RMU Novice Rowing Information
The Robert Morris University women's rowing team is a Division I squad in search of female students who have never rowed before to join our novice team.
Unlike other sports, rowing can be taught at any age, and experience doesn't always mean skill. If you're strong, competitive and willing to work hard, there's a good chance you will make a great rower!
More than half of the current team is made up of students, just like you, who started rowing when they started at RMU.
Why not give it a shot?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need prior rowing experience?
No! Novice rowing is specifically for people in their first year of college who have no previous rowing experience. The 'novice' category was created so that high school athletes from other sports, as well as those that may have some athletic ability but didn't participate in a high school sport, can have the chance to learn to row and race against athletes of similar experience.
Just like being on the junior varsity team in basketball, you will spend your first year as a novice before moving up to row with varsity.
Would I make a good rower?
Whether you've never participated in a sport before or were active in every athletic sport possible, you might be really great at rowing. We've had success with swimmers, volleyball players and soccer players, but also with horseback riders as well as members of the marching band.
In general, good rowers are usually a combination of the following:
• Athletic & strong
• Tall - 5'7" or taller (or tough enough to make up the difference)
• Team player & conscientious
• Hard working with a never quit attitude
• Competitive
Why should I row?
• Get in the best shape of your life
• Learn a new sport
• Make close friends that you'll have for life
• Priority scheduling each semester
• Spring break training trips
• Access to athletic training staff
• Looks great on your resume
• Teaches discipline, goal setting, confidence and how to be a team player
• The possibility to earn a scholarship as an upperclassman
How much does it cost?
Nothing! Women's rowing is a fully funded NCAA Division I sport. That means your athletic expenses as well as competition and spring break travel expenses are covered by RMU.
You are only responsible for paying the registration fee associated with the NCAA Eligibility Center. This is a required registration and fee if you want to participate in collegiate athletics. Unfortunately, there are strict rules against institutions covering this cost. Refer to the "I'm In! What do I do next?" FAQ for more information on registering with the Eligibility Center.
What time is practice?
While practices times for the fall are not yet final, they will most likely take place Monday-Friday, mid-afternoon, as well as Saturday mornings.
When you take your placement tests, you will be asked if you plan to participate in a sport at RMU. By selecting rowing, your schedule will be generated to reflect the time we designate for practice.
If you decide you'd like to try rowing but already received your fall schedule, no problem. There will be an option to attend morning practices instead.
After your first semester of rowing, you will have priority scheduling, making it easy to accomplish both classes and rowing down the road.
This is my first semester. Shouldn't I be focusing on academics?
Many incoming students are concerned that rowing will be too much for them along with their class work. We have found just the opposite. The members of our team tend to have a higher average GPA than the typical female student population.
In fact, our student-athletes say that rowing has made them better students because of the discipline and high standards they are held to by their teammates and themselves.
We have nursing, actuarial science, accounting, education majors, and just about every major in between, and most have found success both on the water and in the classroom.
What is practice like?
Ultimately, your time as a novice is meant to be fun. We want you to have a great time and become passionate about the sport. We'll work hard along the way to help develop you into the best you can be on the water, because ultimately we want to succeed and win!
Practice in the fall is all about learning the stroke and getting in shape. We'll start off slow, recognizing that everyone is at very different levels of fitness, and working on developing our cardio base as well as core strength. We'll spend time first on land, learning the rowing stroke on specially designed rowing machines called ergometers (ergs), before heading out on the Ohio River to learn to row.
In the winter, we spend most of our time inside, on the ergs, as well as lifting, and finish the winter season off with a spring break training trip to South Carolina for a week on the water.
In the spring, our championship season, we spend as much time on the water as the weather permits, and you will have your first opportunity to race.
Where is practice and how do I get there?
Indoor practices are held at the RMU Island Sports Center (ISC) on Neville Island. On water practices are just across the Ohio River from the ISC.
A shuttle brings the team from campus to practice, and back again, each day, so you would never need your own transportation to be a part of the team.
I'm a sophomore and it's the middle of the semester. Can I still join?
Yes! We can get you started as a novice anytime during the fall or winter. Of course, starting at the beginning of the year means more time to practice and a better shot at earning a seat to race come spring.
We've had many student-athletes join us as sophomores and juniors. Most of the time, their only regret is that they don't have as many years to enjoy being a part of the team.
What can I do to prepare myself now?
• Do not erg! It may sound silly, but getting on the erg at the gym is probably the worst thing you could do prior to joining the novice team. Unless you've rowed in the past, almost everyone you see on the erg at the gym is using it incorrectly. It's very easy to develop bad habits that will be hard to break, so don't do it.
• Cardio (at least 45 minutes each session to help build your fitness base):
- Running (may not be your favorite, but it's one of the best exercises for you)
- Swimming
- Cycling or spinning classes
- Aerobics class
• Core strengthening exercises (situps, pushups, etc.)
I'm in! What do I do next?
1. The first step is to let assistant coach Nelle Stahura know you're interested. Stahura coaches the novice team and would love to answer any questions or add you to the list. You can contact her via e-mail at the following address: stahura@rmu.edu. Please be sure to include your RMU email address, cell number and RMU student ID number.
2. Fill out the student athlete questionnaire here to be added to our database. This is required to participate in athletics at RMU.
3. Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse. In order to participate in collegiate athletics, you must be registered and cleared with the NCAA. This process takes a while, so start early! To register, follow these steps ...
- Click on Eligibility Center (right side of the page).
- Click on NCAA College Bound Student Athletes.
- Proceed by answering the questions required by the NCAA.
- You will be given an ID Number. Please email it to coach Stahura (stahura@rmu.edu).
- Request your official transcripts from your high school and SAT/ACT scores from the
testing facility. (NOTE: your transcript MUST include proof that you have graduated.
Be sure that the transcript is changed to read "Graduation Date" or something similar
instead of "Expected Graduation Date". Also, the SAT or ACT scores must come
directly from the testing facility, not from your high school. Instructions for requesting
these are on the NCAA website).
4. Send coach Stahura your class schedule as soon as you have it so that she can begin working on some common practice times for the fall semester.
5. Once school begins ...
- Attend the kickoff meeting (an email will be sent with time/location in August)
- Attend one of the scheduled team physicals (required before you can participate)
- Complete the compliance paperwork (emailed to you once you're on the roster)
What are you waiting for?
E-mail: stahura@rmu.edu
Phone: 412-397-4474
