Registration is still open for Spring Learn To row Grades 6 

For more information:
- Checkout all the Tabs in this  Spring section
- Email the Programdirector@barehillrowing.com

WHO WE ARE

Our programs operate under the umbrella of Bare Hill Rowing Association, Inc., a 501(c) (3) non-profit recreational and educational organization. The Middle School Sculling and High School Programs are known as Bromfield Acton-Boxborough (BAB) Rowing. BAB Rowing is a public school rowing program, long-standing member of the Massachusetts Public School Rowing Association and a USRowing member organization. Eighth graders and above are eligible for these two programs. A Learn to Row program is offered to eligible 6th and 7th grade Bromfield students. 

Rowing is not an MIAA sport. We operate as an independent club with the Bromfield School as the principal school.

WHO MAY JOIN? 

Our members must be full-time students at the Bromfield School, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, R.J. Grey Junior High School or Harvard resident students who attend a publicly funded charter, technical or vocational school. We work diligently to recruit students from our participant schools while trying to maintain the composition of our team at a ratio of 51% Bromfield/Harvard resident students and 49% Acton-Boxborough students, per agreement with the Town of Harvard.

Bromfield/Harvard resident athletes are never required to try-out for the varsity or novice teams, and we rarely have cuts for Acton-Boxborough athletes.  However, we have limited spots for the middle school programs and these are filled on a first-come basis.   

Athletes for our scholastic rowing programs must meet these eligibility requirements:

PROGRAMS

  • Competitive High School Team: 
    • Age: Athletes in Grades 9 -12 
    • Experience: No previous experience necessary. Depending upon age and experience, athletes are divided into Varsity and Novice teams. All new athletes must compete as Novices for at least one season but no more than two seasons (fall/spring or spring/fall). After one calendar year from their first Novice season, a novice athlete moves up to Varsity based on league policies. Any exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.
    • School or Residence: Bromfield School, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and Harvard resident students in Grades 9-12 attending a publicly funded charter, technical or vocational school are eligible to join the program.
  • Middle School Sculling: 
    • Age: Athletes in Grade 8 
    • Experience: No previous experience necessary
    • School or Residence: Bromfield School, R.J. Grey Junior High School and Harvard resident students attending a publicly funded charter, technical or vocational school are eligible to join the program.
  •  Learn to Row: 
    • Age: Athletes in Grades 6 and 7 
    • Experience: No previous experience necessary 
    • School or Residence: Bromfield School or Harvard resident students in Grades 6 and 7 attending a publicly funded charter, technical or vocational school are eligible to join the program.

EXPECTATIONS

Rowing development is a progression designed to promote wellness and longevity in the sport. Members must be willing to commit to 1 day a week (Learn to Row), 3 days a week (Middle School Sculling) and 5+ days a week including afternoon practices and weekend dates for racing (high school). 

A rowing team has two very important and different types of seats to fill, the rower and the coxswain. Primarily responsible for boat navigation and steering, the coxswain plays a key role in the leadership and success of a crew. Coaches will look for taller athletes to fill the rowers’ seats and smaller, lighter athletes to fill the coxswain seats. A member may start out as a coxswain but in future years outgrow the position and move to a rower’s spot. 

At the Middle School level, all athletes will be trained to row and cox. Every athlete participates in land physical training and erging and will be taught to row as well. Decisions about which seat each athlete sits in are made in the best interest of the team and at the coaches’ discretion. 

SEASON DETAILS

High School programs and 8th Grade Middle School:  Spring racing is 2000 meters on race courses with 6-8 lanes across, while Fall racing is 2-3 mile events called "head races" where boats start single file and race against the clock. Training schedules for both seasons are the same. We also offer optional winter conditioning programs for our 6th/7th/8th grade and high school athletes.

6th/7th Grade Learn to Row program: Our goal is to offer a fun fitness program that includes learning to row. The program is on Saturdays for 2 hours per session.  A portion of the time  is spent on land that includes age-appropriate instruction on activities such as rowing on the ergometer, running, calisthenic circuits and core strengthening;  a larger portion is designated for learning the basics of rowing.  We also offer optional winter conditioning programs for our 6th/7th/8th grade and high school athletes.

We want the time commitment for the kids to be fun, allow for a wider variety of activities, access to more equipment and makes it easier for parents to schedule our unique program for their child. The season ends with an inter-squad fun race at the pond.