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. We're excited about the prospect of teaching passionate athletes the skills to become competitive rowers. RMU Rowing is a small program with big ambitions, and we're eager to welcome individuals who are excited about the possibility of building a championship-caliber program with us.
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 years 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
• Competitive
• Tall, or tough enough to keep up with tall teammates (Coxswains can be small and have a leadership mentality)
• Team player & conscientious
• Hard working with a never quit attitude
Why should I row?
• Fulfill your competitive drive
• Learn a new sport
• Increased support system (Coaches, Trainers, Advisors, etc.)
• Increased discipline, goal setting, time management, and confidence
• Meet and train with a group of like minded people
How much does it cost?
Nothing! Women's rowing is a funded NCAA Division I sport. That means your athletic expenses as well as competition and 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. The cost is $100. 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 practice times for the fall are not yet final, they will be a combination of early mornings and afternoons Monday-Friday, as well as Saturday mornings.
If you decide you'd like to try rowing but already received your fall schedule, no problem. We will work with you to get you to be at as many practices as possible.
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 team members majoring in a variety of majors, 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 camp 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 opportunities 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 from the ISC on the Ohio River at McPhail Boathouse.
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.
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.
• Cardio (60 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)
- Core strengthening exercises (situps, pushups, etc.)
- Swimming
- Cycling or spinning classes
- Aerobics class
• Core strengthening exercises and HIIT circuits (situps, pushups, burpees, etc.)
I'm in! What do I do next?
1. The first step is to let assistant coach Erin Mordaunt know you're interested. Mordaunt would love to answer any questions or add you to the list. You can contact her via e-mail at the following address: mordaunt@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.
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 time, so start early! To register, follow these steps ...
- Go to
NCAA Eligibility Center
- Scroll down to the “Want to Compete at an NCAA School?” Section.
- Select Option 3: Academic and Amateurism Certification Account
- Proceed by following the steps to create an account.
- You will be given an ID Number. Please email it to assistant coach Erin Mordaunt (mordaunt@rmu.edu).
- Request your official transcripts from your high school. (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")
4. Send assistant Coach Mordaunt 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?
Contact assistant coach Erin Mordaunt today!
E-mail:
mordaunt@rmu.edu
Phone: 412-397-4925
