Rowing Novice and Out of Sport Recruiting

UCF Rowing Novice and Out-of-Sport Recruiting Headquarters

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To learn more about how you can become a UCF rower or coxswain, come to one of our two Rowing Informational Meetings: Wednesday August 26th or Thursday, August 27th, both at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union (2nd floor Garden Key room). We look forward to meeting you! 

No prior rowing experience is necessary. To be eligible for team tryouts, you must meet the following criteria:
 1. Be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours at UCF and have at least a 2.0 GPA)
 2. Have a completed health physical from your doctor or nurse practitioner done within the last six months
 3. Have your Sickle Cell Blood Test results, which can be done with your physical
 4. A copy of your health insurance card, front and back.

*If you are a transfer student from a two-year college, you must have earned your AA degree in order to be NCAA eligible.
*If you are entering your third or fourth year of college, please contact Coach Megan Mitchell to discuss your eligibility prior to tryouts.
*If you do not have health insurance, contact Coach Megan Mitchell to discuss your options.

Questions?
Contact Coach Megan Mitchell at mmitchell@athletics.ucf.edu and follow UCF Varsity Rowing Team Tryouts on Facebook.


Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need experience to join UCF Novice Women's Rowing?
No. The UCF rowing team allows students with athletic ability to try-out as novice rowers. ("Novice" means first-year rowing in college). If you like challenges, have a passion for working hard as a member of a team-sport, and want to try out to be a varsity athlete at UCF, 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 145-190 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, consider the coxswain position: small in size, weighing about 110 pounds, large in heart, and competitive in spirit.

Is there a certain mentality that makes a good rower and coxswain?
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 that I am too old to learn a new sport and be good at it as a Division I Varsity athlete in college.
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 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.

How will you decide who makes the team?
We hold a tryout when school begins in the fall. During tryouts, you will learn how to row on ergometers (rowing machines). We will also run a variety of circuits and workouts to determine your athletic ability. We are looking for overall athletic ability, competitiveness, sportsmanship, and a positive attitude.

Are there different positions on the team?
Yes. For the rowers there are the port and starboard positions. 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.

Who does the rowing team compete against, and where?
As a member of the American Athletic Conference, UCF Rowing travels from coast to coast to race the nation's fastest rowing programs. Some of these teams include Michigan, Iowa, Clemson, Northeastern, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Miami, Cal, and inter-conference rivals SMU, UConn, Sacramento State, Temple and Villanova. We also host regattas throughout the season, where several teams from around the country come to our home course on Lake Pickett to race. Check out our 2015-16 race schedule (coming soon!) for more details.

In what season does rowing compete?
We train and compete in both the fall and spring seasons. Similar to the training format of cross-country and track seasons, races in the fall are longer, usually about three 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 for spring racing in January. Racing distance in the spring is shorter, but more intense: about one and one-fourth miles (2,000 meters).

What are the benefits of being a Division I Varsity Athlete at UCF?
In exchange for your hard work and dedication to team excellence, UCF 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 UCF varsity athlete has access:
  - A certified strength and conditioning staff and a state-of-the-art weight room next to the football stadium
  - Certified athletic trainers and UCF sports medicine doctors
  - Rowing's team academic advisor
  - Priority registration for classes every semester
  - Tutoring, study hall, and academic resources
  - Team and individual access to an UCF sport psychologists

How much will it cost to be on the rowing team?
As an intercollegiate student-athlete at UCF, 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, Nike team gear, and other expenses related to being a student-athlete.


UCF Coaching Staff