"What!  You never told me that I'd get blisters!"

Crew is an intense workout.  Yes, you're going to get blisters!  At Fairfax High School, crew is a spring club sport but requires all round conditioning of both legs and arms.  Non-mandatory training begins in November on the rowing machines (ergs) four nights a week and carries through to late February. Water training begins in late February five nights a week and concludes near the end of May. Regattas are held every Saturday from the end of March to the end of May.

If you are a novice or want to learn more about rowing and the Fairfax Crew Program, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and the material in the handbooks. We also hold Student/Parents interest nights at Fairfax High in the fall, again in November and in January.

Requirements

Academic Requirements. The Virginia High School League rules require that students participating in athletic programs maintain a minimum standard to be eligible to participate. Academic eligibility is based on the following: 1) you must have earned no more than 2 D's and 1 C in the previous term; and 2) you must be currently enrolled in three full academic classes. Note: grades for labs and any type of aid positions (office, library, etc.) do not count toward eligibility.

Swim Test. In order to register, all rowers must provide proof of his/her swimming ability. (e.g. Red Cross Swimming Card, BSA Merit Badge verification, Proof of Swim Team Membership or verification by a certified lifeguard of the ability to swim 100 meters and tread water for 2 min.)

Physical Exam. In order to row and be a member of the crew team, each rower must provide a current school year Virginia High School League Physical Form. If the rower has already turned in their physical in anticipation of participating in another sport, a copy of the physical is acceptable.

Practices. Individuals are expected to attend all practices. Remember, crew is a team sport. When you don't show, eight other people are affected. All rowers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at registration. A Parental Consent, Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement will be required for each rower.

Rower Fees. Crew is a club sport in Fairfax High School.  It is self-funded and can be expensive. One regatta boat can cost anywhere from $30,000-$40,000. The board makes every attempt at minimizing the costs to parents through fund raisers and judicial spending of the club's funds.

The annual rowing fee is determined by the board and varies based upon the number of rowers in the club. A rower pays a portion of the rower fee with the application form and the remainder before water training begins. Fairfax Crew sponsors events throughoutthe year. Money earned from these fund raisers are accredited to the student's account.  The fees tend to run between $950 - $1200 depending on the number of rowers who join and on our successes in fundraising. But in some cases parents didn't pay anything due to the amount of fund raisers involvement. Students will not be allowed to participate in any regattas until the fees are paid in full.

Uniforms. It is the requirement of the league that everyone must have a uniform which may be purchased from the club. For practices and warm-ups rowers running shoes, close-fitting but comfortable pants or shorts, polypropylene undershirt, fleece hat, wool socks and a fleece jacket plus the usual tee shirts and sweats are recommended. Rowers may purchase optional team jackets, sweats, rain wear, gear bags, caps and more from our team clothing coordinator.