General Questions
Q: What is the Crew program?
A: The Crew program gives Langley High School students an opportunity to row in competition against teams from other public and private high schools in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. and, occasionally, from other eastern states.
Q: Does a student have to be a good athlete to row?
A: Crew demands endurance, strength, discipline and an ability to tolerate the pain their muscles will experience in the last 500 meters of a race. Every student can develop endurance and strength through regular exercise, which we promote during pre-season Winter Conditioning. The skills and discipline of Crew can be learned.
Q: Is previous rowing experience necessary?
A: No. Few if any students entering Langley High School have had any rowing experience.
Q: Should my student be doing anything in the offseason to prepare?
A: The Langley Crew team does not sponsor, promote, or require any offseason activities. However, if your athlete is interested, there are several offseason rowing opportunities, including local rowing clubs and summer camps and programs, that you may be interested in, some as close as the Occoquan and some as far away as Providence, Rhode Island. Although Langley Crew is not involved in any of these clubs or programs, we have provided a list of these options on our Offseason Rowing Opportunities page. Participation in any of these programs is entirely at the parents discretion and expense.
Q: Is rowing different from other sports?
A: Yes, in many respects it is. In the words of a former Langley Crew team member: “Crew is the ultimate team sport. One person being a hero isn't going to make the team win the race. It takes the strength, determination, and heart of the whole team to overcome the obstacles. In a sport such as soccer, one person can get the ball, take it all the way down the field, and score a goal. In baseball, it only takes one person to hit a home run. Imagine being in a race in which only one person in your boat is rowing while the rest of you just sit there. You won't be reaching the finish line anytime soon.” Rowing isn't a great choice for athletes looking for MVP status. It is, however, teamwork's best teacher.
Q: How do I stay up to date with what’s happening with the Crew team?
A: Subscribe to the newsletter. It is the primary way the Booster Club communicates with the parents.
Practices and Regattas
Q: When is the Crew season?
A: Crew is a spring sport, but practices begin in the late fall. Winter conditioning normally begins in mid-November and involves strength and endurance conditioning, including rowing on the ergs. Winter conditioning is held at Langley, every afternoon after school and on Saturday mornings. Water practice will begin in late February. Weather permitting, students will go to the Occoquan every afternoon and on Saturday mornings to row on the water.
Q: Should even the novices be practicing every day?
A: Generally, yes.
Q: Do the students typically do other activities as well?
A: Some do, some don’t, while others do other non-sport activities, such as band or other clubs.
Q: Crew seems to be a large time commitment. How do the students cope with academics?
A: The crew team has generally had the highest GPA of all Langley teams, with 50-70% of the crew team having GPAs over 3.5. The buses have wi-fi, so many of them do their homework on the bus. This works out well, because they can get help with the homework from the others on the bus if they need it. They also learn excellent time management skills.
Q: What is the racing distance?
A: High school crew races are typically 1500 meters in length.
Q: When does the rowing season begin and how long is it?
A: Crew is a Spring sport. The rowing season begins in late February and concludes in late May. Practices take place on the Occoquan River after school Monday through Friday, and on Saturday mornings. Rowers are strongly encouraged to take part in pre-season conditioning at the school, which begins in mid-November.
Q: Where are the regattas held?
A: Local regattas take place on the Occoquan River at Sandy Run Regional Park in Fairfax County.
Q: How many regattas are there in a season?
A: There generally are five or six local regattas. The Langley Crew team generally goes to two out-of-town regattas—the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in mid-May on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia and the Scholastic Rowing Association (SRAA) regatta. The SRAA is held Memorial Day weekend, and only qualifying boats will be invited to attend this event.
Q: Why doesn't Langley row on the Potomac River?
A: Several high schools and colleges do row on the Potomac River; however, the Occoquan is more placid and sheltered and provides a more desirable training location. It also allows us to train at the venue where we compete.
Q: How do the rowers get to the Occoquan?
A: The Langley Crew Boosters Club provides transportation for athletes from Langley to the Occoquan and then back to Langley HS on weekdays through a private bus carrier. Although some upperclassmen opt to drive themselves, using the bus transportation is promoted for safety reasons. Rowers and their families must provide their own transportation to Saturday practices and regattas.
Fees and Expenses
Q: What does it cost to be a member of the crew team?
A: In the past few seasons, dues have averaged around $1,700. This fee included most costs associated with crew but does not include uniform costs (approximately $175), or championship regattas, which involve additional fees. If the team decides to travel away for Spring Break training or participate in a local overnight program, additional costs will be incurred. Crew fees can be paid all at once or spread out over several payments.
Q: Why does it cost so much? How is the money spent?
A: Because not all Fairfax County schools offer crew, it is considered a club sport. As a result, we receive no financial support from Fairfax County Public Schools or Langley High School. Rowing is supported by dues paid by each rower's family and by fundraising activities. In addition, the Langley Athletic Boosters Club has consistently helped to support our program. Income from these sources is used for coaches’ salaries, equipment purchase and maintenance, rack fees for our boats, regatta fees, insurance, and other administrative needs.
Q: Since rowing is a club sport, can rowers still earn varsity letters?
A: Yes, rowers and coxswains can earn letters. Langley Crew athletes meet Virginia High School League and Langley High School requirements for participation in sports and therefore are eligible to earn varsity letters.
Q: Are there any expenses in addition to the dues and the cost of bus transportation to and from practice?
A: Yes, there are additional expenses for required crew uniforms and travel to out-of-town regattas. The purchase of optional team apparel such as sweats, polo shirts, hats, visors, jackets, etc. is extra.
Parent Involvement
Q: Must parents do anything besides paying the bills?
A: Yes. Parents help plan and conduct the activities of the Langley Crew Boosters Club, including fundraising activities, team dinners, volunteer assignments at the Occoquan regattas, the annual end-of-season picnic, etc. Parents are also asked to serve as chaperones on trips to out-of-town regattas as well as the bus to the Occoquan for practice. Support of, and participation in, fundraising is especially important. These activities not only make it possible to have a crew program, but also provide a way for parents to be involved in their children’s lives and get to know their children’s friends and other Langley parents.
Q: What are the time commitments for volunteers, particularly the bus chaperones?
A: Time commitments vary based on the volunteer activity. Bus chaperones normally need to be at Langley by 3:15. Practice can go as late as 7:30, and return around 8:00. Chaperones need to stay at the drop-off until all the kids have been picked up. It makes for a long day, but it’s a great time to be involved with your student.
Q: Should I worry about the volunteer regatta assignments? I am not familiar with how regattas work.
A: Don’t worry—all regatta assignments will include on-the-job training! These jobs range from selling food at concession stands, driving launches for judges, serving as finish-line timers, and directing drivers into parking lots to assisting in course set-up on race days. Help is also needed before the season to prepare the equipment and to lay out lanes and markers for the racecourse, and to retrieve and store everything after the season.
Q: Who manages all these activities?
A: The Langley Crew Boosters Club has a Board of Directors, elected annually for a one-year term. The election is held each year at the end-of-season crew picnic. The Board meets monthly, and parents are welcome to attend!
Q: Who can answer other questions about the crew program?
A: Please email us at Langleyrowing@gmail.com. We will do our best to answer whatever questions you may have!