Information for incoming Novice Rowers

• Berkeley High Crew is a medal winning team!
  
  At the Southwest Regional 2004 Championships
  
  
• The Women’s Freshman Four won a silver medal
• The Men’s Lightweight 4 won a gold medal.
• The Men's Lightweight 8 won a silver medal.

The Men's Lightweight 8 went on to take 5th place overall in the Junior Nationals. A newsletter with articles from the coaches, a parent/chaperone, and the cox is available.

• No Experience is Necessary!
  That’s right, just show up to the first practice. Check back at this site before school starts for where and when. (First practices are usually held in September).
  
  
• Novice rowers don’t have to be Freshmen.
      A novice rower is a rower who has no racing experience.  Novice rowers get special attention, and are coached and race in the novice category.
  
  
• Training Philosophy.
  •  Rowing is primarily an aerobic sport, as such a high percentage of the training is designed to promote the various aspects of aerobic fitness.
  •  Fall practices will concentrate on basic conditioning, long steady rows, circuit training and other similar aerobic activities. The build up will be gradual, reflecting both the out of condition athletes and those who have never participated in athletics. No morning practices will be required of rowers.
  •  Early winter training will transition to more intense training, shorter distances with higher rates. At this point one morning practice per week will be required of all rowers.
  •  Spring race season training will be a higher percentage of high intensity race pace work compared to the Fall and Winter training.
  •  There will be little or no weight training and while we will do some running, athletes will be expected to run at least 2 times per week on their own.
  •  Rest Days are rest days meant to allow healing and recovery.
  
  
  
• Rowing Style.
     Head Coach Chris Dadd coaches a middle of the road style which consists of moderate reach at the catch, good leg drive, moderate body swing into finish and high, strong release. Using a middle of the road style with these aspects of the stroke develops athletes who can adapt to any style should they decide to row in college.
  
  
• Coaching Staff.
  •  Preference in hiring is given to coaches who have an understanding of the issues of teenagers today.
  •  All coaches have at least a US Rowing Level 1 Coaching certification.
    
    
• Practice times
  • Practices are held in the afternoon. One morning practice will be required during winter/spring seasons.
       Land practices are held at the school, or nearby.
       Water practices are held at Jack London Aquatic Center in Oakland’s Estuary Park (Embarcadero between 3rd & 5th Avenue).
       Car pools to the Aquatic Center are arranged for your convenience.
    
    
• Race experience for all!
     Coaches make sure that all rowers get a chance to discover their potential in actual racing situations.
  
  
• “Crew is tight”
       “Some people don’t understand how hard it is … It is a very positive experience to be on this team.”
  J Brandel, rower.
  
  
• Novice boys are not required to shave their heads
      This traditional practice is now purely voluntary.

    Visit the about page for more about Berkeley Crew.

    The contacts pages lists email contacts for the novice (and the varsity) coaches. Feel free to ask further questions.