The team typically has between 90 and 120 student athletes and 6 – 10 Coaches. The acceptance to the team is based on registration requirements (SEE REGISTRATION TAB) and not athletic performance. There are no tryouts required to join the Lake Braddock Crew Team.

The board and coaching staff may decide to do tryouts if the team is unable to accomodate all potential athletes. This decision will be made prior to registration for the upcoming season after considering the following: Saftey risks, budget constraints, training space, and coaching staff.

No. Few, if any, students entering LBSS have had any rowing experience. New or Novice athletes are encouraged to participate in the FALL ROWING PROGRAM during October and November as a “Learn to Row” program.

Crew does demand endurance, strength and discipline, which we build through regular exercise throughout The Winter & Spring Season. Most freshmen rowers have never tried rowing before, so skills and discipline of crew can be learned.

There is a registration process that includes a number of requirements that involve Lake Braddock Secondary School Athletics and Club Agreements. The Winter & Spring Season registration will open in Late October/ Early November.

Winter Conditioning

PRACTICE LOCATION: Lake Braddock Secondary School

PRACTICE DAYS: Monday – Friday

NOVICE PRACTICE TIMES: 3:30-5:30pm

VARSITY PRACTICE TIMES: 5:30-7:30pm

– Some morning practices will be offered.

Spring On the Water Season (Before Regattas Begin)

PRACTICE LOCATION: Bull Run Marina(12619 Old Yates Ford Rd, Clifton, VA 20124)

PRACTICE DAYS: Monday – Saturday

PRACTICE TIMES: 4:00pm – 6:00/6:30pm (end times may vary)

Spring On the Water Season (After Regattas Begin)

PRACTICE LOCATION: Locations may vary depending on “row down” capabilities. Practice locations are Bull Run Marina (12619 Old Yates Ford Rd, Clifton, VA 20124) or Sandy Run Marina (Van Thompson road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039)

PRACTICE DAYS: Monday – Saturday

PRACTICE TIMES: 4:00pm – 6:00/6:30pm (end times may vary)

Schedule changes are communicated on the #General Channel of SLACK by the Head Coach.

The Lake Braddock Crew Team does NOT provide transportation to and from the marina during the spring on the water season. It is encouraged that team members (and their families) coordinate carpools with other team families. To assist in carpool coordination, The volunteer Carpool Coordinator will help set up carpool groups at the beginning of the season.

The Lake Braddock Crew Team does not receive any school, state, or county funding, so all costs for the LB Crew Program is from athlete dues and fundraising.

Total dues for the year are $1050.

The following are when payments are due:

• $200 (1st payment due prior to the start of winter conditioning)
• $850 (2ndl payment due prior to the start of on the water training).

Not included but required: (~175) Team Uniform

Not included but optional: (~$120) Team Crew Jacket (Boathouse)

Not included but optional: Sew Sporty (embroidered/personal apperal)

Not included but optional: Team Swag (fundraising from the Swag Store)

Not included but qualification required: Travel Regattas (Stotebury and SRAA) Fees for these regattas will be determined based on cost and number of attendees.

Multi-student Discount: If a family has more than one participant in the LB Crew Program simultaneously, the registration fee for each participant beyond the first will be reduced by $100.00.

The total amount of $1050 can be paid prior to winter conditioning.

Occoquan Boat Club’s (OBC) Julia Shew Memorial Rowing Scholarship

Details will be released during Winter Conditioning. For more information visit rowobc.org.

Raiseright

Contact raiseright@bruincrew.com for more information.

The Lake Braddock Crew Team allows team families to offset program dues with earnings through RAISERIGHT, a fundraising program where parents raise money for the crew team by purchasing gift cards and/or shopping online. Lake Braddock Crew Team will credit the crew team athlete’s dues based on the amount raised.

The Lake Braddock Team is run by parent and athlete volunteers. The infrastructure of the team is created by the skills and experience of the people involved.

Caregivers need to complete the following:

• 2 VASRA positions (Working Regattas)
• 1 LB Crew Team Event
• Share Flyers on Social Media

Athletes need to complete the following:

• At least 2 Door to Door events
• As many Fundraising Events as possible
• Encourge Friends to join events

Team and VASRA Volunteers are posted in the newsletter and SLACK. Here are a few of the volunteer needs of the team. Reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator if one of the following positions interest you.

• Board position
• Fundraising
• Social events
• Set up and manage pasta dinner
• Carpool driver
• Marina clean up
• Boat maintenance
• Regatta Snacks
• Car Wash helper
• Door to Door driver/chaperone
• Camp Chaperone
• Stotesbury Chaperone
• Photographer
• Food donations for pasta dinner
• Celebration planning
• Alumni/ Learn to Row
• Material purchasing
• Webmaster
• Restaurant night purchase

Payment Methods

Zelle is the preferred payment method. Use Treasurer@bruincrew.com

Venmo: @LakeBraddock-CrewBoosters. Include 3% if funding the payment by credit card.

Please make checks payable to: Lake Braddock Crew Booster Club

Mail Checks to Lake Braddock Crew, P.O. Box 10458, Burke, VA 22009.

LB Crew Refund Policy

It is always difficult to accommodate for the unexpected. As a parent/guardian and athlete, there are situations that occur that may prevent the athlete from participating on the team after commitments have been made. At the same time, the Lake Braddock Crew Team Booster Club has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the financial health of the team, not only for the current year’s operations, but for the future of the team sport that’s provided to the Lake Braddock Crew Team community.

As a standard Policy, written requests from a parent or guardian for refunds of dues and fees paid will be addressed in accordance with the following refund schedule:

1. The initial payment of $200 is not refundable after the start of winter conditioning for any reason, including injury.
2. After the first day of on the water practice (FEB 24, 2025) and for 2 calendar weeks (MAR 20, 2025), a refund may be requested in writing to the President@bruincrew.com. The refund will be 75% of the 2nd payment of $850 or $637.50.
3. If an athlete is removed from the team due to disciplinary reasons all dues are forfeit.

Requests for refunds must be submitted to the Booster Club President (president@bruincrew.com) with “Refund Request” in the Subject line by a parent or legal guardian. Requests for refunds will be considered by the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled Executive Board of Directors meeting following receipt of request. Decisions of the board regarding the refund will be final, not subject to appeal, and the result communicated to the requestor as soon as possible.

Ask Your Athlete

SLACK (Ask to be invited: VPA@bruincrew.com)

Monthly/ Weekly Newsletter

Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, SmugMug)

Local regattas take place on the Occoquan River at Sandy Run Regional Park in Fairfax County. The address for the boathouse is 10450 Van Thompson Road, Fairfax Station VA 22039.

High school crew races are typically 1500 meters in length.

Rowing is a club sport because only select Fairfax County schools offer crew. As a result, we receive NO financial support from the Fairfax County Public Schools or LBSS. Rowing is supported by the dues paid by each rower’s family and by fundraising activities. Income from these sources are used for coaches’ salaries, equipment purchase and maintenance, rack fees for our boats, regatta fees, insurance, and other operation needs.

Yes, rowers and coxswains can earn letters. LBSS crew athletes meet Virginia High School League and LBSS requirements for participation in sports and therefore are eligible to earn varsity letters.

Athletes may have the opportunity to qualify for regattas outside of the regular spring season. Coaches will create line ups based on the ability to make the boat move the fastest, attendance, attitude/teamwork and erg score. The travel regattas are usually reserved for the varsity team. Qualified athletes will recieve communication when available.

Winter conditioning is a training that takes place at Lake Braddock Secondary School, designed to prepare athletes for the physical demands of the (on the water) spring rowing season. Team participants are encouraged to attend however it is not mandatory. The Winter Condtiioning Season also provides a pre spring season team and coach relationship building, which are critical to a successful rowing season.

YES! The Spring Break Training Camp is a vital part of the Lake Braddock Crew spring season. The continued training assists in keeping athletes in peak condition to prepare for the final season regattas. Attendance will follow the team attendance policy (see attendance policy). Details about the Spring Break Training Camp TBD.

If info isn’t on the website, feel free to contact our our head coach at coaches@bruincrew.com or our admin team at vpa@bruincrew.com.

The swim test consists of three parts:

• 100-meter swim (any stroke and untimed)
• Two-minute tread water test
• Successfully don a U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver while in the pool

The swim test is required for athletes who want to row and have never been a member of the Lake Braddock Crew Team. The entire test must be taken dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and socks, to simulate what a rower wears during rowing.

The Swim Test will have several dates for athletes to attend and complete. Specific dates and times are announced in advance and will be on our calendar. Please be sure to plan ahead to attend a session as soon as possible.

Please check the Regatta Day Guide in the Team Info tab.