What is the difference between JV/Varsity, Modified, and Novice?
- JV/Varsity – rowers/coxswains who have more than one-year experience or have been designated as such by a coach.
- Modified – rowers/coxswains who are in the 7th or 8th grade at UVMS or LMS.
- Novice – rowers/coxswains who have less than one-calendar year experience.
Novice and Modified Program Explained:
The term novice refers to a rower/coxswain that is participates in crew in his/her first year. This is a calendar year, and not an academic year. (If a rower/coxswain joins crew on March 1, 2023, then he/she is considered a novice until February 29, 2024.)
Novice rowers will:
- Learn about the sport, technique, and terminology.
- Learn to row or cox.
- Learn to use an ERG (ergometer) – which is a land rowing machine.
- Learn to row in the water tank.
- Learn to row on water.
There is no previous experience or boating knowledge required to be a successful rower. It just takes effort, commitment, and the desire to learn. The first year rowing is all about learning and participation.
A strong effort is made to give everyone the opportunity to row on the water during practice (weather permitting), and to participate in regattas (races). The safety of children will not be compromised. Since crew is a team sport, all the children must be ready to go on the water/river