What is Rowing/Crew?

Rowing is a sport where team members (the crew) row a lightweight boat, called a shell, as fast as it will go! At Mt Lebanon either two, four, or eight rowers, each with a single oar (sweeping) power a shell, which is steered by a coxswain (pronounced cox’n).

Rowing is an especially demanding sport because it combines two critical elements – physical strength and uncompromising teamwork. Success is measured not by the ability of one or two superstars, but by the willingness of everyone in the boat to work hard and in unison. Learning to make a boat go fast takes time, dedicated training, and both physical and mental discipline.

Physically rowing requires a blend of power, balance, coordination, and endurance: power in the delivery of each stroke, balance of the ore with the rest of the crew, coordination in the timing of the stroke delivery, and endurance and sustaining the output of 1500 meters. Rowers must use their legs, backs, upper torsos, and arms for each stroke up to 35 times a minute for a race which takes about 6 minutes to complete.

Mentally, rowing requires tremendous self-discipline and commitment, but is also very rewarding. The discipline that young people learn from rowing tends to carry over into better academic performance. The teamwork learned in rowing serves team members in school and in life. The physical rewards build confidence as team members see their bodies respond to their training with increased strength and endurance.

As a parent once put it, “The beauty of crew is that you do not have to be a behemoth or natural athlete to excel. It is a sport where dedicated training, good coaching, and teamwork all come together. Balance and precision are much more valuable than brute strength. It also has become a great sport for females and is a great opportunity for college scholarships. Finally, it is an absolutely beautiful sport to watch. A bunch of healthy and happy kids who are proud of what they are doing is wonderful to see. And it is a sport for life. Once it is in your blood, either as a crew member or a parent, it does not go away.”