We post tryouts dates throughout the year, particularly in September and October when the academic year begins. When tryouts are posted, click “Sign Up For Tryouts” to sign up for an upcoming tryouts session and a coach will reach out shortly to connect. If there are no tryouts dates posted, you may email info@rownewyork.org for additional information. Please note that we receive significantly more interest than we have slots, and space is very limited.

Most Row New Yorkers row for free. Some Row New Yorkers, depending on household income, pay for a portion of their own rowing expenses.

In addition to training and equipment, all student athletes receive swim lessons (if needed), MetroCards, Opportunities, Academics, Resources, and Supports (O.A.R.S.) activities, waived racing fees, racing accommodations, college trips, daily snacks/meals, college admissions support, SAT prep, and much more.

Our Alumni and College Success Manager can connect students to resources related to financial aid and scholarships for college, even after high school graduation. Our social worker is available to all families and can provide mental-health counseling, and resources to those facing food insecurity, homelessness, or other socio-economic challenges. If there is anything you need (school supplies, athletic clothing, sneakers, etc.), let us know, and we will do what we can to provide it.

If cost creates a barrier for you to join the team, please let a coach know or email info@rownewyork.org.

Rowing is a challenging sport that requires commitment and teamwork. Each practice session helps to build strength and endurance through rigorous mental and physical training. We’re looking for dedicated student athletes who are committed to their team and willing to listen to feedback from coaches. No rowing or swimming skills are required, just a willingness to work hard!

To remain in good standing with the program, participants are required to attend all rowing practices and O.A.R.S. activities. O.A.R.S. is an essential part of our mission, providing academic support and life skills that are just as important as physical training. If a participant does not attend O.A.R.S., they will not be permitted to row.

Want to join a team but don’t want to row? Try out to be a coxswain! Coxswains do not row and instead lead the crew and steer the boat—they’re great leaders and quick thinkers. Good coxswains are critical to a team’s success and play a vital role in the boat.

Of course! Most of our rowers are new to the sport, so you’re not alone. Novice squads are specifically designed for participants with no experience.

We’ll teach you! Free swim lessons are available to beginners and those who cannot swim. All rowers will take a swim test and will be required to wear a life jacket until they pass the test. Your safety is our top priority, whether you know how to swim or not.

Even if you are terrified of the water, you can still join the team and be a successful rower. We’ve seen it many times!

You should wear an outfit that is comfortable for rowing, running, and stretching. All rowers will need running shoes, a sports bra (as needed), an extra outfit in case you get wet, a brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a water bottle. Athletic gear can be expensive. If cost is a barrier for you, please let a coach know or email youthrowing@rownewyork.org.

• Avoid baggy clothing, such as long t-shirts and basketball shorts, which can get stuck in the rolling seat. Avoid clothing you do not want to ruin because you may get dirty at practice.
• In hot weather, you should wear clothing that helps you stay cool, such as a tank top and shorts.
• In cold weather, you should wear layers of clothing that help you stay warm such as a beanie, thick socks, long-sleeved shirts, a sweatshirt, a jacket you can move in, and long tights.
• In rainy weather, you should wear a waterproof jacket and remember to bring an extra change of clothes.

Our Opportunities, Academics, Resources, and Supports (O.A.R.S.) activities are designed to build skills to help you get good grades and get into college, and your teammates and coaches provide a network of support. Even though rowing practice will take up additional time in your schedule, your self-discipline and time management skills will improve. In fact, most of our student athletes see their grades rise while participating in our programs. Student athletes are required to attend all O.A.R.S. activities.

At Row New York, we are fully committed to ensuring that our athletes can be successful both on and off the water. Our Rowing and O.A.R.S. programs, like the rower and the oar, go hand-in-hand, and we have found that our athletes that most deeply engage with both are much more likely to achieve longer-term success. Every year, 100% of our high school seniors graduate on time and get admitted to college. And it does not end there. 85% of our participants graduate bachelors-level programs in four years, and many of our participants also become rowers at the college level.

Athletes must commit to the entire program, including all athletics and Opportunities, Academics, Resources, and Supports (O.A.R.S.) activities.

We’re looking forward to the spring racing season! Spring racing sometimes includes travel to upstate New York, Long Island, New Jersey, and the Philadelphia area. We rarely miss school for competitions as races are usually on Saturdays or Sundays. For our competitive rowers, there are also the Youth Nationals competitions, which take place in Sarasota, Florida at the beginning of June each year.

Yes! We offer top-of-the-line academic services, including college guidance and admissions support. Rowers who show an athletic aptitude and deliver necessary training results may garner recruitment by college rowing programs, which frequently include scholarship offers.

The benefits far outweigh the challenges of rowing. You’ll become a skilled athlete and fierce competitor, make friends that last a lifetime, get fit, travel to new places, receive personalized academic support, and most of all, have fun!

We get it, things happen. If you foresee any issues getting to practice, let your coach know as soon as you can. If you do not give notice, your boat mates may not have enough people to row, and they’ll need to stay on land.

Opportunities, Academics, Resources, and Supports (O.A.R.S.) activities provide mental health counseling, small-group tutoring, homework help, SAT prep, alumni support, and college admissions assistance to all student athletes. We also host workshops on topics ranging from positive body image to financial literacy. Each year, we visit 3-7 college campuses as a group to help students decide which college is the best fit for them.

Based on feedback from athletes, we now offer additional virtual SAT prep for 11th graders, alumni support, and optional virtual tutoring beyond weekly O.A.R.S. activities.
We have learned through two decades of experience that it is the combination of Rowing and O.A.R.S. that results in the most successful outcomes for our participants, many of whom not simply graduate college, but move on to successful careers and also stay engaged with rowing over the course of their lives.

We renamed the Student Support and Success (SSS) program to Opportunities, Academics, Resources, and Supports (O.A.R.S.) to more accurately reflect that the program includes services beyond academic support. O.A.R.S. activities include events, alumni support, college support, mental health support, health-related workshops, and more.