College Rowing Recruitment

David Meyers26 June, 2012

College Rowing

• This presentation is meant to give the athletes and parents a starting point into the college rowing recruiting process.

• It is in no way comprehensive and may not be up to date or completely correct.

• The information is written more towards the women’s side because rowing is not a men's scholarship sport at most Universities with a men’s rowing program. Women programs can have up to 20 scholarships. I hear, but have not confirmed, men have no more than 5 scholarships if any at all. Men’s rowing does not have an NCAA championship.

• Talk to other athletes, parents, rowers and coaches. Use the Web. Much of the information presented here came from coaches and parents of college rowers and other sports.

• This presentation is geared toward the rower but holds true for coxswains as well.

Before Starting

• College is for academic and professional advancement! You will not be joining the professional rowers circuit after college. If you want to become an Olympic quality rower it can be done in less competitive program or outside of college.

• Do I really want to row/coxswain in college? – It is cross training, weight lifting, rowing and travel 9 to 10 months of the year. It is

often considered your job if you are on scholarship. Not much easier for a walk-on athlete.

• In what division do I want to row (DI, II or III)?– DII or III is not always less work than DI schools but often it is.

• Do I want a highly competitive program?– There are highly competitive teams in all divisions but DII and III are generally less

demanding. DI programs are always striving for competitive programs. It is also where the most money is found.

• High attrition rate; most rowers do not row all 4 years.

Scholarship Synopsis• NCAA allows DI and DII schools up to 20 full women’s rowing

scholarships. Not all schools have athletic scholarships or are fully funded for 20. Upto 5 scholarships for men.

• Partial scholarships are allowed for rowing and are often given, especially for the first year. “Full rides” are not common in rowing (men especially) and other non-revenue sports.

• Scholarships are for 1 year at a time. There are multiple reasons for increasing or decreasing dollar amounts each year. Ask Coaches about red-shirting (maintaining scholarship if injured).

• “Generally” given to girls whom have been recognized and recruited before their senior year.

• Non-rowers are also recruited for rowing and given scholarships.

Scholarship Synopsis

• Top candidates generally sign during Fall Letter of Intent week.

• Top candidates will know what is likely to be offered to them by the end of August before their senior year.

• Second round recruits generally sign in the spring.

• Know the NCAA recruiting rules to avoid issues.

NCAA Rules Synopsis

• ncaaclearinghouse.net This is the place to register and describes the rules.

• Must be registered and cleared before official visits can be made.• Register in Junior year. There is a fee.• Tell your school counselor as the school has to supply official

transcripts to the NCAA at the end of the Junior year and upon graduation.

• There are NCAA grade point, SAT/ACT and core course requirements.

• National Letter of Intent -There are rules about signing and commitments that must be followed.

• http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/nli

Helpful Recruiting Rule Sites

• http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/693-playing-the-ncaa-game-rules-for-recruitment

• • http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/information/co

mpliance/comprecrules• • http://www.monsterpreps.com/resources/sopho

more-ncaa-recruiting-rules.htm• http://www.monsterpreps.com/resources/junior-

ncaa-recruiting-rules.htm• http://www.monsterpreps.com/resources/senior-

ncaa-recruiting-rules.htm• • http://www.usrowing.org/DomesticRowing/Youth

Rowing/CollegeRecruitingInfo/RulesofRecruiting.aspx

Getting Noticed Before Your Sr. Year

• Low Erg Score – <7:40 is a good start for women. Not sure about men but suspect <6:40. The lower this score the more likely you will get attention and scholarship. It is like the SAT, very important but not the only consideration. The better rowing schools look for lower erg times for scholarship.

• Participation in other sports is generally a plus.• Look at the rosters of the teams. You will see many

volleyball and basketball players and swimmers with no rowing experience. Generally walk-on athletes but some are recruited.

• Tall (5’9”+ women, 6’+ for men) and lean is preferred (see above) but not a requirement. We all know of great shorter rowers. Of course coxswains are expected to be smaller.

Getting Noticed Before Your Sr. Year

• Row/cox at a collegiate summer camp. If possible at a school you may like to attend. One near multiple schools is a plus.

• Visit team website and fill out questionnaires starting your Sophomore year. This is where you tell them erg scores, etc.

• Stay in contact and update the schools.• Attend a College Junior Day. Most athletic/rowing programs

offer a day for a group of Juniors to make an unofficial visit to the school. Many schools hold 2 to 3 Junior days a year. All classes are welcome too.

• Go to a Junior Nationals ID camp (usrowingjrs.org). More on this later.

Getting Noticed Before Your Sr. Year

• Attend the C.R.A.S.H.-B. (crash-b.org) world indoor rowing competition in Boston your Sophomore and Junior year. Sign up in January to Mid-February; the event is late February.

• Sign up on Berecruited.com before your Sophomore spring season. This web site for high school athletes to post their profile. Free or fee ($60?) versions. collegesportsscholarships.com is another site.

• There are professional recruiting services. Sparks is one.• Row/cox on a winning team. State, SRAA or Club

Nationals Finalists, Top 5 finisher in fall head races.

Late Starters “Senior Year”

• If you go to nationals your Junior year and do well but have not been looking prior to this you will find schools quickly become very interested in you! But regardless of nationals the following helps.

• Contact the coaches often to show interest. Their contact information is located on the team web sites.

• Complete questionnaires (and then contact the coaches to let them know you completed it).

• Attend a Junior day. They are always looking.• Continue to lower your erg time and update the coaches as

soon as possible with your new score.

Once Contact Is Made

• Reply to emails and call as soon as possible, especially if interested in the school.

• Meet any commitments you make with a coach. • Have an idea of what you wish to study and why. Have a

secondary major as well. Just because the school doesn’t list what you want to study they may have similar options. The coaches will investigate if they truly want you.

• Learn about the school and team before calling. Have questions about the school and your major ready and then about the team.

• Have SAT/ACT scores and transcripts available as soon as possible.

School Selection

• Pick schools that will supply your academic needs first (your major and fall back major).

• Set up a spreadsheet to help you with the selection process. You may be dealing with many schools and this helps to keep track of contacts and impressions.

• Visit school websites for both the academic and team information. Look at team rosters. The amount of under and upperclassmen will give you an idea of scholarship availability and if rowers stay with the program.

• Fully funded DI and DII schools have the equivalent of 20 full scholarships available but often give partials. Many schools are not fully funded. DIII and the Ivies don’t give athletic scholarships.

School Selection

• Just like any other college admission you may be recruited by a program but find out later they don’t want you.

• Academic desires (majors) or performance that don’t meet the standard or needs of the school are generally the reasons behind this. The school and coaches want you to succeed while attending their institution.

• Just because you committed you still need to meet the admission standards. If you don’t the commitment may be retracted.

School Selection Spreadsheet Example

Level of Interest (5 high)

Letter from College Responded?

E-mail

Responded?

Online Questionnaire

My Contacted coach

Phone Call

Interview Scheduled

Visit Planned Div League

Syracuse University 5 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 1 Big East

Notre Dame 5 N Y Y Y Y N Y 1 Big East

Louisville 3 Y N Y Y Y N N N 1 Big East

Ohio State 5 Y Y Y Y Y N N N 1 Big 10

Michigan State 5 N Y Y Y Y N N Y 1 Big 10

Drexel 5 Y Y Y Y N N Y Y 1 Mid Atl

Bucknell 3 N N Y Y N N N Y 1 Mid Atl

Massachusetts 5 N Y Y Y Y N Y Y 1 Mid Atl

Iowa 1 Y N Y Y Y N N N 1 Big 10

Dartmouth 5 Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y 1 Ivy

All numbers are examples

School Selection Spreadsheet Example

SchoolYear

Established

Have My Major / Fall

Back

COSTTotal per yearTuition/R&B Scholarship

COSTFor 4 years

Distance from home Travel Time

UndergradPopulation

Total Population

FiskeSocial

FiskeQualityOf Life

FiskeAcademics

Forbes 2012 COMMENT

University Rhode Island

Yes/Yes $40,90450% first

year/100% following 3

20,452 to 81,800

Plus commuting costs?

325 miles 5 hours Car 18,534 3 *** 2 #375

Decided to skip official visit, no longer under

consideration.

Duke University

No/Yes $55,150

75% first year

increase possible

$55,150Plus commuting

costs?

522 miles

10+ HoursCAR

14,350 4 **** 4 #22

Top Candidate, Great Campus, School and

upcoming Crew Team.

UCLA No/Yes $52,499

50% first year

increase possible

$105,000Plus commuting

costs?

2000 miles

8 Hours Plane 38,550

4***

4 #55

Decided that the school was too big and too Far.

Top 10 team

Syracuse University

Yes/Yes $51,960 100%$0

Commuting costs minimal

10 miles0.5 Hours

CAR 13,203 3 *** 3 #207

Great School , top 20 Team, Coach & COST

Close to home

University of Tennessee

Yes/Yes $37,590 100%$0

Plus commuting costs?

520 miles

10+ Hours CAR 29,934 4 ***** 4 #512

Great Campus, School and top 20 Team.

All numbers are examples and not accurate You need to go to the sources for up to date numbers. Comments are for example only.

Parents

• The schools are looking at your child not you! It should be their choice not yours! Be supportive and help them to make decisions but do not direct them. Present them with pros and cons in a neutral manner.

• Most of the contact should be between your child and the coaches/athletes at the school. This is a great place to learn interviewing and negotiating skills. Not for you but for your daughter. Again guidance is helpful and necessary.

• However, make sure your child visits the school and talks with the athletes without the coaches. The coaches are like salesmen and the athletes are the buyers. The athletes will tell you how things really work at the school and on the team.

Parents

• Don’t let your child commit (verbally or sign) until she/he has discussed the offer with you. You may be able to negotiate and this is where you can help the most. You will have to sign the Letter of Intent if she is under 21.

• Don’t respond to emails or call coaches unless your child gives you permission. You don’t want to say one thing and your child another. You may also inadvertently cause a NCAA rule violation. You also cannot make a commitment for your child.

• Hopefully your child will have choices but this leads to a tough life lesson. She/he will have to tell somebody no. Remind them this is ultimately a huge business/financial decision and must be made on business/financial data not emotion (I look better in that school’s colors).

Jr. Nationals ID Camp• ID camp is a 6 hour period for demonstrating you abilities to the Jr.

National coaches. Camps run from February through March on weekends.• Weigh in and height. Row a 2K. Row if weather permits. Coxwains need

recordings and resume. • Camps across the country in February and March but Pelham NY,

Philadelphia, DC and Boston are closest. Go the night before!• $50 cost. Sign up on regatta central (regattacentral.com). You need a

USrowing number which you can get from the FM coach or from USrowing. You can sign up on the day of the camp on site.

• Selection is primarily based on 2K time (unweighted). Time must be lower as you get older. Can continue to submit verified scores to Jr. National Coach after attending ID camp up to May 1st.

• Questions are asked to find out your level of interest and knowledge of rowing. This is not required but makes you standout.

• Invitations to National camps are made by Mid to late May.

Jr. Nationals Camps

• 18 and under in the year you attend. If you turn 18 on 12/31/12 you are considered 18 for all of 2012. Best to have a January 1st birthday.

• Sweep and Sculling development camps – Generally 30, younger less experienced rowers (14-17 yrs). 3 weeks in late June to mid-July.18 year olds cannot attend this camp.

• Sweep High Performance camp – About 20 more experienced rowers that need to tune their skills. late June through July. Travel to Berlin Germany. (15-17 yrs). 18 year olds cannot attend this camp.

• Selection camp – Jr. International team. About 30 girls go to selection camp late June to mid-July. 12 to 20 rowers and a coxswain make the team. Mid-July though world championship. Any “18 year old” not making it goes home. Younger rowers may be dropped back to HP camp. (16 -18 yrs.)

Women's Jr. Nationals Expectations• The following are for women not written in stone but exceptions are rare for Selection and

High performance camps. Erg test is done at ID camps. Power testing is not done at ID camps. If you report these numbers the must be certifiable from club or high school programs.

• Attending 2012 Camps: Birth year: Height : 2K erg: – Junior International 1994 or later 5’9” or taller 7:20 or faster – High Performance 1995 or later 5’9” or taller 7:28 or faster – Development 1996 5’8” or taller 7:40 or faster – 1997/1998 5’8” or taller 7:50 to 8:00

• Anaerobic Power: 1’ or 500m as fast as possible. We are looking for the following scores: – Junior International: 1:36.5 for 1’ or 1:39 for 500m – High Performance: 1:38 for 1’ or 1:41.5 for 500m – Development: 1:41.5 for 1’ or 1:44 for 500m

• Aerobic Power: 4 x 10’/2’ rates 22; 24; 26; (5’@26/5’@28) – average split for all 4. – Junior International: 2:00 or faster – High Performance: 2:02.5 or faster – Development: 2:05 or faster

Men's Jr. Nationals Expectations

• See note on previous slide• Camp: Birth year: Height : 2K erg :

– Junior International 1994 or later 6’ or taller 6:20 or faster – High Performance 1995 or later 6’ or taller 6:28 or faster – Development 1996 or later 6’ or taller 6:40 or faster – 1997/1998 6’ or taller 6:50 to 7:00

• Anaerobic Power: 1’ or 500m as fast as possible. – We are looking for the following scores: – Junior International: 1:23.5 for 1’ or 1:26.0 for 500m – High Performance: 1:26.0 for 1’ or 1:28.5 for 500m – Development: 1:28.5 for 1’ or 1:31.0 for 500m

• Aerobic Power: 5 x 2000m @ 28-30 spm – Junior International: 1:40.0 or faster – High Performance: 1:42.5 or faster – Development: 1:45.0 or faster