General IRC Junior Program Regatta Information
Fall rowing is much like the cross country season in running—the courses are long and winding. A typical race takes about 20 minutes. The boats start single file about 5-10 seconds apart and crews race against the clock, but often pass each other. The best way to track who is winning is by noting the number on the bow of the boat—a pair of binoculars may be helpful.
Spring rowing is similar to the spring track season—the courses are shorter and have lane markers. Most races are 2000 meters and take about 10 minutes. Boats in each race start at the same time and, whoever crosses the finish line first, wins.
Fees: Fees for regattas are included in the registration fee for each season. The registration fee is based on and includes regatta entry fees, transportation and hotel costs (if present), gas for the truck and trailer pulling the boats, and IRC prepared meals for the day. Fees do not include money for the Friday evening dinner on the road, Saturday evening snack, or for a regatta shirt, if desired.
Transportation: Generally, IRC travels by school bus. For multi-day trips or odd number travel groups, IRC also uses 12 passenger vans. IRC permits parents to drive their rowers to a regatta if extenuating circumstances do not allow for travel with the team. If this is the case, please email head coach, Jackie Kleinhans, with these travel details by Wednesday before the regatta. This correspondance allows us to adequately plan for our transportation and insures the safety of your children. Please note that for safety reasons, IRC rowers are not permitted to drive themselves to a regatta.
Departure: Unless the race is local, or one easily traveled to, we will usually leave Indianapolis the Friday afternoon before a Saturday event. This allows us to travel to the regatta site, unload the boats from the trailer and rig them in preparation for the next day. It also allows the rowers an opportunity to get a good night sleep on the eve of the regatta, as the morning will begin very early. The arrival of your rower by the requested time (typically 4pm) is necessary as traffic out of the city, especially on a Friday evening, is challenging. Check the calendar for departure location and time.
Personal vehicles may remain in the school parking lot from which we depart during the trip, but for obvious reasons, please do not leave any valuables. Parent packets containing race specific information, directions/maps, and contact numbers will be provided to all volunteer drivers and will also be available on our website, no later than the Wednesday before an event.
What to Bring: For rowers and parents alike, the weather often dictates what one brings to a regatta. Standard items for rowers include: mandatory racing wear, layers of clothing (spandex shorts, long sleeved shirts, sweats, several pairs of socks, jackets, hats, and gloves), as well as their usual overnight items and toiletries. Other items include blankets, pillows, sunglasses, sun screen, homework, books, and other non-valuable items. We cannot overemphasize how easy it is for rowers to leave items behind and how much easier they are returned or claimed, if items are labeled with the rower’s name, especially as many items look alike.
For parents, again, layers are recommended as mornings are often cool and damp. Other items to consider are binoculars, camera (there are so many moments you will want to capture), cowbell, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella, raingear, boots, blanket, gloves, books, and a folding chair.
Regatta Site Arrival: After a quick dinner on the road, we typically travel to the regatta site to have the rowers unload and rig the boats. During this time, parent volunteers unload the Booster supply trailer and pitch the tents.
Lodging: Hotel reservations for junior rowers and coaches will be made by the Boosters Lodging Chair. All parents, including volunteers, will need to make their own reservations.
After prep work at the regatta site has been completed, we drive to the hotel. Rowers are placed 3 or 4 to a room, assigned by the coach. Parents are invited to meet in the lobby of the hotel after everyone has checked in for a get-together and to socialize. It is a great time to meet the other parents and coaches! It will be the rowers’ responsibility to be packed and ready to go very early in the morning (approximately 6:00am) as we will not return to the hotel (unless it is a 2 day regatta).
Race Day Meals: All meals prepared at the regatta are complimentary for our parent drivers. You will also find that the meals are staggered throughout the day, depending upon when the juniors race, thus, food is always available.
Breakfast will include items such as hot bagel sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, breakfast breads, yogurt, hot cereal, Gatorade, hot chocolate, and coffee. Lunch varies but may include burgers – beef and turkey, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled chicken Caesar salad, macaroni and cheese, and fruit or pasta salads. If your child has a food allergy or dietary restriction, please contact a member of the Booster board so that this can be noted. Donated items are always welcomed and appreciated. (Please identify if items contain nuts.)
Race Day—How you can help: Throughout the day, parents often wonder how they can assist. If you have never been to a regatta before, the flurry of activity, especially at the outset, can be somewhat overwhelming, so here are a few suggestions:
1. Be sure to take the time to watch your child race. Your support and encouragement throughout the race will mean a great deal to them and the memories you gather will be priceless.
2. The work of setting up the site is a lot of work and many hands make the process flow smoothly. Tents, tarps, table, grills, water jugs, and food bins need to be unloaded and set up. Food preparation is an ongoing process, so if you are willing to help, please do not hesitate to jump in.
3. Water and Gatorade coolers located at both the tents and the boats often need replenishing.
4. Relax and enjoy the time getting to know some of the other parents. Aside from the rowing and racing, you will find that this is one of the best aspects of the day. We pride ourselves in having the greatest of families!
5. As the races wind down, we will begin our cleaning, takedown, and loading process. This piece is key as it saves time and effort in preparation for the next regatta. Additionally, the more assistance we have in our clean-up process, the sooner we can all depart.
Return to Indianapolis: Unless there are extenuating circumstances, we ask that you stay until we are all set to leave. If your rower needs to leave early from the regatta after his or her race, permission must be obtained by the head coach, Jackie Kleinhans, by Wednesday before the regatta. IRC transportation (school buses and 12 passenger vans) will return back to the school from which they departed. We encourage rowers that need to be picked up to call their family members as we enter the city so that rides will be waiting upon our return.
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