Member Skill Levels
For those who are still relatively new to our sport and looking to level up.
In our Learn to Row course, we start everyone out in Level 3 boats, which are bigger and wider than regular shells, and are very hard to flip. After graduating from Learn to Row, if DRC members want to move up to Level 4 or Level 5 boats (more advanced shells that are thinner and longer), these are the requirements they’ll need to meet.
| Requirement | Description | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Complete LTR Classes or equivalent | Learn foundations of rowing, stroke sequence, boathouse rules | (blank) |
| Flip test in Level 3 boat | Learn foundations of rowing, stroke sequence, boathouse rules | - Know how to position oars prior to attempting getting in
- Stabilize themselves upon getting back in |
| Safety Rules | Demonstrate safety rules regarding equipment | - Weather: 100 degrees rule
- Boat lights must be used 30 min before sunrise and sunset. - Wind: Check wind and direction before you launch. Beginner, 5-8mph is your max in a single. - Turn head frequently |
| Traffic Pattern | Demonstrate knowledge of traffic pattern | - Identify legal crossing points on the map
- Demonstrate ability to follow the traffic pattern - Yield to faster boats |
| Boat handling/strapping | Demonstrate knowledge of equipment safety | - Take down and put away boats using proper strapping method.
- Dock procedures (oars on the dock and placing oars in shell appropriately, perform basic equipment check) - Make appropriate commands and execute commands while taking the boat off the rack, placing into the water, and its return |
| Time on the water | Demonstrate physical fitness required to handle level 3 boat (this does not need to be completed before joining) | - 10 laps around the lake |
Supervised Level 3 to Unsupervised Level 3
Unsupervised Level 3 to Level 4
(must demonstrate prior skills)
| Requirement | Description | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Flip test in a Level 4 shell | Demonstrate ability to get back in the boat if capsized | - Know how to position oars prior to attempting getting in
- Stabilize themselves upon getting back in |
| Backing | Demonstrate boat maneuverability | - Back 10 strokes |
| Docking | Demonstrate returning equipment safely | - Properly dock boat by backing in |
| River Turns | Demonstrate safe boat maneuverability | - Complete two 180 degree turns by going clockwise and counterclockwise using the river turn method |
| Pause Drill | Demonstrate knowledge of body position | - Pause at release, arms away and body over. |
| Oar handling | Demonstrate ability to row with oars off the water | (blank) |
| Proper Grip | Demonstrate appropriate grip for sculling | - Row with loose grip
- Row with open hands on recovery (drill) |
| Time on the water | Demonstrate physical fitness required to handle level 4 boat | - 15 Laps (for a cumulative total of 25) |
Level 4 to Level 5
(must demonstrate all prior skills)
| Requirement | Description | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Time on the water | (blank) | - Complete 15 Laps (for a cumulative total of 40) |
| Complete 2k course in alloted time | Demonstrate physical fitness required to handle level 5 boat | - Timed 2K Lap (not more than 11 minutes for men, and 14 minutes for women) |
Team Boat Rowing
| Section | Description | Key Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Learn commands associated with team boats | - Complete 10 laps in a team boat
- Execute commands issued by bow/coach |
| Part 2 | Demonstrate ability to communicate and articulate rowing commands while sitting in 2 seat | - Complete 8 laps in 2 seat
- Under guidance of the bow seat, articulate all commands of unracking and reracking the boat - Sitting in 2 seat, articulate commands of bow seat under supervision of the bow. - Execute the following commands: Check the boat, hold port/starboard, row port/starboard, weigh enough, let it run, river turn (each direction) |