No. In fact, almost all of the rowers trying out for the Novice Squad will have no rowing experience. Kate MacKenzie, a Michigan alumna who rowed for the United States in the 2004 Olympics, learned to row as a novice for the Michigan squad, as did Ellen Tomek, a 2008 Olympian rowing for the United States in Beijing last summer. We are looking for good athletes who we can teach to become good rowers. Many of our top rowers are former basketball or volleyball players, swimmers, and runners. Rowing is a sport that requires strength and endurance.

The first step of the tryout is to fill out a questionnaire. The second step is to attend one of the informational meetings, either the meeting on September 4th or the meeting on September 8th. Tryouts begin September 9th and last for a week and a half. During the tryout we will teach you how to row on indoor rowing machines and do some physiological testing to ascertain your potential as a rower.

The best thing to do is to get into the best shape you can by September. Running or any other cardiovascular training as well as weight training will help you prepare.

You need to have a note from a doctor saying that you are healthy enough to try out for the Michigan Rowing Team. You can have your doctor sign the Physician Consent Form linked to our website, or you can make an appointment at the Univeristy Health Service when you arrive on campus.

Height is an advantage in rowing. Long limbs lead to a long stroke, which is more efficient than a short stroke. But probably more important than height are strength and endurance.

Michigan Rowers excel not only on the water, but also in the classroom. Our student-athletes often are recognized for their academic and athletic success. In 2007, for example, 14 Michigan Rowers were named to the Big Ten Academic All-Conference Team, 3 Michigan Rowers were named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar Athletes, and 33 Michigan Rowers were honored for by the University of Michigan Athletic Department with Academic Achievement Awards. All students who try out for and who row on the team must be undergraduates registered for 12 credit hours and must have started college as a full-time student in the past five years.

Michigan's student-athletes are provided with the best support possible. Academic support at Michigan is second to none. Each sport is assigned an academic advisor who assists that team's student-athletes in academic issues ranging from developing strategies for academic success to selecting courses. Student-athletes can arrange to have a tutor for any course, free of charge. In addition, Michigan's Athletic Department has a career development program for its student-athletes. Summer internships for Wolverine student-athletes as well as job opportunities are two of the primary goals of this program. All student-athletes also receive excellent medical care. Medical support includes a full-time trainer who works with the rowing team, one or more student trainers, medical doctors, and first-rate rehabilitation facilities.

Generally, we practice Monday through Friday within the 3:30 - 6:30 pm window. In addition, there may be a couple of morning workouts each week. Since members of the Novice Squad already are in class in the fall when they try out for and make the team, some flexibility is permitted around class conflicts. More details on the practice schedule will be announced at the informational meetings and during tryouts.

The racing season for NCAA rowing is in the fall as well as in the spring. The Novice Squad may not travel to all of the Varsity races in the fall, and the Novice Squad has novice-only races (for example, this fall against Michigan State and Eastern Michigan) at which the Varsity Squad does not race. But many members of the Novice Squad attend the winter and spring training trips in Tampa, Florida (during part of the break between fall and winter term and during spring break), and novices race at all varsity races, including Big Ten and Regional Championship events, in the spring.

No. Women's Rowing at Michigan is a fully-funded NCAA sport. As a student-athlete affiliated with a varsity team, you will have access to athletic trainers, academic advisors, tutors, and athletic facilities at no charge to you. You also will be issued gear in which to train and to compete at no charge, and all transportation, lodging, and meals when the team travels are covered by the Athletic Department.

Look for Michigan Rowing at the University of Michigan's MAIZE CRAZE on September 4 at Palmer Field, 4:00 - 6:30 pm