Camps

2026 U19 Pathways Water ID Camp

The USRowing U19 Pathways Water ID Camp aims to provide a bridge between the open-registration one-day land-based ID camps and the selective, application-based U19 HP Winter Camps. This camp offers athletes the opportunity to apply the USRowing Technical Model on the water while demonstrating technical skills, coachability, and growth potential in a high-performance environment.

Create a Bridge in the ID Pathway: Offer a next-step opportunity for athletes who are not yet ready for HP Winter or who missed the application deadline.
Evaluate Technical Ability and Coachability: Incorporate an on-water component to assess technical proficiency, adaptability, and responsiveness to coaching.
Reinforce Pathways Education: Provide education on the USRowing Technical Model, performance expectations, and next steps within the U19 system.
Support Late Developers: Identify athletes who show rapid growth later in the academic year and may be ready for Selection Development Camp consideration.

Target Audience

U19-eligible rowers and coxswains who:
Attended a one-day land-based ID camp and showed strong potential
Were not able to attend or were not selected for the U19 HP Winter Camps
Are developing later in the academic year and may be ready for higher-level opportunities

Note: This camp is not a replacement for the U19 HP Winter Camps. Athletes who wish to be considered for the U19 National Team should prioritize HP Winter Camps over this opportunity.

Key Details

Location: USRowing Training Center – Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 or Sunday, March 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET
Cost: [TBD based on facility/staff costs]
Format: Application-based selection
Application Window: Opens December 1, 2025 and closes March 1, 2026
Expected Attendance: Approximately 32 rowers per gender (64 total) and 8–10 coxswains

Location Rationale:
USRowing selected Mercer Lake as the inaugural site for this camp due to the high concentration of youth rowing programs in the Northeast and Mercer’s typical weather patterns, which often allow for reliable on-water rowing in early March.

Expansion Plan:
This is the first year this layer of identification is being offered. Upon the camp’s success, USRowing plans to add additional regional locations in future years to increase accessibility for athletes nationwide.

Placement in the Pathways System

The U19 Pathways Water ID Camp serves as a mid-layer identification opportunity within the broader U19 athlete development system:

Land-Based ID Camps (Entry Point): Open-registration events designed to introduce athletes to USRowing methodology, collect baseline performance data, and educate athletes about the Pathways system.
Pathways Water ID Camp (Mid-Layer): Application-based opportunity to demonstrate technical on-water ability, coachability, and readiness for higher-level programming.
HP Winter Camps (High-Performance Layer): Invitation-only, multi-day training environments targeting the top U19 athletes for potential Selection Development Camp or Selection Camp consideration.

This layered structure creates a clear progression for athletes to follow as they move closer to the U19 National Team.

Run of Show (Sample Schedule)

8:00 AM – Staff and volunteers arrive, site set-up
8:30 AM – Athlete check-in opens

Morning (Land-Based)

9:00–9:15 AM: Athlete welcome and camp overview
9:15–9:45 AM: USRowing Pathways Presentation
9:45–11:15 AM: Testing Rotations (erg watt tests + functional movement screens)
11:15–12:15 AM: Mental performance and USRowing Technical Model Presentation
11:15 AM–12:15 PM: Coxswain-specific education session
12:15–1:00 PM: Lunch (provided on-site)

Afternoon (On-Water)

1:00–1:15 PM: Transition to water / boat assignments
1:15–3:30 PM: On-water technical sessions in larger boats (8+, 4+, 4x) focused on applying the USRowing Technical Model and responding to coaching
3:30–3:45 PM: Coxswain evaluations on steering, calls, and crew management
3:45–4:00 PM: Athlete and coach debrief & data verification
4:00 PM: Dismissal

Testing & Evaluation Protocols

Land: Erg watt tests, functional movement screen, coach observations
Water: Technical skill assessment in larger boats (8+, 4+, 4x) and ability to apply feedback
Coxswains: Leadership, technical feedback, and on-water communication
Data Collection: All results linked to athlete profiles in the USRowing Member Portal and considered in future camp selections

Educational Programming

USRowing Technical Model & National Team Methodology
Performance Lifestyle Topics (mental performance, recovery, nutrition)
Pathways Overview: Clear explanation of the progression from ID → HP Winter → SDC/SC

Communications & Outreach