Youth Rowing
Fall 2025
Building off our success at Youth Nationals this spring, LHRC looks to keep the boat moving (pun intended) by making fall 2025 our largest and fastest yet. Rowing is an amazing sport for youth athletes, as it rewards hard work and teamwork above all else. Our high school team travels around the northeast to race in the fall. Selected athletes will get to compete at the Head of the Charles, the largest regatta in the world! Recent grads are attending and rowing at Yale, Syracuse, URI, UConn, the University of Washington, Boston College, Marietta College, Holy Cross, and Brown.
Rowing is not a sport you need to start early; in fact, there are many Olympians who did not start rowing until college! LHRC has a competitive high school team as well as development-focused middle school programs as an early introduction to the fun of rowing. All programs will teach you the basics of rowing and give you an idea of the required training and skills while having fun messing around in boats!
LHRC is a nationally competitive club that seeks to ensure anyone who wants and puts in the work can have a seat in the boat. All our high school athletes race; no one sits on the bench.
Contact Coach Drew (director@litchfieldhillsrowing.org) if you have questions, or come watch practice from the coaching launch and see what we have going on!
Please read the program descriptions carefully.
ALL ATHLETES MUST BE USROWING MEMBERS! SIGN UP HERE! Club code is PPCCS. For a more detailed explanation of joining, see here.
If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please do not sign up for a program. Instead, start the financial aid application now.
High school programming is for athletes in the 9th - 12th grades. All experience levels are welcome, including new rowers.
Our programs run six days a week (Monday through Saturday) and teach both sculling and sweeping to help each athlete become a well-rounded oarsperson. Practices will be a mix of technique development, video breakdowns, and workouts on the water and land.
NEW! Parent Association fees are included in high school programming costs this fall. Learn more about our wonderful PA! Unlike in the past there will not be a second charge for the PA this season.
Regattas: High school athletes will race at a mixture of home and away regattas
Head of the Riverfront | Hartford, CT | October 5th
Head of the Housatonic | Derby, CT | October 12th
Head of the Charles (selected athletes only) | Boston, MA | October 17th - October 19th
Head of the Fish | Saratoga Springs, NY | October 24th - October 26th
Race fees are not included in program costs.
The 8th-grade racing team is for athletes in 8th grade who have completed Dev/Learn-to-Row, or who have been approved by Coach Drew. This program enhances the skills of our future high school athletes and prepares them to become the next champions of LHRC!
Regattas: Athletes on the 8th-grade racing team will have the opportunity to race at a mixture of home regattas and their first major fall regatta, the Head of the Fish.
Head of the Fish | Saratoga Springs, NY | October 24th - October 26th
* If selected by your Coaches.
Race fees are not included in program costs.
Middle school programs (Dev/Development) are for athletes entering 6th grade to 8th grade. All experience levels are welcome, especially new rowers. A fun introduction to rowing, the skills, verbiage, work ethic, and joy that comes from messing around in boats.
Reminder: If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please start the financial aid application now and do not sign up for a program via the links below.
PROGRAMS
ALL ATHLETES MUST BE USROWING MEMBERS! SIGN UP HERE! Club code is PPCCS. For a more detailed explanation of joining, see here.
High School Athletes
High School/ Varsity:
High school athletes (grades 9-12) of all experience levels are welcome, including first-year rowers (referred to as Novices in rowing). Athletes are expected at each regatta. Regatta fees are not included in the program price; each regatta will have a separate charge based on the cost to attend the regatta (roughly $30) and each athlete’s race entry fees.
Practice Schedule:
8/28 - 11/8
Monday - Saturday
3:45pm - 6:00pm (M-F)
9:30 am - 11:30am (Sat)
If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please start the financial aid application now.
If you are a Forman School athlete, please see below.
Forman School Athletes:
For Forman School athletes who’ve rowed with us before and do not need a racing uni & hat/visor, please sign up via the normal youth registration link (High School/ Varsity on Zeffy).
For new Forman athletes, or Forman athletes who need a racing uniform & hat/ visor, please sign up via the New Forman School Athlete option on Zeffy. This sign-up includes:
-Fall program fee
-Fall PA dues
-Racing uni
-Racing hat/ visor
Forman School will cover all racing and regatta fees for its athletes, so there will be no additional charge for racing at regattas. Families will still need to provide lodging for your athlete(s), which is not covered by Forman or LHRC.
Practice Schedule:
8/28 - 11/8
Monday - Saturday
3:45pm - 6:00pm (M-F)
9:30 am - 11:30am (Sat)
If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please start the financial aid application now.
High School 1 Week Learn-to-Row:
Athletes who are in or entering high school and want to give rowing a try before committing to a full season!
Practice Schedule:
9/2 - 9/6
Tuesday - Saturday
3:45pm - 6:00pm (T-F)
9:30am - 11:30am (Sat)
If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please start the financial aid application now.
8th Grade Racing Team
For athletes in 8th grade who have completed Dev/Learn-to-Row, or who have been approved by Coach Drew. This program enhances the skills of our future high school athletes and will prepare athletes to race at the Head of the Fish (10/24-10/26) for those ready for such a challenge. Regatta fees are not included in the program price; they are a separate charge based on the cost to attend the regatta (roughly $30) and each athlete’s individual race entry fees.
Practice Schedule
9/8 - 11/8
Monday / Wednesday / Friday *occasional Saturdays
3:45pm - 6:00pm
If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please start the financial aid application now.
Middle School Development Program
The Development Program is open to 6th, 7th & 8th-grade athletes and is the perfect way to discover the sport of rowing. Designed for beginners, this program focuses on learning rowing fundamentals through fun, team-oriented practices that also support personal growth and social-emotional learning. The Dev Team is a fun, challenging program to introduce our future champions to rowing. No prior experience is needed!
Practice Schedule:
9/8 - 10/8
Monday / Wednesday
4:00pm - 5:30pm
If you anticipate that you will apply for financial aid, please start the financial aid application now.
FREE Try-It-First Sessions
Want to learn more about rowing but not sure if you want to commit to a full program? Join us for our FREE learn to row sessions this fall to see what rowing is all about!
Region 20 Students:
Thursday, August 28th
1:30pm - 2:30pm, following the half day of school
Any interested youth athlete:
Saturday, September 6th
12:00pm - 1:00pm
All athletes must come to practice ready to train. Wear fitted athletic attire (no loose or baggy clothing) and bring a bag with dry clothes for after practice— this is a water sport, and you will get wet.
Essentials to pack:
A post-practice snack
Hat, sunglasses, and sunblock
At least 1 liter of water in a bottle (covered by a sock)
Note: LHRC does not have running water.
