If your son has a 4.1 w/ a very challenging curriculum and 700 or better on each of his SAT’s - his academics won’t eliminate him from ivy recruitment. It will all depend on his erg times. I believe they want to see a 2K of 7.40 or better for a lightweight. The division 3 schools mentioned above might be interested in him, as they are willing to combine lights & heavyweights on their teams. Be aware that a school like Williams, whose admissions requirements are very competitive, will be less flexible with regard to academics & scores, but more willing to accept a good earnest rower, who isn’t necessarily tops on the ergs.</p>
<p>P.S. Shoulders & wingspan are good, but the reality is that it is the erg numbers that count. Take heart, a year in the life of a teenage boy is big. They can gain a lot of strength, but I caution you from letting him bank on being recruited. It will change the sport from a stress relieving outlet into another stressful hurdle in a very stressful year. In my opinion, if he loves the sport, he will push himself anyway. Kids already have so much pressure chasing better and better test scores and grades. Try not to let chasing a better erg score become lumped with all the other college entrance demands! Good luck!</p>
<p>OOPS!!
Thanks for catching my error 3xboys!! A lightweight should be pulling 6.40 or better - NOT 7.40. I apologize for any confusion that I may have caused.</p>
<p>My son just graduated from Dartmouth where he rowed lightweight for four years. At 6’2" and 155 lbs he was pretty typical. The lightweights are mostly tall and thin- hardly any body fat at all. The lightweight coach at Dartmouth is great, by the way- Dan Roock- the Dartmouth lightweights won many races this past spring- against Yale, Cornell, Columbia and other colleges. They won silver at Eastern Sprints and bronze at the IRAs. My son and another rower from the Varsity 8 just rowed a pair (two rowers, sweep rowing) representing the USA at the World Under23 World Championships in Amsterdam. Rowing was a huge part of his college life and he is just loves the sport. So, Amazon, if you think you son would like a small LAC rural college then I recommend visiting Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Even now, out of college, erg scores mean a lot- USRowing invites rowers to its development camp in Oaklahoma City based almost entirely on erg scores. I think lightweights need a 6:20 2k erg score to get an invitation, but I’m not sure. There are only two lightweight events at the Olympics- a four and a double (two rowers, sculling) so it is very competitive.</p>