Background: GMS Rowing Center has an active and highly successful Cadet (Middle School) and Junior (High School) rowing program. In 2009 one rower represented the USA at the Junior Worlds in France, two represented the USA at the CanAmMex Regatta in Tennessee and we had a record number of boats at the Youth National Championships. Two of our students were awarded scholarships to college and three graduated to Ivy League Colleges.

Structure:

The program is organized into on-water programs covering spring, summer and fall. The spring, summer and fall programs last approximately 10 weeks. Each participant will be evaluated at the beginning of the Spring Season and assigned to their level / ability.

Winter Training (on-land) runs from mid-November through to early March. During this period GMS begins the on-water build up to the Sprint Season culminating in Regional, National and International regattas. Without a Winter Program rowers will not be in a physical condition to perform to their best capability and are highly unlikely to achieve the results necessary to win scholarships or be selected to colleges they would like.

Our Winter Training program is designed to build strength and endurance using a mixture of ergometer (rowing machine) work-outs and weights. GMS uses techniques and a science-based methodology developed initially in Germany and now used in many of the leading sports academies across the World.

Content:

• The Development group: Please refer to the Cadet Program which includes the high school.
• The Competitive group will be divided into appropriate groups and boats dependant on numbers and ability. This group will be entering competitions with the focus on developing technique and fitness. The better rowers will be regularly assessed and evaluated for moving into the Elite group.
• The Elite group will comprise of those who have achieved a level of criteria set by Guenter Beutter, Technical Director; this includes reaching nationally recognized erg scores. This group will compete at regional and national championships. They are likely to concentrate on smaller boats but this will be determined by their coach.

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.

Dates & Daily Schedule: Junior sessions will be held daily Monday through Friday. Workouts start at 3:30 running until 5:30 pm daily. In the summer Elite Juniors will row in the morning – timings to be confirmed but are likely to be from 9:00am – 11:00am

Spring Break Camp: Will be held in South Carolina from April 16th to April 24th 2010. The cost per rower will be approximately $1,000. The camp is important for all rowers who wish to challenge for medals at Regional and National championships. Details will be posted on the Web site in March.

Racing: As rowers progress and develop, GMS will enter local regattas and regional championship events. GMS coaching staff will enter crews based on the skill level attained by the athlete. In the spring races include the Northeast Junior Regional Championships (typically held in mid-May). Winners of their events at Northeast Regional are invited to US Youth National Championships in Cincinnati in early June. In the summer races include the Independence Day regatta at Philadelphia, and Club Nationals, Camden NJ. In the fall Novice crews will likely get their first taste of racing by participating in the GMS Regatta & Sprint. The Club attends other Head (three mile races) including possibly the most famous of all fall races, the “Head of the Charles” in Boston, MA. Additionally we will organize scrimmages with other CT rowing clubs so that GMS Rowing Center athletes can measure their progress with other programs. (Please refer to Race Schedule side bar for the regatta schedule).

Daily Schedule: Workouts will start at 3:30 running until 5:30 daily. In the summer Junior Elite rowers will train in the morning. Timings to be confirmed but will probably be from 8:00am to 10:00am

Cost: The cost for the 5-day a week program is $900 per person ($800 for a returning member).

Dates:

• Spring Program: Monday March 22ndh and end on Friday, June 5th. (No rowing will take place over the holiday week of April 16th to April 24th when a Junior Elite Camp will take place.
• Summer Program: Monday June 1st to Friday August 7th.
• Fall Program: Tuesday September 7th to Friday November 6th
• Winter Program: Monday November 15th 2009 to Friday March 4th 2011.

Registration: Please complete the Registration, Code of Conduct, Medical Authorization & US Waiver Forms found in the Juniors section of the Information Side Bar.