JUNIORS
The Dallas Rowing Club Juniors have built a regional and national reputation for creating champions at the highest level of our sport. We attract largely those athletes who play to win and for whom winning is still play. We accept athletes from private schools, public schools, and home schools from throughout the metroplex, some of which travel from as far as Allen, Plano, and Forth Worth to participate. The Juniors attract competitors at the highest of elite skill levels from international champions throughout Europe and the United States to recreational rowers who engage our wonderful group to build lasting friendships. We have earned US Rowing Youth National Championships gold and silver medals in three of the last six years of competition (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 very close fourths) and have qualified for one or more grand finals at every national championship since 2006. This year alone, the Juniors qualified eight boats in seven events to compete in that most prestigious juniors championship regatta. We proudly continue to achieve the highest ratio of championship representation of all programs in the State of Texas, offering each athlete the greatest opportunity for success.
We do not make cuts, and there are no try-outs. Still, the athlete is expected to work at the highest levels of cardio and anaerobic thresholds. We accept all who accept us because of our core philosophy that everyone matters.
The cost of participation is minimal. Our coaches do not accept any salary. Our coaches are all educated professionals outside of the sport and are committed to passing their half-century of competitive experience to the next generation. Our coaching further forms from within. Those who have competed for the Dallas Rowing Club return to pass on our core philosophies and training. Ours is the oldest and most established club in the area celebrating our 25th anniversary this year. Therefore, our purchase and repair expenses are already included in an expertly managed rotation of the best and fastest equipment available.
We are sensitive to the costs associated with any sport and work to minimize unnecessary burdens on the parents. If a family demonstrates financial need for a talented and willing athlete, special accommodations will be available to assist. Our Club is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The Club and coaches ensure that no child will be turned away from our sport because of money.
SCULLING VERSUS SWEEP: The Dallas Rowing Club Juniors concentrate specifically on sculling, although we include sweep skills training most recently in our undefeated State and Regional Championship pair. Experience has taught that although many programs do run successful and safe sweep programs, the asymmetrical muscle development associated with sweep rowing is not worth the risk to developing bodies. European, Canadian, Australian and other international athletes are highly prized among American colleges due in large part to international emphasis on sculling in the formative years. Additionally, college coaches consistently and specifically seek out our high school scullers because they are capable of rowing both sides of a sweep boat, have a much better sense of boat balance, and have not developed bad habits or injuries associated with sweep that the college coach must spend hundreds of hours to fix or accommodate.Indeed, the major college championship boats include a very large percentage, if not a majority, of international athletes specifically for this reason. All DRC Juniors coaches are expected to spend many times the hours and effort to teach each individual athlete proper sculling technique in singles and smaller boats where the rower carries far greater impact and accountability on boat speed and balance. As a result, college coaches at the highest level have spent hours in our DRC launches on our water to watch our athletes. This is a remarkable distinction from the standard practice of athletes taking time away from school, training, and family to travel the countryside hoping to be noticed.
Coach Slim is happy to address any questions or comments at 214-350-5183 or by email.