United We Row

Short answer: Yes, rowing is a place for your athlete. 

Longer answer: Rowing is a truly democratic sport.  It requires a willingness to work hard and be part of a team. This sport encourages unity, rewarding those who think of their team first and foremost, versus themselves. Moreover, rowing is unique in that it can be easily adapted for many with physical disabilities.  If your athlete is interested in rowing, we encourage you to use the Find a Club feature to find a club near you and check out the Learn about Rowing page of our website. Most clubs hold Learn-to-Row programs throughout the year when new athletes can try out or join the team.  

To learn more about what to expect as a parent, please check out the resources available to you in the next question. 

For you, we encourage new parents to review the following resources: 

• Step Into Rowing (Parent Manual)
• Get a Grip 
• Rowing Terminology
• United We Row Pledge 
• Accessible Memberships 

Your athlete may be interested in the above, but also the following: 

• Pathways Program
• Safeguarding
• Camps

Your club’s coaches and administrators can take advantage of resources in USRowing's learning platform The Launch, from Unity Partners, and more. 

To USRowing, an inclusive culture means that every individual in the rowing program feels valued and has a sense of belonging.  

First it starts with you – how you treat other parents and athletes, how you keep your athlete safe, how you conduct yourself at competitions and represent rowing. Here is a commitment to being the best version of yourself to promote an inclusive environment: United We Row Pledge.  

Encourage your coaches and administrators to sign the pledge, take advantage of USRowing resources, ensure they are certified, and to set expectations for behavior to keep athletes physically and psychologically safe.  

Donate or raise money to support United We Row programs, grants, scholarships and more. 

First and foremost, get to know USRowing's partners at We Ride Together and Safe Sport. Understand the Safe Sport requirements and expectations regarding appropriate adult and minor athlete interactions. Know how to report misconduct. 

Ask your coaches or administrators questions about their safety practices. Here is a link to USRowing’s safeguarding guidelines and Code of Conduct. 

In general, prioritize your athletes' experience and happiness over their performance and results. Rowing is tough, but it should be fun! 

You’ve come to the right place! We’re happy you are considering rowing – this is a diverse community of athletes, and we hope you find the right rowing program for you.  

Please check out our Find a Club feature to find a club near you and the Learn about Rowing page of our website. 

Know what to expect from those around you in the rowing community – and how to treat others -- by understanding these key policies and getting to know our partners: 

• Safe Sport 
• Code of Conduct 
• We Ride Together 

If you’re motivated to make your boathouse more inclusive and welcoming – and therefore make all individuals feel valued and have a sense of belonging -- there are many ways to get started 

• Make a personal commitment to being a better teammate via the United We Row Pledge. There are ideas about how to act, but opportunities present themselves every day. 
• Encourage your coaches and administrators to sign or post the pledge, take advantage of USRowing resources, ensure they are certified, and set expectations for behavior that will keep athletes physically and psychologically safe.  
• Volunteer at your organization’s programs as a coach or a rower. Adaptive programs, masters programs, and youth programs are always looking for experience athletes to help out. 
• Donate or fundraise to support United We Row programs, grants, scholarships and more. 

They say rowing is a lifelong sport. We hope you find joy in rowing for life, too! Please check out the Pathways section of our website to learn more about the road ahead if you are interested in rowing in high school, college, elite, or masters levels.  

As the governing body of rowing, USRowing’s mission is to steward, strengthen, and grow American rowing by championing performance and igniting new passion for the sport. The three pillars of our work to do so are Experience, Performance, and Inclusion. We believe that the key to sustaining our sport is not only inviting people in – but also keeping existing athletes in rowing! A welcoming, positive environment at your club will do just that.  

While ensuring we have a sport that is demographically representative of our country is a moral imperative, diversity also means growth and results in a more competitive sport internationally and here at home. In short, diversity is good for our sport.

An inclusive rowing program allows the unique individuals on your team to feel valued for who they are and feel a sense of belonging. If athletes feel safe, they can focus on rowing. Focusing on rowing means they can improve their technique, enjoy their teammates, and reap the vast rewards of this sport. 

• Education and Resources 
• The Launch 
• Unity Partners 
• Communication Toolkit  

Don't see what you're looking for? Please contact community@usrowing.org to share what would be helpful to you. 

We encourage all rowing organizations to consider how their programs can be more inclusive. This will lead to more retention, more focused athletes, and, ultimately, better outcomes for all.  

An inclusive program has everything to do with the culture of your boathouse. Is it positive? Is it welcoming? Do people feel heard? Do they feel like they can bring their whole selves? Can they focus on rowing and not their personal identity? 

Visit The Launch and start with “Nine Things to Know about DEI at USRowing” and “Opening the Boathouse Doors”. 

Coaches can take advantage of the inclusion and safety trainings and resources in The Launch. In addition, they can take the free Adaptive Coaching Certification, get USRowing-certified, and join educational opportunities with our Unity Partners like healing-centered coach training with the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport. 

Please review the adaptive and Freedom Rows program pages. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to community@usrowing.org to learn more. 

Funders love to support efforts that make valuable opportunities available to those who normally may not have that opportunity! Rowing, and sport in general, are considered an incredible way for athletes to build confidence, set and achieve goals, work hard, learn teamwork, and more. Telling your story and inviting people to support the work is an incredible skill to learn – and it can positively affect your program and its bottom line.  

We offer a fundraising course via The Launch. 

Any coach knows that when an athlete is distracted, they cannot fix their finish or catch, stay in sync with their pair partner, or gain that extra inch. If an athlete is distracted – thinking about being the “only” [person of color, trans athlete, person with disability, older athlete] on the team, thinking about who may say the next microaggression, how their hair makes someone else feel, or if they can afford next season – they cannot focus on rowing. 

Simply put, if athletes feel safe, they can focus on rowing. The benefits of an inclusive rowing program affect the unique individuals on your team. If athletes feel valued for who they are and where they come from, have a sense of belonging, and can be their authentic selves, they can focus on their technique, speed, teammates, and reaping the vast rewards of this sport. 

No matter when you start this learning experience, it is never over. Like any coachable athlete, you will be patient with yourself and those around you, trust the process, and keep in mind that you are not alone.  

Check out our Get Started page to take some initial steps. 

You may be eligible to get funding for the next step in your coaching development journey. Please learn more about the coaching scholarships we offer here.  

Please complete this form to become a mentor or mentee for United We Row or through The Launch. The application should take 5-10 minutes to complete. 

Please review the adaptive and Freedom Rows program pages. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to community@usrowing.org to learn more. 

It is our goal to retain and advance incredible, positive coaches who put their athlete safety above all – and make boats go fast! For general coaching opportunities, we recommend visiting our careers page here or Row2K.com for listings. 

Please check out our Pathways page for information on the experience required for coaching with the National Team and how to get support.