"RowNews"   NEWS, VIEWS, and PROGRAM INFORMATION  for our rowers, parents, and friends 2004 Team Photo

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GDRA Junior Rowing Program - Overview

• The Greater Dayton Rowing Association is a non-profit private rowing club and sponsors a youth rowing team for high school-aged boys and girls.

• Rowing is the ultimate walk-on sport.  You do not need to know how to row to join.

• All beginners learn to row at the GDRA Rowing Camps.

• GDRA Junior Rowing is held at the Island MetroPark Boathouse, located on E. Helena Street just north of downtown Dayton, OH.

• This program is a fee-based competition team and is open to all interested Dayton-area high school students aged 14 - 18.  Each rower participates in his or her own choices of rowing seasons.  The basic competition seasons are Fall and Spring. 

• Safety is the club's utmost concern - both for the rowers and coaches and also for the expensive equipment the crew rows. Each participant is required to read the club and IslandPark rules.  The rowing staff is certified in Red Cross CPR and FirstAid.  A safety launch accompanies the junior rowers while they are rowing on the Great Miami River: from the launching docks to the I-75 overpass bridge.

• The team practices as much as possible and usually for about 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon.  We have a staff of dedicated coaches who teach young people how to row, the intricacies and history of the sport, and the sportsmanship expected of everyone.

• Regattas are competition opportunities for the crews.  The club hosts one regatta per year in the fall.  All other competitions are hosted by other rowing clubs and school rowing programs at other venues.

• Greater Dayton Junior Rowing is a club sport - not a school sport.  Rowers enjoy getting to know other students from within the greater Dayton area.

• In addition to practices, the GDRA Junior Crew has parties and the culmination of the spring competition season is the Annual Awards Banquet.

• GDRA encourages its rowers to row even after high school.  We have a scholarship committee dedicated to helping all interested juniors and seniors pursue collegiate rowing opportunities and scholarships.

• All high school students are encouraged to try rowing!  It's a sport with life-changing rewards.