COUGAR CREW
FAQs
Do I have to have previous rowing experience to join Cougar Crew?
We are a walk-on team. This is a sport that anyone can learn. Many of the alumni of this program had no idea what rowing would even look like when they started. This is a rare opportunity in college where you can go from having no experience to having shot for the gold medal and a national title on the 1996 Olympic course in Georgia.
Do I have to row on the Novice team if I already have previous experience?
Not necessarily. This is left up to the discretion of the Head Coach and Novice Assistant Coach.
What is a Lightweight rower?
In the sport of rowing, there are two categories for rowers weight; Heavyweight and Lightweight. Heavyweights are 160lbs and above for men and 130lbs and above for women. Lightweights are under 160lbs for men and under 130lbs for women.
How much does it cost?
Dues are made in 3 $350 increments throughout the year. Dues are collected to help support the team for some of the travel expenses as well as other necessary expenses. Unfortunately, dues cannot cover all the team's expenses. Typically during the Spring semester the team travels out of state and there will be additional travel expenses. These costs, however, are drastically reduced from what they could be (due in major part to the collection of dues) and are dependent on the number of participants going on the trip.
What is a coxswain and who do we recruit as coxswains?
The coxswain is a very important and special position in a boat. If the rowers are the muscles (or engine) of the boat, the coxswain is the brain (captain) of the boat. He or she is in charge of the boat and the boat's crew. We train our coxswains to be team leaders and to steer, motivate, and direct the boat. The coxswain wears a microphone to communicate to the rowers commands and encouragement. He or she has a responsibility to steer the fastest course during a race while keeping the rowers and all those around safe. The ability to direct and motivate people is something we look for in our coxswains. However, if you do not possess these qualities but are interested in learning these traits, we will teach you everything you need to know to lead you to success.
We look for our coxswains to be lightweight, between 115 to 145 pounds for the men's team and from 100 to 120 for the women's team, and generally short in stature. The ability to direct and motivate people is a plus but is not required for we do teach our coxswains everything they need to know.
How can I join Cougar Crew?