At Fairfax, crew is a spring club sport that begins in late February and concludes near the end of May.  If you are a novice or want to learn more about rowing and the Fairfax Crew Program, please read the Frequently Asked Questions and the material in the FHS Crew Rowing Basics.  We also hold Student/Parents interest nights at Fairfax High in November and January.  Don't miss these important dates.  For a complete schedule of events see our Calendar.

• Land Training Begins - Wednesday January 3, 2001

• Season Kickoff Meeting - Thursday February 8 at 7:30 pm, Fairfax High School A31-A33

• Team Photographs - Monday 12 February at 3:30 pm, John C. Wood Center

• Swim Test for New Rowers - Friday 23 February at 8:00 pm, Oak Marr Recreation Center

• Water Training is Underway, started February 26 - daily 3:00 - 5:00 pm

• First Regatta, Saturday 24 March... Go Rebels!

Please read the Eligibility Requirements and Rowers Fees and Obligations before submitting your registration material and rowers fee.  The Fairfax Crew membership system consists of dues and volunteer work.

Rowing is challenging.  Rowers are the toughest, most determined athletes you will meet!  Crew is a sport that demands endurance, strength and skill.  It requires consummate team work and mental toughness.  You will compete with other high schools in races called regattas on the Occoquan River at Sandy Park Regional Park.

Rowing gets you in shape. With water, land and weight training you will build endurance and muscles.  Rowing will keep you aerobically fit and strong in the spring.  There are no back benchers in crew! Everyone gets to participate.

Colleges recruit students with rowing backgrounds. Crew is a growing sport on college campuses.  Participation in crew looks good on your college applications.  Rowers are scholar athletes!

Crew registration forms and instructions are available on this site as Microsoft word files.  Before 

Fill out all of the needed forms and mail them with your Rower Fees to the Membership Coordinator or return them to the Crew Box in the Fairfax High School Main Office no later than February 23, 2001.

Checks and registration forms are also accepted at the Parent/Students Interest Meetings held in late fall and early winter.

Academic Requirements.  The Virginia High School League rules require that students participating in athletic programs maintain a minimum standard to be eligible to participate.  Academic eligibility is based on the following: 1) you must have earned no more than 2 D's and 1 C in the previous term; and, 2) you must be currently enrolled in three full academic classes. Note: grades for labs and any type of aid positions (office, library, etc.) do not count toward eligibility.

Swim Test. In order to register, all rowers must provide proof of his/her swimming ability. (e.g. Red Cross Swimming Card, BSA Merit Badge verification, Proof of Swim Team Membership or, verification by a certified lifeguard of the ability to swim 100 meters and tread water for 2 min.)

Physical Exam. In order to row and be a member of the crew team, each rower must provide a current school year Virginia High School League Physical Form. If the rower has already turned in their physical in anticipation of participating in another sport, a copy of the physical is acceptable.

Practices.  Individuals are expected to attend all practices. Remember, when you don't show, eight other people are affected. All rowers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at registration. A Parental Consent, Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement will be required for each rower.

Rower Fees.  The annual rowing fee is $350 per rower.  A Rower pays a portion of the rower fee ($50) with the application form and the remainder before water training begins. 

Students will not be allowed to participate in any practices until the fees are paid in full.

Refund Policy.  If a student withdraws from crew on or before February 26, all dues will be refunded. First year rowers may also receive a full refund up to March 3, 2000. Withdrawals are effective the day membership chairman is notified of the withdrawal.  All requests for refunds after these dates must be made in writing and will be granted on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Crew Board.

Uniforms.  Everyone must buy a unisuit at the cost of roughly $65 per person. Returning rowers should ensure their uniforms still fit. If a new uniform is needed, it should be ordered along with the novice orders.

For practices and warm-ups rowers need running shoes, spandex pants or shorts, polypropylene undershirt, fleece hat, wool socks and a fleece jacket plus the usual tee shirts and sweats. Rowers may purchase optional team jackets, sweats, rain wear, gear bags, caps and more from our team clothing coordinator.

Without the volunteer support of the rower and their parents, the crew program is not possible. To have a successful team, every rower's family must help with fundraising and volunteering.

We are a volunteer organization and ask that each family get involved and join the FHS Crew Boosters. We need everyone to do their share of fund-raisers, work on maintaining the shells, help organize and chaperone events and trips, help with the administrative tasks, or assist with regattas. 

Fundraising Support.  Rowers and their parents/guardians will be required to support the fund raising activities of the club. The growth and success of the Fairfax HS Crew Club depends greatly on the success of our fundraising activities. Fund-raisers are necessary to supplement dues in order to meet yearly expenses inherent to the operation of crew activities. Any funds raised beyond budgeted expenses provide the means to purchase new or replacement equipment. To accomplish this, full participation of all the rowers and their parents is necessary. In order to purchase new equipment for the year, funds must be available in the fall to insure delivery of equipment for use in spring events.  

Volunteer Support.  It would not be possible to conduct regattas or maintain Fairfax Crew without parent volunteers.  In order to compete in the regattas, all schools are required to provide their prorated share (based on the number of rowers) of the volunteers that set up and run the local regattas. The regatta jobs include driving launches during the regattas, working the concession stands, directing traffic, etc.  Failure to fulfill a job results in a $50 fine to the Crew for each missing volunteer and means that someone else has to do the job.  Each family is expected to volunteer for at least two jobs during the course of the season for Fairfax Crew to meet its quota. Volunteering at regattas is necessary, but it also can be fun, is a great way to meet other parents and learn more about the sport. Those first to sign up get will get first choice!

Board meetings are held once a month, usually on the first Thursday of the month, at 7:30 pm Fairfax High School. Meetings areto all. There are a variety of jobs that need parents. No special skills are required other than enthusiasm and a willingness to contribute to something very special.

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