Membership, Programs & Policies
Membership & Programs
The following is an overview of memberships and programs. For specific dates and exact costs, please see the Brochures & Forms.
Types of Memberships
Steel City Rowing Club has programs for junior rowing to those whose high schools do not have a rowing program, and for adult rowing. Opportunities are available for new rowers, recreational rowers as well as those with interest to compete locally, nationally and internationally. The mission with our junior program is to help each individual reach his/her potential with rowing and to help to develop a sense of community service.
Membership Seasons
The fall season runs from September to mid-November. The winter season runs from December to mid-March. The spring season runs from April to mid-June.
In addition, the SCRC also offers Junior and Youth camps during the summer season. Please see 'Camps and Lessons' webpage.
Junior Membership Options (Ages 18 and under)
- Recreational - Optional three practices per week. Practices are on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and Saturday morning. Must have been rowing for more than a year. Eligible to participate in selected races.
- Novice - First year of rowing. Mandatory three practices per week. Practices are on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and Saturday morning. Must have completed a Learn to Row session. Eligible to participate in selected races.
- Competitive Novice - First year of rowing. Six practices available, four or five mandatory depending on season. Practices are on Monday through Friday afternoons, and Saturday morning. Must have completed a Learn to Row session. Eligible to participate in selected races.
- Competitive - All rowers wishing to compete in the Midwest Regional Championships and qualify for Youth Nationals must participate in at least the Competitive category. Six practices available, five or all practices are mandatory depending on season. Practices are Monday through Friday afternoons, and Saturday morning. Selected races are mandatory.
- High Performance Group - All rowers interested in qualifying for Youth Nationals and/or competing at Jr. World Trials in the spring must participate in the High Performance category. Six or eight practices are available depending on season, and All practices are mandatory. Practices are Monday through Friday afternoons, and Saturday mornings. In addition, there are Tuesday and Thursday early morning practices during the fall and spring seasons. For those who can not attend weekday early morning practices, home workouts are required. All races mandatory, per coaches' discression. This category is for athletes that are sophomore or older.
Adult Membership Options
- Individual or Family Without Coaching - All year round. Benefits include:
- Use and access of Boathouse Facility.
- Use of Equipment.
- Use of indoor equip at non-practice times (ergs or weight equip can be avail at practice times).
- Member may use club’s rowing equipment provided member is a Sculler One or Two and equipment is not needed for other scheduled practices.
- Damage incurred to equipment by adult rower(s) is that rower(s) responsibility. All equipment is insured. However, adult(s) responsible for damage is(are) responsible for insurance deductible or cost of repairs if less than deductible.
- Individual or Family With Coaching - Includes above rowing membership benefits.
Coached sessions run
throughout the year. Some exceptions apply based on coaching availability during busy race schedules.
Membership Fees
- Membership fees cover:
- For juniors, coaching at each session. For adults, coaching is provided on a limited basis.
- Use of boats and oars and their storage
- Cost of minor repairs to equipment
- Use of indoor equipment
- Use of facilities—dock, club house
Race Fees
Race fees cover the race entry fee that the sponsoring organization charges, hotel, some food, coaches’ costs, and transportation.
Membership Responsibilities
- Help with fund raising.
- Being part of a work crew that maintains our club
- Volunteering to teach newer rowers and participating in community service that the Club performs (e.g. Row for the Cure)
Fundraisers
Memberships pay for approximately 20 percent of SCRC’s costs. The balance is paid through fund raising.
Part of our fund raising is selling items like Entertainment Books and pies. We try to incorporate incentives for you to sell, such as offsetting your membership fee by the amount you sell over a certain minimum.
The bottom line is that, without, additional funds, the cost of membership would be $3,000 per year per rower
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Policies
Life Jacket Requirements
Youth under the age of 13 must wear personal flotation devices (PFDs), which SCRC provides. PFDs can be worn at any age, if the rower or parent has a concern.
Swim Test Requirements
Every member of SCRC and every high school rower needs to prove his/her swimming ability. We must have written record that a certified lifeguard has observed your ability to:
- Swim 150 yards
- Remain afloat for 5 minutes
- Put on a PFD while treading water
If you have current swim, lifeguard, or scuba certification documents, copies of these can be submitted to fulfill the swim requirement.
Since we have not pool facilities at our location, participants are responsible for getting the swim test taken care of on their own. We suggest you try the local YMCA pool.
A copy of your swim test must be submitted within two weeks of the first day of the rowing program in which you are participating.
Staying Safe on the Water
- Read the Safety Manual, located in the weight room. (Also, please sign it, to verify that you have read and understood its contents.)
- Always listen to your coaches. They know the river, they are watching the weather, and your safety is their first concern.
- Stay out of the middle of the river, to the inside of the buoys. Barges and motorized craft travel in the center of the river.
- Beware of dams at either end of this pool of the Allegheny River! If you have any question about how dangerous these can be—and where to turn around, ask your coaches.
- Stay within sight of the launch (the boat that the coaches follow you in) and with your group of rowers.
- No talking while you are rowing. Only designated coxswains or bowspersons of a boat may speak.
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