HRRA Juniors Program
Our Junior programs are designed to address three philosophies.
- By creating composite teams, we can match the best athletes from varied programs and put together top-rated teams that represent the best the Hudson Valley has to offer.
- Melding traditional rivals during the scholastic seasons into composite boats, we create a sense of regional rowing pride.
- Providing extensive access to expanded coaching ideas and experiences makes our regional scholastic teams stronger and prepares them for success at the collegiate level.
We address each of these philosophies by providing Learn-to-Row and Novice teams, skill building and water time for intermediate athletes, and intensive training and technique work for advanced rowers. Each HRRA athlete shares their experience with teammates and coaches of other teams and creates new experiences to take back to their scholastic teams, tightening that connection and helping to create our rowing community.
Junior Winter Training:
The Junior Pre-Winter Training program registration is open. Spots are limited to 24, and it is a combined boys/girls program. The Winter training program for January–March is still being finalized and the email will be sent when it is complete.
Pre-Winter Junior Training
Dates: Monday, November 25th – Saturday, December 21st
Rower Fee: $125 REGISTER
Practice Days & Times: (Girls & Boys combined)
Mondays, Wednesday, Friday: 5–6:30p.m.
Saturdays: 8–9:30a.m.
Coaches: Emily Luciano, Jillian Cidras
Our junior athletes will receive focused erg, weight, and tank coaching reinforcing proper biomechanics and technique that will help them get the most of the regular winter training session.
The HRRA Junior Winter Training Program creates a team atmosphere with internal competition to produce fast athletes, while also encouraging a supportive team environment. In the past our participants have repeatedly set new personal 2k records.
If you are serious about increasing your performance on your spring/ summer teams or laying the groundwork for collegiate rowing recruitment, the HRRA Winter Training Plan and its staff of regional coaches will help you achieve your goals.
These are just some of the possible erg races in which HRRA may participate:
- 1/18/2025 – Ironmen Erg Classic Ramsey,
- 2/8/2025 – Winter Watt Farm, Lyndhurst, NJ
- Feb/March (date to be confirmed) – CRASH-Bs, Boston MA
Junior Advanced Boys & Girls:
The Advanced Junior Sweeps Program is open to rowers who are rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, and those who have just graduated high school. Rowers should have competitive racing experience at the JV or Varsity level, or have the recommendation of a coach.
This is a competitive program which focuses on how to train, increasing the athlete’s technical skill set and learning how to prepare physically and mentally for national competition. Registration includes participation in one local regatta.
Program Dates & Times:
September 3rd – November 2nd, 2024
Boys – (capacity 24)
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 5:30pm-7:30pm
Saturday 7:00am-9:00am
Rower Fee: $595 – Register – Boys Team
Coxswain Fee: $25 – Register – Boys team
Boys Coach: Dom Scecchitano & Evan Brown
Girls – (capacity 24)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 5:30pm-8:00pm
Saturday – 7:00am-9:00am
Rower Fee: $595 – Register – Girls Team
Coxswain Fee: $25 – Register – Girls team
Girls Coaches: Bernadette Winby and Matt Rignanese
The team will be representing the club at the following regattas during the Fall.
- Sunday, September 22 – Head of the Hudson – Albany, NY
- Sunday, September 29 – Mohawk Fall Classic Regatta – Scotia, NY (Juniors only)
- Saturday, October 5 – Poughkeepsie Regatta – Poughkeepsie, NY
- Sunday, October 13 – Head of the Passaic – Rutherford/Lyndhurst, NJ
- Sunday, October 20 – Head of the Charles – Boston, MA (dependent on bid acceptance)
- Sunday, October 27 – Head of the Fish, Saratoga, NY
For away regattas race fees are additional. Transportation, room and board are are the responsibility of the athlete’s family.
Program Dates & Times:
June 10th – 28th Monday-Friday 5:30pm-7:30pm
July 1st – August 4th Monday-Friday 6am-8am
Capacity: 18 boys and 18 girls
Rower Fee: $595
Coxswain Fee: $25 – Register here.
Regatta Racing Dates:
JULY 20: Philly Youth Regatta
- Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA
- Click for regatta information
JULY 27: Sweeps & Sculls Regatta
- Seekonk River, Providence, RI
- Click for regatta information
AUGUST 4: Bridge to Bridge Regatta
- Hudson River, Poughkeepsie, NY
Junior Intermediate Boys & Girls:
The Junior Intermediate Sweeps program is designed for rowers who have completed two novice seasons through HRRA or through their scholastic team, or upon approval of the coach. The program will work on further developing their technical skills and endurance. Registration includes participation in one local regatta.
Program Dates & Times:
September 3rd – November 2nd, 2024
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 5:30pm-7:30pm
Boys Coach: Courtney Woodard & Nick Fracasso
Rower Fee: $525 – Register
Coxswain Fee: $25 – Register
The team will be representing the club at the following regattas during the Fall.
- Saturday, October 5 – Poughkeepsie Regatta – Poughkeepsie, NY
Program Dates & Times:
June 24th – August 4th Monday-Friday 5:30-7:30pm
Capacity: 18 boys and 18 girls
Rower Fee: $525
Coxswain Fee: $25 – Register here.
Junior Novice/Learn-to-Row Boys & Girls:
Juniors who are entering the 7th grade or higher, learn to row and improve on their completed learn to row skills in eight oared shells on the Hudson! Athletes learn safety, technique, how to handle boats, steer the boats and basic race skills.
Registration includes participation in one local regatta.
Program Dates & Times: July 1st – Aug. 4th Monday – Friday 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Capacity: 9 rowers
Rower Fee: $350 – Register here.
Junior Competitive Sculling:
Program Days & Times: August 5th – August 30th; Monday-Friday 6:00am-8:00am
Capacity: 8 rowers
Rower Fee: TBD
Junior Learn-to-Scull:
Program Days & Times: August 5th – August 30th; Monday-Friday 8:30am-10:00am
Capacity: 8 rowers
Rower Fee: TBD
Junior Spring Rowing Program:
Our Junior Spring Rowing program is open to athletes in grades 9-12 who do not have a scholastic rowing program available through their high school, or those who are home schooled. Athletes learn safety, technique, how to handle boats, steer boats, and basic race skills. Beginner and experienced rowers are welcome.
Dates: March 11th – June 2nd, 2024
Practice Time: Monday – Friday 5:30-7:30pm
Rower Fee: $500 – Register here
Coxswain Fee: $35 – Register here
Coach: TBD
Location: HRRA Boathouse, 720 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY
*A minimum of 8 participants are required for this program to run. Please register, if we do not make the numbers you will be reimbursed in full.
Please email Lucy Carr at [email protected] with any questions.
Participants are invited to attend:
* Miles of Hope Regatta – Poughkeepsie, NY – Sunday, June 2nd
* There is an additional $10 (per event) donation to Miles of Hope Regatta if you choose to race.
All athletes must have a Basic USRowing Membership ($25) and an online waiver completed. If you have already paid the membership under a different club name you must log in to the USRowing portal and add Hudson River Rowing Association to your club affiliations by the first day of practice.
- The HRRA code is H9RR4 and the online waiver link is HERE.
HRRA Program and race fees do not include uniform, hotel, traveling expenses, or USRowing membership (when applicable). Athletes are responsible for these additional expenses. HRRA does not provide adult chaperones for unaccompanied minors.
Please note the following NEW REQUIREMENTS:
- ALL Junior Novice and Intermediate participants MUST take a swim test if they did NOT participate in a scholastic team during the 2024 Spring scholastic season. Test requirements are that you swim 50 yards, tread water for 10 minutes, and put on a life jacket while in the water. SWIM TEST DAY & TIME TBD.
- ALL Adult Participants will need to attest via signed form that you are able to swim 50 yards, tread water for 10 minutes, and put on a life jacket while in the water.
Regarding Program Placement:
- Each program (other than novice) has a prerequisite, however there are occasions when an athlete’s skill level may not match the program for which he or she is registered. In order for the athlete and team to be successful, a coach may recommend that an athlete is put into a more advanced program or taken out of a more rigorous program to further develop skills. In such a case, you may incur an additional expense or a refund of a program cost difference.
Coxswains Comprehensive Program:
Registration for all coxswains of Adult or Junior Comprehensive Programs with at least a season of novice/one year of coxswain experience under their belts. Our Comprehensive Programs operate like a collegiate program in the sense that all skill levels are on the same team but receive coaching specific to their experience level and goals to help push them up the skill curve.
Coxswains may be selected by coaches for additional racing opportunities based on performance, which will be paid for at a later date via a supplemental “Racing Fee” registration, Enrollment includes standard summer HRRA practice tank. All registrants will need to have a current USRowing Membership before they begin any on-water activity. Athletes new to rowing should register for and complete our Junior Novice program before signing up for Junior’s Comprehensive. Athletes and Parents are encouraged to reach out to the Head Coach at [email protected] with any questions they may have.
