Exeter Rowing Club Junior Membership

You can apply to become a Junior Member of Exeter Rowing Club at any time during the year. If the Junior Squad is at capacity, your name will be added to a waiting list and the Junior Coordinator will contact you when a place becomes available.

Junior membership gives rowers access to a wide range of club boats, ergometers (rowing machines), and many hours of coaching throughout the year.

If you are interested in joining the club, please complete our Junior Membership Enquiry Form.

You can also find more information on our Club Membership page.

British Rowing Membership

All junior members of Exeter Rowing Club are required to hold a valid British Rowing membership.

It is the responsibility of each member (or their parent/carer) to ensure their British Rowing membership remains current and that their British Rowing membership number is provided to the Club Membership Secretary.

For further information, visit the British Rowing Membership page.

Links

• Junior Membership Enquiry Form
  
• Club Membership
  
• British Rowing Membership
  

As part of Junior Membership at Exeter Rowing Club, all junior members and their parents/carers are required to read and adhere to the Club's rules, policies and relevant Codes of Conduct.

When completing the online membership form, both the junior member and their parent/carer will be asked to confirm that they have read and understood these documents.

We appreciate that there is a lot of information to read, but these rules and policies are essential in helping us provide a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone at the club.

Key Documents

• Junior Club Rules (coming soon)
• Codes of Conduct
• Boathouse Rules
  

For a complete list of club regulations, policies and guidance, please visit our Club Rules and Policies page:

A Junior Boys and Junior Girls Captain (and sometimes Deputy Captains) are elected each year by the Coaches to lead by example and support their peers. The new Captains begin their term around the beginning of September alongside the new rowing season.

Exeter Rowing Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its members. We strive to ensure that everyone who takes part in rowing can do so in a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment.

Our safeguarding procedures follow the guidance and best practice set out by British Rowing.

Our Commitment

To help create a positive and supportive club environment:

• All members, coaches, club officials and parents/carers are expected to treat one another with respect and to promote the safety and wellbeing of everyone at the club.
• Junior members are encouraged to speak openly about any concerns or worries they may have. In the first instance, they should speak to their coach. If this is difficult or inappropriate, they can contact the Junior Coordinator (JC) or the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) directly.
• The Club Welfare Officer is responsible for providing advice on safeguarding matters and coordinating the club's response to any welfare concerns or referrals.
• Exeter Rowing Club has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. Any concerns about bullying should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer, Junior Coordinator or any member of the Club Committee.
• Please note that the Club can only investigate and respond to issues that occur within the context of rowing or club activities. Matters that occur outside the club, such as incidents at school, should be dealt with through the appropriate organisation.
• Photographs and contact details for the Junior Coordinator and Club Welfare Officer are displayed on the club noticeboard. They aim to be approachable and are regularly present at training sessions and club events.

Further Information

For more information, please refer to the following documents:

• Exeter Rowing Club Welfare Policy
  https://exeterrowingclub.com/about-us/welfare/
• Anti-Bullying Policy
  https://exeterrowingclub.com/membership/regulations/anti-bullying-policy/

Exeter Rowing Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its members. We strive to ensure that everyone who takes part in rowing can do so in a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment.

Our safeguarding procedures follow the guidance and best practice set out by British Rowing.

Our Commitment

To help create a positive and supportive club environment:

• All members, coaches, club officials and parents/carers are expected to treat one another with respect and to promote the safety and wellbeing of everyone at the club.
• Junior members are encouraged to speak openly about any concerns or worries they may have. In the first instance, they should speak to their coach. If this is difficult or inappropriate, they can contact the Junior Coordinator (JC) or the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) directly.
• The Club Welfare Officer is responsible for providing advice on safeguarding matters and coordinating the club's response to any welfare concerns or referrals.
• Exeter Rowing Club has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. Any concerns about bullying should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer, Junior Coordinator or any member of the Club Committee.
• Please note that the Club can only investigate and respond to issues that occur within the context of rowing or club activities. Matters that occur outside the club, such as incidents at school, should be dealt with through the appropriate organisation.
• Photographs and contact details for the Junior Coordinator and Club Welfare Officer are displayed on the club noticeboard. They aim to be approachable and are regularly present at training sessions and club events.

Further Information

For more information, please refer to the following documents:

• Exeter Rowing Club Welfare Policy
  https://exeterrowingclub.com/about-us/welfare/
• Anti-Bullying Policy
  https://exeterrowingclub.com/membership/regulations/anti-bullying-policy/

Need to talk?

If you have any concerns about your welfare or the welfare of another junior member, please speak to your coach, the Junior Coordinator or the Club Welfare Officer. We are here to listen and to help ensure everyone enjoys rowing in a safe, supportive environment.

At Exeter Rowing Club, we are committed to encouraging everyone to enjoy rowing in a safe and supportive environment. The health, wellbeing and safety of our members is always our highest priority.

All junior members, coaches and volunteers are expected to follow the Club's Health and Safety Policy and to work together to ensure a safe environment both on and off the water.

Health and Safety Policy

Please read our Health and Safety Policy, which outlines the Club's approach to managing safety and reducing risk during all rowing activities.

https://exeterrowingclub.com/membership/regulations/health-and-safety-policy/

British Rowing – RowSafe

Exeter Rowing Club follows the guidance set out in British Rowing's RowSafe, the national safety guidance for rowing clubs, coaches, competitors and volunteers.

RowSafe provides practical advice on:

• Water safety
• Risk management
• Safe boating practices
• Weather conditions
• Equipment checks
• Emergency procedures

For more information, visit:

https://www.britishrowing.org/about-us/policies-guidance/rowsafe/

Recommended Safety Videos

We encourage all junior members and parents/carers to watch the following British Rowing safety videos:

• Capsize and Recovery
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6un3TkbQUQ
• Collision Avoidance
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhaI1G3R7jE

At Exeter Rowing Club, we believe that rowing should be open to everyone. We are committed to creating an environment where all members feel welcome, valued and treated with fairness and respect.

We want everyone to enjoy the sport in an atmosphere free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment and abuse.

All members are expected to treat others with kindness, courtesy and consideration at all times. By promoting an inclusive and respectful club culture, we aim to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, develop and enjoy rowing.

Equality Policies

For more information, please refer to:

• Exeter Rowing Club Equality Policy
  https://exeterrowingclub.com/membership/regulations/equity-policy/
• British Rowing Diversity & Inclusion Guidance
  https://www.britishrowing.org/about-us/policies-guidance/

We have a private Facebook group for current junior members, their families and club officials, We use this to share event photos, videos of training sessions and fun stuff.

Join the Facebook Group

If you are a current junior member or parent/carer, you can request access to our private Facebook group:

Request access:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/725811934215880

The Junior Squad is run by its own very experienced and qualified British Rowing Coaches, and they train together as one squad with dedicated land and on-water sessions.

The Adult Squads have their own coaches and training sessions.

The Squad meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, and Saturday and Sunday mornings, with a mixture of erg, strength and conditioning, and on-water training.

It is important that rowers train within the limits set by the Coaches, which are dependent on age and ability.

Development

This group is mainly made up of J13 to J15 athletes. The emphasis is on building basic rowing skills and general endurance, but they are still encouraged to participate in a wide variety of other sports. The concepts of warming up, cooling down, hydration, nutrition, stretching and strength exercises using body weight will be introduced. By the end of this stage, athletes should have developed a strong aerobic base, core strength, proficiency in sculling (1x), and experience in crew boats (2x and 4x). Athletes should have raced in a variety of boats (1x, 2x, 4x) and in a variety of events (head races, sprint races, and 2000m races) at local and regional regattas. Athletes can strive to win, but the emphasis is on fun, effort, improvement, and good technical performances. Racing is secondary to training.

Performance

From J16 to J18, training increasingly emphasizes the development of sport specific endurance, strength and skills for 2000m racing, and athletes are
introduced to sweep rowing with a focus on small boats. Rowers are encouraged to continue to race in a variety of events and boat classes (1x, 2x, 4x, 2-, 4-/4+), but with an increasing focus on 2000m. Racing in local, regional and national regattas as a regular part of training helps athletes learn to row with good technique in competitive situations, and learn to cope with the mental and
physical demands of racing. It also gives them experience racing in a variety of conditions such as rough water and head-, tail- and cross-winds. Athletes should strive to win, and may compete for selection in GB Trials, but the focus will be on learning from each race, developing racing skills and racing with good technique under a variety of conditions.

Coaches or committee members of the club will not contact juniors or parents by any means other than email and Spond.

Spond

Spond is a multi-platform service that allows communication between the coaches/club and members/parents/carers. This is the club's primary means of communication. Junior members and parents/carers will need to download the Spond app on their phone/device and ensure that they read and respond to all relevant notifications.

Coaches need to plan training sessions, decide on crews, and allocate boats, so an early response to training, event, and parent helper invites is encouraged and appreciated.

Spond will be used to communicate:

1. Training sessions – Coaches send out invites to the weekly training sessions. Junior members or their parent/carer will need to respond to these invites to confirm their availability by accepting or declining.
2. Racing events – Coaches/the Junior Coordinator will send out invites to racing events. Junior members/parents/carers will need to respond to these invites to confirm their availability so that coaches can decide on crews and race entries. Please note that there are some national events where race entries close soon after they open because of high demand, so it is essential that confirmation of availability for these races is provided as soon as possible.
3. Parent helpers – The club needs parent helpers to assist with training sessions, racing events, social events, and fundraising. Please see the section How you can help below for more information. Invites will be sent to parents as well as junior members for training sessions and race events. Parents who are registered with the club as parent helpers will need to respond to these invites via Spond to confirm their availability.
4. Social and fundraising events – Information and invites regarding social and fundraising events will be sent out via Spond and email. Members and parents/carers will need to respond to the invites to confirm their attendance and, where applicable, their availability to help.
5. General information/messages – For example, boat loading before an event, ordering kit, etc.

If anyone needs help using Spond, please contact the Coaches or Junior Coordinator.

Email

Emails will occasionally be circulated to communicate news, club notices, events, and training information/plans.

The Club Membership Secretary will send information such as renewal notices via email.

The Club Treasurer will send invoices and reminders via email.

Club website, Facebook and Instagram

The club website, Facebook, and Instagram pages contain news and information about the club and rowing. There are also dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages for the Juniors, which are used to communicate some information on regattas and training and to post photographs. See the club's Social Media Policy.

Club Notice Board

The club notice board is located in the clubhouse. Although most notices and information are now communicated via Spond, social media, or email, it is still worth checking the notice board regularly.

Speaking to the coaches

The coaches are happy to discuss rowing matters with rowers and their parents/carers. Rowers are encouraged to speak directly to their coach about any questions or concerns they have about their rowing. Parents/carers are asked to make an appointment with a coach if they have an issue to discuss, rather than speaking to them while they are leading a session. This will ensure a better outcome for both the parent/carer and the coach.

If you have any questions or are worried about something

If you are worried or unhappy about something, or have any questions, you can speak to your coach, the Junior Coordinator, the Club Welfare Officer, one of the Junior Captains, or a member of the committee.

Having the right kit helps you stay comfortable, safe and able to enjoy your rowing throughout the year. Weather conditions can change quickly, so it's important to come prepared for every training session.

Competition Kit

When representing Exeter Rowing Club at races, all competitors are expected to wear the official club racing kit.

Required

• Club all-in-one (compulsory for racing).
• A plain white short- or long-sleeved base layer may be worn underneath the all-in-one.

Recommended

Although not compulsory, members are encouraged to wear the official Exeter Rowing Club T-shirt or hoodie when attending races and club events.

Training Kit

Training takes place in all seasons and weather conditions, so it's important to dress appropriately. Training clothing does not need to be official club kit.

Essential Equipment

High-visibility top (compulsory)

All junior members must wear a high-visibility top during every on-water training session.

Anyone arriving without a high-visibility top will not be permitted to go afloat.

Recommended Clothing

For comfortable and safe training, we recommend bringing:

• Leggings or rowing tights.
• Base layers and warm tops appropriate to the weather.
• Windproof and waterproof outer layer.
• Shorts or an all-in-one for summer training.
• Long leggings or tights during colder weather (shorts alone are not suitable).
• Warm hat for winter.
• Cap or hat for sun protection in summer.
• Sunglasses for bright conditions.
• Pogies (rowing mitts) to keep hands warm during winter outings. Ordinary gloves are not recommended.
• Rigger jigger (for making simple equipment adjustments).

What to Bring

Every training session, juniors should also bring:

• A water bottle.
• A small waterproof bag for spare clothing in the boat.
• A complete change of dry clothes.
• A towel.
• Extra warm clothing for cold weather.
• A plastic bag for wet kit.
• Sunscreen during warmer months.
• Hand sanitiser.

Extra dry clothing and a towel are particularly important in the event of a capsize or when multiple outings are planned.

Clothing Expectations

For safety and comfort:

• Wear clothing suitable for the weather and water conditions.
• Tops should provide appropriate coverage; low-cut clothing is not suitable.
• Girls should wear suitable sports bras.
• The minimum acceptable clothing is a vest, T-shirt or rowing all-in-one. Bare chests or sports bras worn on their own are not permitted.

Juniors who arrive without suitable clothing for the conditions may not be allowed to take part in the session.

Footwear

Suitable footwear must be worn at all times around the club.

• Bare feet and socks alone are not permitted.
• Trainers should be suitable for both rowing activities and land training.
• If muddy trainers have been used outdoors, please bring a clean pair for gym or ergometer sessions.

Looking After Your Kit

Rowing kit can be expensive, so we strongly recommend:

• Labelling all clothing and equipment with your name.
• Checking the club's lost property regularly.
• Collecting any unclaimed items promptly, as uncollected kit may eventually be disposed of

Parents and Volunteers

Exeter Rowing Club is run entirely by volunteers, and parental support is essential to the success of our Junior Squad. We greatly value the time and commitment of parents and carers, whose help enables us to provide a safe, enjoyable and successful rowing programme for our juniors.

Getting involved is also a great way to meet other families and become part of the club community. Many parents, as well as the young rowers themselves, develop lasting friendships through their involvement with the club.

There are many ways in which parents and carers can support the Junior Squad, including:

• Spotting (towpath supervision), boat handling and launching. Parent volunteers are essential during on-water training sessions. If there are not enough volunteers available to support a session, the session may have to be cancelled.
• Helping at club events, including setting up, towpath supervision, boat handling and launching, baking cakes, serving refreshments and assisting with catering. The club typically hosts two or three major events each year, including the Exeter Regatta in July and Head Races in March and December. Further information can be found in the Racing Events, Race Entries and Race Calendar section.
• Fundraising
• Helping to organise social events
• Maintaining the clubhouse, boats and equipment.
• Supporting coaching, for those with rowing or coaching experience.

If you would like to volunteer or would like more information about how you can help, please contact the Junior Coordinator.

There are a number of events the club attends each year. When the dates are announced, they will be added to the club calendar.

West of England (WEARA) events

ERC is part of the West of England Amateur Rowing Association (WEARA). A number of clubs affiliated with WEARA, including Exeter, host a summer regatta race and, in some cases, one or two winter head races.

Details of WEARA events are posted on the WEARA website.

Members of the junior squad will be encouraged to enter the WEARA races, which are regarded as a fun day out for competitors and their families.

Exeter's Summer Regatta takes place in July, and the Head Races take place in March and December.

National events

For the more experienced rowers, we encourage participation in national events, which include:

Junior Inter-Regional Rowing Regatta (JIRR) is a competitive but fun event for junior rowers aged between 14 and 16, giving them the opportunity to represent their region at the start of the international pathway.

British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC)

There is a popular and growing indoor rowing event scene in the UK, which culminates in the British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC) at the Olympic Park Velodrome in December each year.

National Schools' Regatta

The National Schools' Regatta (NSR) is one of the largest regattas in the junior racing calendar in Great Britain. It attracts crews from over 350 clubs and schools, with more than 5,000 competitors.

The regatta takes place in May at Eton Dorney Lake, the London 2012 Olympic venue.

British Rowing Junior Championships

The British Rowing Junior Championships are open to junior rowers from J15 to J18. They give junior rowers the chance to compete against their peers from all over Britain. It is a two-day event, taking place in July at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.

GB trial and selection events

For those pursuing this route, there will be a number of national events that you will need to attend. Your coach will provide details to the relevant juniors and their parents/carers.

Travel to events

Juniors and their parents/carers will need to make their own travel and overnight accommodation arrangements for national events.

Boats – towing

The boats will need to be towed to all events other than those taking place in Exeter.

Costs

Members/parents/carers are responsible for the additional costs of events, which include:

• Seat charges for those racing
• Travel
• Accommodation
• Towing