Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is West Potomac Crew?
A: West Potomac Crew is an interscholastic club sport. Club sports in Fairfax County do not receive financial aid from the school or the county. The club promotes, supports, and operates the rowing program at West Potomac High School (WPHS).
Q: I have never rowed before. Can I still participate in crew?
A: Absolutely! Most students who join the team have no previous rowing experience.
Q: What is the role of the coxswain (pronounced cox’n)?
A: This athlete has a vital role on the team as the one who steers the boat, calls the race plan, and motivates the rowers. The coxswain also directs the rowers as they carry the boats.
Q: Do coxswains exercise with rowers?
A: Coxswains are encouraged to exercise with the team during winter training and during the season on land days and during warmups.
Q: Do I have to try out for the team?
A: While we hope we can accept all interested and motivated students, the team size IS limited.
We strongly recommend registering by December 1. We do not expect to hold tryouts, but reserve the right to close registration and/or hold tryouts if our numbers greatly exceed capacity. Coaches should know two weeks prior to the season start if we need to have tryouts.
Q: Where does the team practice?
A: Winter conditioning practices are held at the school. During the spring season, the team rows at Fort Belvoir.
Q: When are practices?
A: Winter conditioning is held after school 3-4 days per week. It is optional, but strongly encouraged for students who are not participating in a winter sport. Spring season practices are Monday through Friday afternoons/evenings and Saturday mornings. Attendance is required at all Spring practices unless otherwise pre-planned and approved by the rower’s coach, due to illness, injury or an unforeseen emergency.
Q: What are practices like?
A: Winter Training: Combination of ergs, weight room, and conditioning.
Spring Season: The team warms up on land and helps to ready the launches, boats, and oars for practice. Once the boats are on the water, athletes warmup with technical drills and then complete the day’s workout. At the end of practice, athletes return the boats, coaches’ launches, and oars to the shore and meet with their respective coaches to discuss the practice.
Q: Can I row and still participate in other sports?
A: Yes. Some of our athletes choose to participate in sports in other seasons.
Q: Do I need to know how to swim?
A. While ending up in the water is rare, we require all athletes to be able to tread water and get themselves back to the boat if they do end up in the water. A swim test will be conducted prior to the start of the season. Athletes will swim 100 yards (4 laps) with any stroke and at any speed, tread water for 2 minutes, and put on lifejacket while treading water.
Q: Sounds good! What is required to sign up?
A: Athletes must register with both the West Potomac High School Activities Department and the West Potomac Crew Boosters prior to participating. Please see the REGISTARTION & FEES tab for more information.
Q. How do I get to practices and races?
A. Many of our athletes form carpools. We encourage you to reach out to other members of the team. We will also host a new parent gathering, which has been helpful in the past in enabling parents to meet and set-up carpools
Q: Must parents do anything other than pay the bills?
A: Yes. To make it possible for our athletes to row, every family must participate in fundraising, regatta, and operations activities.
The club has instituted a volunteer obligation policy, available at the volunteer tab. To learn more about volunteering, see our volunteer tab.
Q: I still have questions, who can answer them?
A: For general questions, contact the Booster President at president@wpcrew.org. For questions about registration and forms, contact the Administration Vice President at vpadmin@wpcrew.org. For questions about the sport, schedule, attendance requirements, etc., contact the Head Coach at coach@wpcrew.org.
A: West Potomac Crew is an interscholastic club sport. Club sports in Fairfax County do not receive financial aid from the school or the county. The club promotes, supports, and operates the rowing program at West Potomac High School (WPHS).
Q: I have never rowed before. Can I still participate in crew?
A: Absolutely! Most students who join the team have no previous rowing experience.
Q: What is the role of the coxswain (pronounced cox’n)?
A: This athlete has a vital role on the team as the one who steers the boat, calls the race plan, and motivates the rowers. The coxswain also directs the rowers as they carry the boats.
Q: Do coxswains exercise with rowers?
A: Coxswains are encouraged to exercise with the team during winter training and during the season on land days and during warmups.
Q: Do I have to try out for the team?
A: While we hope we can accept all interested and motivated students, the team size IS limited.
We strongly recommend registering by December 1. We do not expect to hold tryouts, but reserve the right to close registration and/or hold tryouts if our numbers greatly exceed capacity. Coaches should know two weeks prior to the season start if we need to have tryouts.
Q: Where does the team practice?
A: Winter conditioning practices are held at the school. During the spring season, the team rows at Fort Belvoir.
Q: When are practices?
A: Winter conditioning is held after school 3-4 days per week. It is optional, but strongly encouraged for students who are not participating in a winter sport. Spring season practices are Monday through Friday afternoons/evenings and Saturday mornings. Attendance is required at all Spring practices unless otherwise pre-planned and approved by the rower’s coach, due to illness, injury or an unforeseen emergency.
Q: What are practices like?
A: Winter Training: Combination of ergs, weight room, and conditioning.
Spring Season: The team warms up on land and helps to ready the launches, boats, and oars for practice. Once the boats are on the water, athletes warmup with technical drills and then complete the day’s workout. At the end of practice, athletes return the boats, coaches’ launches, and oars to the shore and meet with their respective coaches to discuss the practice.
Q: Can I row and still participate in other sports?
A: Yes. Some of our athletes choose to participate in sports in other seasons.
Q: Do I need to know how to swim?
A. While ending up in the water is rare, we require all athletes to be able to tread water and get themselves back to the boat if they do end up in the water. A swim test will be conducted prior to the start of the season. Athletes will swim 100 yards (4 laps) with any stroke and at any speed, tread water for 2 minutes, and put on lifejacket while treading water.
Q: Sounds good! What is required to sign up?
A: Athletes must register with both the West Potomac High School Activities Department and the West Potomac Crew Boosters prior to participating. Please see the REGISTARTION & FEES tab for more information.
Q. How do I get to practices and races?
A. Many of our athletes form carpools. We encourage you to reach out to other members of the team. We will also host a new parent gathering, which has been helpful in the past in enabling parents to meet and set-up carpools
Q: Must parents do anything other than pay the bills?
A: Yes. To make it possible for our athletes to row, every family must participate in fundraising, regatta, and operations activities.
The club has instituted a volunteer obligation policy, available at the volunteer tab. To learn more about volunteering, see our volunteer tab.
Q: I still have questions, who can answer them?
A: For general questions, contact the Booster President at president@wpcrew.org. For questions about registration and forms, contact the Administration Vice President at vpadmin@wpcrew.org. For questions about the sport, schedule, attendance requirements, etc., contact the Head Coach at coach@wpcrew.org.