General Information

• Crew came to Robinson Secondary School (RSS) in 1990.


• It is a non-funded competitive varsity (varsity letter requirements below) sport open to all RSS students enrolled in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade.

Although some practices may be exclusively dryland training, most practices (weather permitting) will be on the water with the rest of your crew and a coach, who will drive alongside your shell in a launch (motorboat) and coach you.

  In the beginning of the season, your coach will decide the boat in which you will row. Basically, rowers are boated as follows: the 1st boat is the most competitive crew and so on down the line (2nd 8, 3rd 8, etc.) Robinson rows eights (boat sketch below) which are sweep boats (one oar per person). Robinson does not have a sculling program (two smaller oars per person). Additionally, there are special categories for freshmen and weight class boats (lightweight [men 150 lb limit/women 130 lb limit], midweight) for some races.

Don't worry about not making the top boats at first. The great thing about crew is that you can change boats during the season. For example, if you start out rowing in the third eight, you can always move up to the second eight during the middle of the season by beating out people who are already in that boat. You can also move down, though. This depends on the effort you put in during practice (for example, erging, running, etc.). If you work hard, you can move up, but if you slack off, you go down.


You can be a rower or a coxswain. The coxswain (or cox) is a small, lightweight person who steers the shell, coaches the rowers in the shell with advice about their technique and power, executes race strategy and provides encouragement to the rest of the boat.  Coxes are generally very light -- lighter than lightweight rowers.

Participation Requirements

In order to participate on a Robinson Secondary athletic team, each athlete must meet eligibility requirements (as outlined here.) 

Since crew is a non-funded competitive varsity sport, funding must come from individuals and fundraising efforts. In order to row on the water, you must pay the crew booster club fee, the rower/coxswain's fee, and you must earn the required points (novice=25 points//returning rowers=75 points) before you will be allowed to compete. Points are earned by volunteering time at various fundraising events or by purchasing scrip. The point system is a fair way of making sure everyone doe their share of fundraising. The more money Robinson Crew raises, the more new equipment (shells, rowing machines, etc.) it can buy.

Think you might be interested in joining the team?

Varsity Letter Policy

Must meet all criteria.

1) Satisfies or exceeds school minimum grade and attendance requirements.
2) Observes all club and park authority regulations.
3) May have no more than one unexcused absence (see attendance policy)
4) Rows in at least four races in the Senior 8, Senior 4, Lightweight 8, Lightweight 4, Junior 8, or Junior 4 events.

Coaches maintain the right to veto or waive requirements of letter awards under unusual or exceptional circumstances. 

What to Bring to Practices

Here is a list of stuff to stick in your crew bag.

Important: Don't wear anything in the boat that you don't want ruined.  Clothes can get caught in the sliding seat, which can tear them or at least blacken them with slide grease.