by Ruby Lyon
Tryouts are one of the most magical moments during the year at Row New York. At tryouts, the air is jubilant, anticipatory, nervous, and excited. Students come from all over the city for this one moment. They come not knowing what exactly to expect. They are polite and curious and cling to their groups of friends. When we meet these kids, we not only scout for raw talent but also for the students who are genuinely interested in rowing. At the end of the day, it’s the student that is willing to commit, put in the time, summon grit, and integrate with a team that we recruit – not the athlete alone.
Here’s what building a team looks like at tryouts:
Check-In
Tryouts are held in gymnasiums where we can host a large crowd of students (sometimes upwards of 300 kids). The first step is to complete a general background sheet. This provides us with the basics – where a student goes to school, their grade level, availability, and GPA. Many factors weigh into how we select the newest members of our teams, and these details help. We consider athletes holistically and take into account the distance they have to travel for practice, how well their school performs, and their academic achievements.
Interviews
After completing check-in, students queue up for an interview. These one-on-one conversations allow our coaches and academic staff to get to know students beyond their athletic abilities. We search for commitment, genuine interest in learning about the sport, and as a result, we discover why they want to be a part of Row New York.
Photos
Before moving onto the erg tests, students stop for a photo op. We take each student’s picture with a polaroid camera and record their height. Their photo is then attached to their background sheet. This allows us to visually recall every single individual who tried out.
Erg Test
Next, students jump on the ergs in groups of 20 at a time. The erg tests take place every 15 minutes for 2-3 hours straight. Although some students have prior rowing experience, a majority do not. So we teach them. Arms, body, legs. Legs, body, arms.
A coach or current Row New York student sits in the middle of the semicircle of rowing machines. They demonstrate, and then demonstrate some more. Row New York student-athletes fan out behind the ergs. They are there to encourage, instruct, and help the new students. It’s truly wonderful to see our kids providing authentic support and motivation.
Then it’s time for the test. It happens in a flurry and one minute later it’s all over. Times and notes are recorded, and kids unstrap themselves from the ergs.
Exit and Return
Students then pick up their exit packets which provide all they need to know about next steps. In less than two days, they will learn whether they made the team. Starting next week, many will return to Row New York, but this time at our boathouses, as the newest members of our teams.
Landmark Year
For the first time in Row New York’s history, we are holding tryouts in three locations: Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. The process described above took place on Tuesday, September 27th and Thursday, September 29th for our Manhattan and Queens teams. Brooklyn is next – for any students interested in joining our Brooklyn team, we invite you to join us on Thursday, October 6. You can find all the details here.
We wish all the luck to the students who tried out this year and cannot wait to welcome them to our middle and high school teams! Check back in October for the final segment of this series where you will meet the new teams.
