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IRC Juniors Program Regatta Information Spring Season Regattas: What to Anticipate
Finally, after weeks of erging and practicing long and hard in the boats, our rowers are ready to test their abilities in competition. As noted previously, the spring season differs from the fall season by the distance which is covered in the races. Much like for those who run, spring brings forth the sprints. In rowing, the distance raced is approximately 2000 meters long, in six lane race courses.
The boats in each heat start at the same time and the top 3-4 teams advance to the finals. It is a long and physically exhausting day but the triumph of hard work and personal bests make it all worth while.
Transportation: Unfortunately, as we are not a school sponsored sport, we must rely on parents to provide transportation to and from the regattas. Your volunteer spirit is imperative and for that we are grateful.
Departure: Unless the race is local, or one easily traveled to, we will usually leave Indianapolis, the Friday afternoon before the regatta. This allows us to safely travel to the regatta site, unload the boats from the trailer and begin to rig in preparation for the next day. It also allows the rowers an opportunity to get a good nights rest on the eve of the regatta as the morning will begin very early.
Departure is from the boathouse and the arrival of your rower as close to 3:45 p.m. as possible is necessary as traffic out of the city, especially on a Friday evening, is challenging. There is no specific method of assigning rowers to vehicles as the rowers seemingly self divide very easily. We hope you will be flexible with regards to the rowers you transport as the combinations often change on a dime - there may even be occasions you may not know the rowers in your car but it is a great opportunity to get to know them!
Locked vehicles may remain in the boathouse parking lot during our departure but for obvious reasons, please do not leave any valuables. Parent packets containing race specific information, directions/maps, and contact numbers will be provided to all drivers and will also be available on our website, www.indyrowing.org, for those coming later.
Fees: Fees are specific to each regatta and are based on hotel costs (if present), regatta entry fees, gas for the trailer pulling the boats, and IRC prepared meals for the day. It does not include monies which will be spent for the Friday evening dinner on the road, Saturday evening snack, or money for a regatta shirt, if desired.
This fee, as well as specific race information, will be sent via e-mail to all parents ahead of the regatta and can also be found on the IRC website, www.indyrowing.org. It is very helpful if this fee could be obtained via check as it allows us a better check and balance system. We will collect these prior to departure from the boathouse. If a payment plan is desired, please contact Executive Director, Bernadette Teeley.
What to Bring: For rowers and parents alike, the weather often dictates what one brings to a regatta. Standard items for rowers include: mandatory racing wear, and layers of clothing (tights, long sleeved shirts, sweats, several pairs of socks, jackets, hats, and gloves) as well as their usual overnight items and toiletries. Other items include blankets, pillows, sunglasses, sun screen, homework, books, and other non - valuable items. We cannot overemphasize how easy it is for rowers to leave items behind and how much more easily they are returned or claimed, if items are labeled with ones names, especially as many items look alike.
For parents, again, layers are recommended as mornings are often cool and damp. Other items one might consider are binoculars, cameras (there are so many moments you will want to capture), hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrellas, raingear, boots, blankets, gloves, and books.
Regatta Site Arrival: After a quick dinner on the road, we travel to the regatta site to have the rowers unload and rig the boats. Parent drivers, during this time, will unload the tents/supply trailer, preliminarily.
Hotel Arrival: After prep work at the regatta site has been completed, we will then drive to the hotel. Rowers are placed 3 or 4 to a room and are assigned by either their seat number (of their boat) or by coach. It will be the rowers responsibility to be packed and ready to go, very early in the morning (approximately 6:30a.m.) as we will not return to the hotel later in the day (unless it is a 2 day regatta).
Parents are invited to meet in the lobby of the hotel after everyone has checked in for a get-together and to socialize. It is a great time to meet the other parents and coaches!
Race Day Meals: All meals prepared at the regatta are complimentary for our parent/family drivers. You will also find that the meals are staggered throughout the day, depending upon when the juniors race, thus, food is always available. Breakfast will include items such as hot bagel sandwiches, fruit, fruit and grain bars, breakfast breads, yogurt, hot cereal, Gatorade, hot chocolate, and coffee. Lunch varies but may include burgers - beef and turkey, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled chicken Cesar salad, macaroni and cheese, fruit or pasta salads, and desserts. If your child has a food allergy or dietary restriction, please contact the Booster board so that this can be noted. Donated items, specifically home made desserts or breakfast breads are always welcomed and appreciated.
Race Day - How you can help: Throughout the day, parents often wonder how they can assist. If you have never been to a regatta before, the flurry of activity, especially at the outset, can be somewhat overwhelming so here are a few suggestions:
1. Be sure to take the time to watch your child race. Your help in retrieving shoes and oars as they launch and upon their finish is often very beneficial. Your support and encouragement as throughout the race will mean a great deal to them and the memories you gather will be, truly, priceless. 2. The work of setting up the site is a lot of work and many hands make the process flow smoothly. Tents, tarps, table, grills, water jugs, and food bins need to be unloaded and set up. Food preparation is an ongoing process so if you are willing to help, please do not hesitate to jump in. 3. Water and Gatorade coolers located at both the tents and the boats need replenishing often. 4. Relax and enjoy the time getting to know some of the other parents - aside from the rowing and racing, you will find that this is one of the best aspects of the day. We pride ourselves in having the greatest of families! 5. At the races wind down, we will begin our cleaning, takedown, and loading process. This piece is key as it saves time and effort in preparation for the next regatta. 6. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, we ask if you are transporting rowers that you stay until we are all set to leave. It is important to support all rowers in their races throughout the day. Additionally, the more assistance we have in our clean-up process, the more quickly we all can depart. 7. If your rower needs to leave early from the regatta after his or her race, permission must be obtained by the coaches ahead of time. Your rower will also need to inform whoever drove them to the regatta that they will not be returning back to Indianapolis with them.
Return to Indianapolis: Most drivers will return back to the boathouse unless other arrangements have been made. We encourage rowers needing to be picked up to call their family members as we enter the city so that rides will be ready upon our return.
Any further questions regarding the regattas can be forwarded to our executive director or booster board.
If you have any questions, please contact IRC Executive Director, Bernadette Teeley at exec_dir@indyrowing.org.
If any parents have not been receiving e-mail information re: the junior program (of if they would like to be deleted or have changes) to contact us at irc.communications@gmail.com address.
Dear Booster Families,
One predictable aspect about the Spring season is the unpredictability of the weather! As disappointing as it was not to make the trip to the North, it was kind of the Culver coach to let us know before we had made our way. For those of you who stayed to assist with the food prep and sales for the Collegiate Regatta, sponsored by Brightpoint, which was being held at Eagle Creek, we thank you for your time, help, and endurance against the cold. All regatta checks received from the rowers will be credited toward the fee for the Midwest Juniors which will be held in Cincinnati, May 17 -18th. If your rower is not attending and submitted a Culver check, please contact Bernadette Teeley Coming up very quickly is our home regatta, the Indianapolis HS Invitational which will be held this Sunday from 11:00 -2:00. The coaches and coxswains meeting is scheduled for 10:00. This is a terrific opportunity for all parents, family, and friends to see your child row and cheer them on! We hope you will make it to the park for this event!
We appreciate how schedules change and so, if you are no longer able to assist, please contact Mary Ellen Carter at champcamp@comcast.net. If you desire to help and did not indicate, again, please contact Mary Ellen. The day will be broken into 2 shifts, 9-12 and 12-3. More specific information about this regatta will be coming later in the week!
Finally, even though the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships are almost 3 weeks away, plans need to be finalized in the next 1 -1/2 weeks for hotel accommodations. As with our previous Cincinnati regatta, we will be staying at the Holiday Inn Eastgate. We do have a block of rooms reserved but we will need to notify the hotel with our final counts and names very soon. We understand how busy a time of year this is, but if you are able to drive both ways or one way, please consider this event as we will need drivers for over 60 rowers! If also, you are interested in sharing a room, attempts will be made on a first come, first served basis. Hotel rooms, as before, are guaranteed at $89/night, excluding tax. Please contact Mary Ellen if you are able to drive. We will leave Friday at 4:00 and return home around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Thank you again for your wonderful support and help in making this season run so smoothly!
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Junior Boosters |
