NEW FAMILY HANDBOOK

Welcome to Maine Coast Rowing.  Most of the families on this team came in without any understanding of the sport or the language.  This handbook was put together as a way to help new families get their footing.  If you have any questions, please reach out to the New Family Liaison at family_liaison@mcrarowing.org.

1:  Gear Needed

All rowers should plan to attend every practice with the following items.  A waterproof gear bag large enough to hold all items is strongly recommended.

1. Athletic clothing that is weather appropriate.  Clothing should be synthetic as cotton/natural fibers become heavy as they get wet.  Clothing should be close-fitting and shirts should not fall below the hips.  Loose clothing gets caught in the slides of the boats and can be damaged or be a safety hazard.
2. Dock shoes (NOT FLIP FLOPS).  Shoes should be easy to get off and on.  Shoes will get wet and dirty.
3. Athletic shoes for dryland exercises.
4. Reusable water bottle filled with water.  Metal or hard water bottles should be encased in a sock or other soft covering so as not to damage boats.
5. Light snack for before practice as rowers often come straight from school and are hungry.
6. Small notebook and pencil in a gallon ziplock bag.  Athletes are expected to use the journal daily.
7. Extra layers of clothing as weather necessitates.
8. A change of dry clothes.  Rowing is a water sport and athletes will get wet.
9. MCRA has team yoga mats, but bringing your own is encouraged.

2:  TeamSnap

TeamSnap is the software that MCRA uses for registration, calendaring, and communication with rowers and their families. It is important that all rowers and families use this tool.  You can download the app here.

1. When a rower registers for a season, the rower and their parents will receive email invitations for TeamSnap.  The invitations are based on email addresses;  if only one email address is entered at registration, only one invitation will be received.
2. TeamSnap is the primary means of communication.  It is critical that parents and rowers use TeamSnap for the following:

1. General notifications
2. Communicating absences
3. Calendaring, NOTE:  TeamSnap does support iCal importing into personal digital calendars
4. Emergency alerts, such as weather cancellations
5. Critical communications during regattas occur through the platform

3. If you have difficulty with the app, please reach out to a member of the coaching staff or a returning parent.  Additionally, TeamSnap does have online support that may assist.
4. Please be mindful that the team chat is open to all team members.  It does not support replying directly to a message or tagging a person, so please be clear of your intended recipient or your intended goal of the message.  The team chat can easily get muddled.
5. If you wish to message an individual or create a separate group chat, that is easily accomplished within the app.

1. Open Chat
2. Click the Plus sign in the upper right corner
3. Select the individual that you would like to include in the message.  If there is a down arrow/carrot next to the name, there are multiple people associated with that rower, click the arrow/carrot to select the correct individual.

3.  Practice Locations and Transportation

FALL

Fall practices will occur at the MCRA Boat Yard at the Water Street Boat Landing.

Many athletes carpool. Reach out on Team Snap to set up a Carpool.  Some athletes ride the Breez bus to the Brunswick train station where there is usually parent or other athlete who can pick them up.

WINTER 

Winter sessions occur at the Brunswick Recreation Department at 220 Neptune Drive, Brunswick (Brunswick Landing); here is a city bus stop near the Rec Center.

SPRING

The Spring season is split between the Brunswick Recreation Department and the Bowdoin Boatyard at Sawyer Park on Sawyer Road in Brunswick. Sawyer Park is somewhat isolated, so athletes may need to carpool if they need a ride.

SUMMER

Summer rowing returns to the MCRA Boatyard at the Water Street Boat Landing.

4:  What to Expect at a Race

MCRA generally participates in two types of races:

• Scrimmages with just a few teams
• Regattas, which consist of many other teams and tend to be long days, with early arrival times.  

Junior rowers tend to all races “regattas.”

MCRA has developed a relationship with other rowing clubs and routinely has scrimmages with those teams. NNECRA (Northern New England Community Rowing Association) consists of Maine Coast Rowing Association, Concord Crew (Concord, NH; Great Bay Rowing (Exeter, NH); and Greater Lawrence Rowing Association (Lawrence, MA).  Other Junior rowing teams in Maine include Waynflete in Portland and Megunticook Rowing in Camden. NNECRA and Maine scrimmages tend to be smaller races with shorter days.

In the Fall, races are Head races and in the Spring races are Sprint races.

• Head races are longer races, ~5K; the race usually takes 15-20 minutes from the race start time.  These races have a staggered start time, one boat at a time.  The racers are racing against time.
• Spring races are shorter, ~1K - 2K; the race usually takes between 5-8 minutes from the race start time.  These races are head-to-head, usually in flights of 4 boats.

Before Race Day

Usually about a week before the race, the coaches will announce the arrival time and boat lineups.  For planning purposes, plan to be at a race site at least 90 minutes before the Coaches and Coxswain meetings.  Every race, except for the scrimmages, have race websites with a schedule.  The MCRA website has a Regatta Schedule Page, for ease.

• Please note that boat and race assignments may sometimes seem random or confusing.  There are many factors at play, including racers' ability to attend practices, rowers' interest in certain types of boats/races, boat dynamic, equipment needs as rowers share equipment, race schedule, and the cost of racing.  Coaches work hard to make lineups fair and equitable.

Race Day

Juniors are not allowed to drive themselves, without a parent or guardian, to any race, scrimmage or regatta.

Coaches will have the racers at the boat trailer well-before their race time.  It is the rower’s responsibility to know when they are expected to be where.  They will be given clear direction.

Racers will launch well before their race time, usually about 30 to 40 minutes before the race start. They typically launch from the finish line, row up to the start line, then race back.

Regattas use different platforms for communicating race schedules and race results (often a combination of two different platforms).  The best option is to go to the regatta website for more information.  Common sites used are:

• Regatta Central for race schedule and sometimes results
• Here Now for race results
• Streamline Rowing for race schedule and race results

5.  What to Pack for a Race

Rowers

• Rowers are expected to bring their rowing bag that they bring to all practices.  Coaches will bring yoga mats for everyone.
• Pack multiple changes of clothing.  Rowers may get wet and cold during the day and should be able to get warm.
• Several pairs of socks.  Rowers are often changing socks with every race.
• Uniform (or Uni).  Rowers are encouraged to wear a Uni.  First year rowers (and even beyond) often choose to wear a uniform top purchased from the team, and close-fitting black shorts.  MCRA will make an order from JL Racing for individuals interested in purchasing a uni.  When an order is open, there will be a link on the MCRA Shop page.

• NOTE:  There are also links to Lands End and DR for swag/spirit wear.  DR orders are placed once a season and Lands End is open year round.  These items are not for the uniform.

• Rowers should have long sleeve compression shirts for wearing in cold weather, and pants they can row in if necessary.  If a race gets too cold or wet, race officials may require long sleeves and long pants.

Spectators

• There is a lot of waking at races; wear appropriate footwear.
• Races are usually at parks or other open-space facilities.  There is usually no seating.  Bring portable chairs that are easy to carry or bring a wagon for all of your things.
• Binoculars are helpful for seeing your racer as we often have limited views.
• Rain gear is usually a good idea to have available.

Food/Tent

• There will be a hospitality tent set up for all races.  Rowers are expected to stay in and around the tent, resting, if they are not needed at the boat trailer or are not racing.
• Plan to bring a chair for your rower(s).
• The Trailer/Tent Master will set the tent up in a relatively organized fashion.  Rowers are expected to place their bags, shoes, etc. in the designated locations.  There will be a place for storing cell phones or other electronic devices.
• Food will be provided for racers and spectators for all events.
• For short, half-day races, typically food will include hot coffee, light snacks, light beverages.  
• For long, full-day races, hot breakfast, hot lunch, light snacks, coffee, and light beverages will be provided
• Parents will be notified if no food is being provided.

6:  Typical Regatta Schedule and Information

• September:  Cow Island Classic, MCRA Home Race

• Half-Day race, but parents must volunteer as this is a large fundraiser
• T-Shirts/Swag for sale
• Race schedule on Regatta Central
• Results are posted via the club

• September:  NNECRA Fall Head Race, Concord, NH

• Half-day race
• Not an official race; schedule and results are shared by coaches

• October:  New Hampshire Championships / George Dirth Regatta, Pembroke, NH

• Long, full Day; overnight stay is at the discretion of the family but most travel back and forth in one day.
• T-shirts/Swag for sale
• Race schedule on Regatta Central
• Results via HereNow

• October:  Head of the Fish, Saratoga, NY

• This race typically involves at least one overnight and up to three nights, depending on the race schedule.  
• Often only a few rowers race on the first day.  
• The Second Day, Sunday, is a long day.
• Some families opt to stay the night Sunday night.
• This race is historically cooler weather and rainy.  Plan accordingly
• This race has no close parking, so expect to walk
• T-shirts/Swag for sale
• Race Schedule and results available on Streamline Rowing
• Race is broadcast via Overnight, a subscription service

• April: Ergometer comps, Portland, ME

• This is an erg race at Waynflete
• Half-Day race
• Schedule and results are shared by coaches

• April:  NNECRA Opening Day, Lawrence, MA

• Half-Day race
• Not an official race; schedule and results are shared by coaches

• April:  Saratoga Invitational, Saratoga, NY

• This race typically involves at least two overnights and up to three nights, depending on the family.  Racers race Saturday and Sunday.  Sometimes groups rent house or common lodging
• Some families opt to stay the night Sunday night
• This race is historically cooler weather and rainy.  Plan accordingly
• This race has no close parking, so expect to walk
• T-shirts/Swag for sale
• Race Schedule and results available on Streamline Rowing
• Race is broadcast via Overnight, a subscription service

• May:  Amber Zapatka, Lowell, MA

• Two full days of racing, families decide of they wish to spend the night or drive back and forth.
• T-shirts/Swag for sale
• Race schedule on Regatta Central
• Results via HereNow

• May:  Mayor’s Cup, Medford, MA

• One full day of racing, typically a day drive
• T-shirts/Swag for sale
• Race schedule on Regatta Central
• Results via HereNow

• May:  US Rowing NE REgional Championships

• This is an invitation only race; determined by the coaching staff
• The race is a full weekend; rowers must qualify to race on Sunday
• The race is held somewhere in New England.  To find out more about the location of this race visit the US Rowing website for the Northeast Youth Championship.
• T-shirts/Swag for sale
• Race schedule on Regatta Central
• Results via HereNow

• May:  Maine State Championships, Camden, ME

• This is a half-day race made up of mostly Maine Junior teams
• Schedule and results are shared by coaches

• July:  NNECRA Sturgeon Sprints, Brunswick, ME

• This is a half-day race
• Not an official race; schedule and results are shared by coaches

• Other summer races may be added based on desire and availability of Juniors.  Previous summer races have included the Cromwell Cup in Boston and the Sweeps and the Sweeps and Sculls Regatta in Providence.

7:  Important Contact Information

8.  The Fleet

Taken from the MCRA Coxswain’s Handbook

Example of a bow-coxed 4+, traveling towards left-of-page.

Boats are generally classified based on the following:

1. Number of the rowers, either 1, 2, 4, or 8.
2. Position of coxswain:

1. Bow-coxed (“bowloader”), with the coxswain in the bow of the boat. It is near impossible for the coxswain to see behind them in a bowloader, so often the rower in bow seat will communicate the position of boats behind.
2. Stern-coxed (“sternloader”), with the coxswain in the stern of the boat.
3. Coxless (or “straight”), with no coxswain!

3. Type of rowing, either sweeping (one oar/rigger per rower) or sculling (two oars/riggers).

MCRA’s fleet includes:

• Sweep: straight pair (2-), straight four (4-), coxed four (4+), eight (8+)
• Sculling: single (1x), double (2x), straight quad (4x), coxed quad (4x+).

8:  Rowing Terminology 

Compiled from US Rowing Learn About Rowing; a more expansive list of terms may be found on the US Rowing website.

The Crew

The Boats

The Equipment and Parts of the Boat

Technical Terms