Understand. A high school crew cannot function without its parents. Wouldn't happen, can't happen. It's more than just monetary support they provide. The parents make the entire high school rowing experience possible.
College teams fully supported by their athletic department aren't as fun to row on. True, the equipment is higher quality and it's great having a full-time rigger responsible for the upkeep of the boats.
The college athletic department doesn't supply food or a tent for the rowers. You take your own pocket money and buy what food you can get from whatever the regatta might supply. Sometime in dual races, that's nothing. Need water? Fill your bottle from the taps in the boathouse.
College students don't come out to watch crew races. The races are put on in front of the other teammates and significant others of the rowers on the water. Kind of hard to hear anyone cheering for you when there's only 20 people or so shouting. Want big crouds? Not in college, unless you go to the Royal Henley. In England. High school races are the best attended races in the US, excepting the Head of the Charles. The loudest screams you'll ever hear at a high school race is when it's close between three crews heading into the final 500m, and that noise comes from the parents.
For the college oarsman on a team not fully funded, enjoy your fundraising experiences, because there will be more than a high school program. The support the parents give in adminstration or sales in high school doesn't happen in college.
Parents build and maintain equipment, organize fundraisers and banquets, drive to races, tow trailers and most importantly, feed rowers.
Think about that last one. What's a better training table, your parents home cooking, or a college cafeteria? Need a late-night snack? Choose between a fridge stocked by your parents or a "cube fridge" that might have some week-old take-out. Or there's pizza again, for the fourth time that week.
When we finally got a tent with food brought to races in college, it was the parents who organized it. Local parents, only a handful, took on feeding 75 college rowers.
Finally, consider the time put in by the parents just on the planning and board meetings. Unpaid. Those meetings are usually conducted by paid empolyees at the college level. Travel planning, equipment rental and purchase, funding and staffing are all taken care of by the athletic department.
There's no glamor in all this, nor is there much thanks. The only reward the parents look for is a great experience by their kids. Victories and losses are savored and shared, perhaps with more intensity than the rowers.
Think about all of this. The next time any of you get frustrated with questions from parents asking "how was practice?" realize they only want success for the team. The next time you're wolfing down some chow under the tent out of the rain at a race, thank the parents. This sport is no where as comfortable than at the high school level.
Thanks, parents.
7 comments:
This really makes me want to row in college now, Jay. And hey, what are you doing up so late?
Thanks Jay, I almost thouhght I was alone when I proposed the idea of the "Crew Moms rock my world" T-Shirts. I think putting your post on the back would be awesome but unfortunatly we can't only sell XXL.
I really enjoyed your blog about the parents. I have attended every parents meeting and board meeting this year, and I love listening to Mr. Buckley give his report. He makes my day, and I believe the other three captains and I make his day by showing such support for his "business."
In response to adam, I have proposed your design to the board members several times, and they were all thrilled with the idea. All that is needed is a t-shirt design (on the computer) that I can give to them. The clothing people think that the shirt would be a huge hit at regattas. Midwest is around Mother's Day, is it not?
Some of the best meals I have ever enjoyed have come off Mr. Casile's grille after races. He always seems to have just the right amount of grilled cheese sandwiches to feed the last rowers. Hats off to crew parents everywhere.
Breaking off onto a tangent from Steves coment, I enjoy the copious amounts of food. But, i think we need to start getting Bob Evan's sausages, cause the ones that we have been eating lack that authentic country spice. Maybe a vote should be held?
parents make great cheer leaders... and they work for free!
I was reading some postings on a regular website of mine, angryorcs.com, and i found a section that pertains to the whole blogger deal. (http://www.angryorcs.com/die.shtml) Check the third entry from the top
I think we all fail to realize how much our parents give to us and how they sacrifice for us, off and on the water. I feel we owe them quite a thank you, forkin over 400 bucks (4x a year) plus travel fees, and that 20 extra bucks for a tee shirt not to mention haling our sorry butts to practice every day and most of all supporting us in this crazy/painful/bitter sweet/beautiful sport... I LOVE YOU MOM!
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