Background: GMS Rowing Center has an active and highly successful Teen LTR (Middle School) and Junior (High School) rowing program. In 2010 one rower represented the USA at the CanAmMex Regatta in Tennessee and we had a number of boats at the Youth National Championships. Two of our students were awarded scholarships to college.

Structure: The program is organized into on-water programs covering spring, summer and fall. The spring and fall programs last approximately 10 weeks and to provide flexibility during the summer programs are arranged on a monthly basis. Winter Training (on-land) runs from mid-November through to early March providing a core base of strength and technique for rowers in the spring. It is a tremendous foundation for any aspiring student.

Content: The focus will be on teaching new rowers the basics of the rowing stroke, proper care and use of the equipment, and preparation for competition. We will introduce students to “sweep” rowing (a technique where each athlete uses one oar). They will learn to row in fours (rowing shells with seats for four rowers plus a coxswain) and eights (rowing shells with seats for eight rowers plus a coxswain). During the program they will have some exposure to “sculling” (a technique where each athlete uses two smaller oars, one in each hand).

Competition: Rowers will not travel to regattas but will be exposed to inter-program competition and scrimmages (informal regattas) with crews at the same level from other clubs.

Catchment Area: Students come from a wide number of local schools the greatest number from New Milford, Brookfield, Bridgewater and Newtown. Students from outside this area include a number from Redding, Ridgefield, Danbury in the south, and Washington and Litchfield in the north.

Daily Schedule: Workouts will start at 3:30 running until 5:30 daily. (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are for new rowers and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for returning rowers.

Costs:The cost for the 3-day a week program is $575 per returning rower and $625 for new members. An additional discount of $50 is available if you sign up a new member. For the Summer the 3-day monthly rate is $300 per returning rower and $350 per new rower.

Dates:

• Spring Program will start on Monday March 14th and end on Friday, June 3rd. Registration will be held on March14th from 3:30-5:30pm. Practice will begin on March 15th. (No rowing will take place over the holiday week of April 18th to April 2nd )
• Summer Programs: (Monthly) Monday June 6th – Friday July 1st or Tuesday July 5th – Friday July 29th or Monday August 1st – Friday August 26th.
• Fall Program will start on Tuesday, September 6th and ends on Friday November 4th.
• Winter Program start on Monday, November 14th 2011 and will finish on Friday, March 3rd 2012.

Registration: Please complete the 2 to 3 day and 5 day Registration, Code of Conduct, Medical Authorization & US Waiver Forms, also found in the Teen LTR section of the Forms Side Bar.