Q: What is "crew" anyway? How do I benefit?

It is probably one of the best experiences you will ever have at UConn. You'll get in great shape and make friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime.

Q: Is this a Division I sport?

Yeah it is, even though we are a club, we compete at the varsity level against other schools such as URI, UNH, BC, Trinity, Fairfield, Etc...

Q: But I have a very busy schedule?

During more than half of each semester rowing is actually at from 5:30-8am M-F, and once it gets too cold to row outside it changes up a little, so it really doesn't interfere with anything, plus it gives you a head start on the day!

Q: How long is the season?

Crew is a year-round competitive sport. Fall racing starts in October and ends in November. We then start training indoors. Our main competitive season is in the spring season with regattas (races) almost every week and starting in March till about end of school.

Q: Where do you row? What do you do when it gets to cold outside?!

During the beginng of fall, and the end of spring semester, we train on Coventry Lake. After the last fall race, training starts to happen indoors on the ergometers. Winter is usial a great time to get better and faster because you actually can see numbers change as you progress.

Q: What if I have never rowed before?!

So what?! Most people who join the team never rowed before they got to college. That doesn't mean a thing some of the best rowers in the world actually started rowing once they reached college.

Q: People have told me rowing takes up all your free time, and you have to be completly dedicated, is this true?

It's what you make of it, you can't not train and expect to be the best. Although it does take up a large portion of time that doesn't mean you still can't have a great college experience.

Consequently, it does take 8 people to row, if you don't show up to practice, your teammates can't row, so you should feel obligated to always show up to practice.

Q: Does it cost anything to be on the crew?

Crew is an expensive sport, and since we are only a club team, we do have club dues. They range from $200-$250 a semester, the dues go it towards equipment, apparrel, entry fees for races and other expenses such as spring break.

Q: But I'm not a freshman, should I just give up?

One of the beautiful things about this sport, is that some of our best rowers started rowing after their freshman year.