Interested in learning to row? We’ll teach you how! Atomic Rowing offers summer rowing day camps throughout the summer designed to introduce the skills needed to enjoy rowing for a lifetime in a fun and easy-going atmosphere. During this camp, you’ll learn the basics of rowing and meet other youth rowers from across the area, and see if rowing is for you. Atomic Rowing offers a variety of rowing lessons throughout the summer that allow you to learn the basics, and then fine tune your technique. No prior experience or equipment needed, all participants MUST be able to swim. Participants may schedule multiple sessions throughout the summer to get through the skills. Participation in the Summer Camp is encouraged, but not mandatory for those who are thinking about joining the Atomic Rowing team in the future.

Just wear comfortable shorts (boys–try to avoid super long basketball style shorts that might get caught in the equipment), t-shirt or tank top, sneakers, and a water bottle. If you have long hair, you will want to pull it back into a ponytail or barrette. Be sure to wear sunscreen! Some folks also like to row in a hat or sunglasses on bright days.

Atomic Rowing’s Middle School Intro to Sculling

A four day summer day camp for ages 10-14 to introduce basic sculling skills. Sculling is a symmetrical movement and once learned can become a lifelong sport. Cost $40.00

Atomic Rowing’s Intro to Rowing

A four day summer day camp for ages 14-18 to introduce basic skills of sweep rowing. After this class, you’re ready for Atomic Rowing’s Explore Rowing Lessons.  Cost: $80.00

Atomic Rowing’s Explore Rowing

A four day summer day camp for ages 14-18 to continue development of fundamentals learned in Intro-to-Row. Participants will focus on boat balance; handle speed, stroke development, and simultaneous teamwork. Now you’re ready for Atomic Rowing Novice Program.  Cost: $80.00

Payment Method

• The online invoice will direct you to sign and submit a waiver in order to complete your registration. This is NOT a requirement to complete the registration process. In the weeks prior to the beginning of your service, we will send you an applicable waiver to complete and bring with you on the first day of class. (Please review the waiver available at the RegattaCentral site since the ORRA waiver will be similar.)
• If paying by credit card, follow the instructions to finalize payment.
• If paying by check, use the mailing address below.  Please print the invoice and include it with your check.

Make checks payable to:
Oak Ridge Rowing Association (or ORRA)

Mailing address:
Oak Ridge Rowing
697 Melton Lake Drive
Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Rowing shells are made out of carbon fiber because it is durable and lightweight.

Boats used in Rowing Competitions

There are two types of boats in rowing, Sculls, where each rower will have two oars and Sweep boats where each rower will have one oar. 2 to 8 rowers row sculls, however a single person rows a skiff, which is also a scull.

Scull Boats

Single Scull [1x] – A Single Scull is a sculling boat, which can only accommodate one rower. It is 26.9 feet long and weighs 30.8 pounds .

Double Scull Coxless [2x] – A Double Scull is a sculling boat that seats two rowers. It is 34.1 feet long and weighs 59.4 pound.

Quadruple Scull Coxless [4x] – A Quadruple Scull is a sculling boat that has a four-person crew, without a coxswain. It is 43.9 feet long and weighs 114.4 pounds.

Quadruple Scull Coxed [4x+] – A Quadruple Scull is a sculling boat that has a four-person crew, with a coxswain. It is 44.9 feet long and weighs 112.2 pounds.

Sweep Boats

Coxless Pair [2-] – A Coxless Pair is a sweep boat that seats two rowers. It is 34.1 feet long and weighs 59.4 pound.

Coxed Pair [2+] – A Coxed Pair is a sweep boat that seats two rowers. It is 34.1 feet long and weighs 70.4 pound.

Coxless Four [4-] - A Coxless Four is a sweep boat that has a four-person crew without a coxswain. Sometimes referred to as a Straight Four. It is 43.9 feet long and weighs 110 pounds.

Coxed Four [4+] – A Coxed Four is a sweep boat that has a four-person crew, which is with a coxswain. It is 44.9 feet long and weighs 112.2 pounds.

Coxed Eight [8+] – A Coxed Eight is a sweep boat that has an eight-person crew, which has a coxswain. It is 65.2 feet long and weighs 211.2 pounds.

Oars

In the past Oars were made of wood and they had a symmetrical blade. But today Oars, like rowing shells, are made out of carbon fiber and they have asymmetrical blades and they are also hollow in order to reduce weight. The average length of sweep oar is 12.4 feet long. The Oars for sculls are not as long at 9.7 feet. The blades on the Sweep Oars are very thin, the blade required must have a minimum thickness of five millimeters. Scull Oars are allowed to be as thin as 3 millimeters at the edge.

Crew Clothing

Most rowers will wear a tank top jersey and shorts. The jersey will have the colors of the country they are from, or the team or club they are rowing for.

Boat Equipment

Below is a list of the equipment you will find on rowing shells.

Backstops: The point the seat (slide) stops moving forward toward the bow.

Boot: This device holds the boat bow in place before the start of the race, and then releases the boat and drops below the water when the starting signal goes off.

Bow Ball: This is a white plastic or rubber ball that is attached to the bow tip of a shell. It is used in helping to determine a winner in photo finishes and it also helps to protect the bow of the boat against damage in case a ramming occurs.

Bucket: This is system of rigging the shell where two rowers, who are sitting one in front of the other, row from the same side of the shell.

Button: A collar that is put around the shaft of the oar so that it will not slip through the oarlock and into the water. The button can be moved up and down the oar, in order to increase or decrease leverage.

Canvas: This refers to the narrow part in the bow and stern of a shell. It can also mean to win a race just by the length of the bow or stern.

Card: Each shell or boat has a card, which has the number of the craft. The card is attached to the bow of the boat.

Deck: The areas at the bow and stern of a shell.

Foot Stretchers: These are attached to the bottom of the boat and it is where the rower rest their feet so they will not move when he / she is rowing. Rowerís shoes are usually attached to the foot stretchers.

Frontstops: The point the seat (slide) stops moving back toward the stern.

Gate: This is a bar across the oarlock that prevents the oar from coming out of the oarlock. It can be removed to take out or put oars in the oarlock.

German Rig: This is an type of oar arrangement whereby two consecutive rowers, in an eight man boat, usually the fourth and fifth rowers, have their oars on the same side of a shell while the rest of the oarsmen alternate their oars left and right.

Gunwale: The upper edge of the shell. This is a strip of wood that runs the length of a shell.

Italian Rig: This is a type of oar arrangement whereby all the rowers, except the rowers on each end, are rowing in pairs on alternating sides of the shell.

Oarlock: The structure on a boat’s gunwale that supports the oar. It is attached to the pin at the end of the outrigger. It is also sometimes called a swivel.

Outrigger: This is a metal structure, which is used to support the oarlock. This is also sometimes called a rigger.

Pin: There is a metal rod that the oarlock is supported by.

Pivoting Shoe: This is the mechanism that allows a rower to steer the shell when there is no coxswain.

Rib: This is a U-shaped piece of molded wood, aluminum or carbon fiber that gives support to the hull. The Ribs are placed between the keel and the gunwale.

Rigging: The arrangement of the riggers (oars and rowers) and stretchers in a shell.

Rudder: A rudder is usually made of steel and it is located in the stern of the boat, it is in the water and is used to steer the boat.

Skeg: This is a small flat piece, usually made of plastic but it can be wood, which is fastened vertically to the bottom of the shell near the stern. This is used to help the shell stay on course. It is also known as a fin.

Sleeve: This is a jacket on the shaft of an oar where the button is placed and it is used to fasten the blade to the oarlock.

Slide: This is the seat where the oarsmen sit. It gets its name because it slides along the bottom of the shell to help the oarsmen get more power into their stroke.

Splashguard: Located toward the bow of the shell, helps to keep water out of the shell.

Stays: This is the metal tube that is part of a rigger.

Tiller Ropes: These are ropes that are used by the coxswain to control the rudder.

Toe: This means to use a foot-controlled rudder.

Race Courses

There is equipment required to hold a rowing regatta and below is a list of this equipment.

The Starting Docks is where the boats start the race from and it is also where the aligners are stationed when holding the shells in place.

There is a Starting Zone that covers the first 100 meters of the race and within this zone, and only in this zone, can a race be stopped due to problems. Starting Zone Buoys are Red and are 5 meters apart.

In addition to Starting Zone Buoys there are Course Buoys, which are white, green or yellow and they mark the middle of the course, they begin right after the first 100 meters and the end right before the last 250 meters. And then we have Finish Zone Buoys, which mark the final 250 meters of the course and like the Starting Zone Buoys they are yellow in color.

There are 6-7 Lanes, which is one for each boat that is in a race. Boats are required to stay in their lanes during a race. The two outer lanes are 16 feet (5 meters) in from the sides of the pool or course. The width of the lanes 13 meters.

There are Red Markers that are placed outside of the pool or course at 500-meter intervals.

A boat has finished the race when the bow of the boat passes over the finish line. 20 meters past the finsh line is anouther set of buoys called clearing buoys. Row through them.

At some events aFloating Dock near the finish line will be where medals are awarded. There should also be Grand Stands to allow spectators to view the races.

Officials

The Starter will first call out “Attention” they will the call out “Are you ready?” and then they will raise a red flag and then quickly lower it while at the same moment saying “Go”.

Aligners are the people who layout on the starting dock and hold the rowing shells in place until the race starts. They will raise a white flag when all of the shells are lined up correctly.

The Alignment Judge is responsible for ensuring that all of the shells are lined up in a correct manner at the start of a race.

The Finish Line Judge will be in charge of the floating dock.

There are two Finish Judges and if the race is to close to call, they look at the picture that is taken at the finish and rule on which boat was the first to cross the finish line.

There are Safety Officials who are stationed along the side of the course or pool and have at their disposal a powerboat, diving equipment and other safety equipment in case they need to assist a crew that is having problems.

An Umpire follows the shells in a powerboat and they will signal with a Red Flag when a boat is out of its lane and is therefore disqualified and they will hold up a White Flag to signal the race is progressing normally and no violations have occurred.

AGES: 12-18 year old boys and girls (NO experience needed)

DATES: Session #1: June 6-June 16, Monday-Thursday ONLY (8 days total), 8:30-11:30am
*and/or*
Session #2: July 25-Aug. 4, Monday – Thursday ONLY (8 days total), 8:30-11:30am

COST: $200 per 8-day session

LOCATION: ORRA Boathouse: 697 Melton Lake Dr., Oak Ridge, 37830

MORE INFO: If your son or daughter is 12-18 years old and would like to try rowing, we offer two 8-day summer rowing camps for East Tennessee youth…choose the dates that work best for you, or attend both! This beginner camp is an introduction to rowing that will focus on having fun while learning basic rowing skills and essentials of training, with video feedback/instruction to supplement on-the-water coaching. NO PRIOR ROWING EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED, however, all camp participants MUST be able to swim. Space is limited. Participation in the Summer Camp is encouraged, but not mandatory for those who are thinking about joining the Atomic rowing team in the future. Just wear comfortable shorts (boys–try to avoid super long basketball style shorts that might get caught in the equipment), t-shirt or tank-top, sneakers, and a water bottle. If you have long hair, you will want to pull it back into a ponytail or barrette. Be sure to wear sunscreen! Some folks also like to row in a hat or sunglasses on bright days (optional).

HOW DO I SIGN UP? You MUST register online for the Atomic Summer Camp…here’s how! :
1) Look for the “Registration” section on this webpage—just above this section. Under “Summer Programs”, Click on either the “Summer Novice Day Camp” Session 1 or Session 2 (whichever session you would like to sign up for).
2) Under “New Users”, enter the necessary information and click ‘next’.
3) By “Participant”, click “New Person” and enter your child’s name.
4) By “Club/Affiliation”, Click “New Affiliation”, then type in “Atomic Rowing” in the “Team or Club” box. The Atomic Rowing Logo should pop up–click it! “Atomic Rowing”, then click Next part of this page.
5) Click “Proceed to check out. On the next page, enter your address, rowers’ info; then click ‘next’.
6) You may pay by Credit Card online; or select Check Payment (Make checks payable to ‘ORRA’ and write [your child's name] and SUMMER CAMP in the note/memo section) and drop it off the first day of camp or mail to the boathouse; or pay by Paypal. After payment you have completed the online portion of registration!
7) YOU’RE ALMOST DONE! We just need you to print off a Consent Form at this website: http://www.orra.org/candr.pdf and bring it with you the first day of camp.

There are Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and Club rowing programs. Many are in their building stages. Others have been around for 100 years. Note: Due to Title IX many women’s college club teams became NCAA sports with a scholarship budget. Most men’s programs are club sports, and do not offer scholarships, but some do!

Remember first choose a school for its academics before you commit to an athletic program.

Here is a time line that will help you through the college recruitment process. You can also attend a USRowing recruiting seminar or fair for more information.

Fall of Junior Year

• After September 1st of a rower’s junior year coaches can begin sending letters, information, and emails, however, they cannot talk to rowers and families.
• Complete the NCAA requirements.
• When registering for the SAT or ACT, select the Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse as one of the institutions to which the test scores should be sent (code 9999).
• Post your scores at www.usrowing.org, berecruited.com, irow.com, concept2.com.

Winter of Junior Year

• Work hard during winter training.
• Attend indoor rowing championships such as the TN Indoor Rowing Championships and Crash B’s in Boston.
• Update your scores at www.usrowing.org, berecruited.com, irow.com, concept2.com.
• Get noticed: email coaches, send letter of interest, fill out online recruiting forms, request materials, show enthusiasm for participation in the program. Give your name, address, phone number, and email address.

• Attend a USRowing Junior Identification Camp held in your region.
• Sign-up for summer rowing camps.
• Put together a rowing resume and send to coaches. Include contact information, rowing qualifications, experience, scores, height, weight, academic qualifications, other activities, internships, etc.
• Make a rowing video and send to coaches – coaches like to see technique (can be done during a practice). Some schools want video of an erg test. See your coach to set this up.
• Update your scores at www.usrowing.org, berecruited.com, irow.com, concept2.com.

Summer of Senior Year

• Attend rowing camps (private, collegiate, US Rowing Invitational, Select).
• Prepare college entrance applications.
• Beginning July 1st after completing the junior year in school, coaches may make one telephone call per week, rower can call coach at any time.
• Update your scores at www.usrowing.org, berecruited.com, irow.com, concept2.com.

Fall of Senior Year

• Make a short list of colleges you want to seriously consider.
• Schedule and attend official visits. Beginning September 1st of rower’s senior year, the rower may make an official visit (1 per college – 5 colleges total) and college pays expenses of the visit. Official visits may not last more than 24 hours on campus, transportation not usually covered, parents’ expenses not covered. SAT or ACT scores must be on file unless already filed with NCAA clearinghouse, schedule time to see a team practice. No more than three visits during the recruiting process are allowed with the coach.
• Rower can make unofficial school visits to campus at any time, coach can meet with rower if it is after July 1st.
• Letters of Recommendation – See you guidance counselor for an appropriate timeline for college recommendations. Ask your coach far in advance if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you.
• Receive scholarship offers. Negotiate scholarships if possible (don’t be too pushy).
• Decide which college/university you will attend.
• Make a verbal commitment to school, sign letter of intent (binding contract).

Winter of Senior Year

• Fill out and send in financial aid applications using parents’ tax forms.
• Work hard during winter training.
• Spring of Senior Year
• Continue to work hard. Coaches will be in touch with your school and your coach making sure you stay on track.