United We Row
United We Row Certification
Recruiting and retaining community members, making the fastest boats possible, and building a thriving boathouse of rowers of all backgrounds requires so much more than solid marketing and good coaching. The best programs in the US excel because their athletes feel safe, supported, and welcome.
The United We Row Certification is one of a handful of Special Certification Programs USRowing offers. This program compiles the most relevant courses for building a sense of belonging among athletes, coaching diverse athletes, and ensuring their safety.
Who is this Certification Program for?
USRowing encourages all rowing organizations – whether scholastic or club, juniors or masters, competitive or recreational – and individuals – administrators, coaches, and board members – to earn this certification and signal to your community and colleagues that you strive to build a more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible boathouse.
Benefits To You and Your Community
Organizations that complete the certification will receive the following benefits:
- a digital badge for use on their organization’s website
- listed as a certified organization at the United We Row event at Head of the Charles
- a tag on the “Find a Club” profile
- a social media shoutout
- a certificate for the boathouse
- discounted USRowing coaching conference access
Individuals will earn the following benefits:
- a digital badge for social media
- a tag on the “Find a Coach” profile
- receive one extra continuing education credit in addition to the credits received for all courses completed
- discounted USRowing coaching conference access
Certification Requirements
Organizational
- Submission of Review Inclusion and Accessibility Checklist [here]
- All coaches and leadership completed the United We Row Pledge [here]
- Administration of one anonymous experience survey per year [template at bottom of page here]
- Annual collection of the demographics of the organization [template at bottom of page here]
- Attendance of three representatives from the organization to the United We Row Summit (November)
- Attestation of completion of 4 inclusion-related courses for a meaningful number of coaches and leadership (minimum 20%)
Individual
- Attend one live inclusion-related experience (USRowing-sponsored or on your own)
- Sign the United We Row Pledge [found here]
- Submit a short 150-word statement
- Submission of completion certificates for 6 inclusion-related courses on The Launch listed below
The United We Row Certification Process
Please submit a United We Row Certification Form for approval of your certification.
Upon submission, your form will be reviewed for official approval within 7-10 business days by USRowing staff.
Choose from These Courses Available on The Launch
- Opening the Boathouse Doors (required for anyone completing certification)
- Body Confident Sport Program
- Conflict Resolution
- Implicit Association
- Adaptive Rowing Course
- 9 Things to Know about DEI in Rowing
- Coaching Athletes Who Are Neurodiverse
- Coaching Cancer Survivors
- Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Prevention, Support, and Resources
- Training for Inclusive Camps
- Inclusion Training for Regatta Leadership
- Retaining Members and Enhancing Member Experience
- Effectively Coaching Gen Z
- Creating a Culture of Belonging: Your Role as a Coach
- Elevating Your Coaching IQ
- Breaking the Silence: Addressing Mental Health in Youth Sports
United We Row Certification FAQs
What are the benefits of doing this certification?
Those who receive this certification will get the following to share with the rowing community...
Organizations:
- a digital badge for use on their organization’s website
- listed as a certified organization at the United We Row event at Head of the Charles
- a tag on the “Find a Club” profile
- a social media shoutout
- a certificate for the boathouse
Individuals:
- a digital badge for social media
- a tag on the “Find a Coach” profile
- receive one extra continuing education credit in addition to the credits received for all courses completed
- discounted USRowing coaching conference access
When it is referenced in the requirements, who are “coaches and leadership?"
USRowing encourages all coaches (whether volunteer or paid – anyone working directly with the athletes) and the leadership (administrators, board members) to participate in the United We Row Certification Program.
What happens upon submission of the Certification Form?
The Community Team at USRowing will review the form submission. Upon approval of your certification, you will hear from the team and receive your benefits.
For the individual certification, one live experience (virtual or in-person) is required outside of The Launch. What is this?
Live inclusion trainings give participants a unique opportunity to learn from others, share experiences and get feedback, and engage beyond the screen. USRowing offers several of these opportunities (United We Row Community calls, trainings, and more), you can join a training with one of our Unity Partners, or organize some other relevant experience at your boathouse. Tell us about it in your Certification Form when you submit it.
One requirement for the organizational certification is the administration of an experience survey for program participants. What is this?
USRowing encourages organizations to collect anonymous feedback from program participants at least annually to measure participant experience. This survey measures safety, sense of belonging, and enjoyment. Organizations can then analyze this data to make programmatic changes to meet the needs of their community.
We have provided a template for organizations to build from under “Tools and Guides” --> “Survey Templates” HERE.
One expectation for the organizational certification is to collect demographic information of program participants. What is this?
We encourage organizations to collect demographic information on participants to understand who they are currently serving in their programs and to track progress. Organizations can measure what is relevant to them: gender, race/ethnicity, age, disability status, Veteran status, etc.
We have provided a template for organizations to build from under “Tools and Guides” --> “Survey Templates” HERE.
What is the United We Row Summit?
This is a free, virtual two-day conference that happens over Zoom. It is focused on building welcoming, inclusive, and competitive cultures at rowing organizations. Check out some of the videos from the inaugural United We Row Summit here.
For the organizational certification, do all our coaches and leadership have to complete the same courses in The Launch?
Not at all. We encourage people to choose courses from the optional courses that interest them most.
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