Winter Programme

For Year 8 - 11 School Rowers

Ready to level up your rowing over Winter?

The ARC Winter Programme is a structured, high-quality winter development pathway for school rowers in Years 8–11, designed to build technical skill, physical capacity and personal responsibility in a senior club environment.

Delivered by fully accredited coaches and based out of ARC’s premier facilities, the programme focuses on technical excellence, athlete responsibility, and long-term development rather than short-term results.

Who is the Winter Programme for?

The ARC Winter Programme is ideal for rowers and coxswains in Years 8 to 11 who:

Want for a fun and inclusive way to continue their development over the winter break.
Looking for exposure to new people & experiences, including different rowing disciplines, small boats and a senior club environment.
Are ready to take greater ownership of their rowing journey.

The programme is structured into separate Year 8/9 & Year 10/11 streams to ensure age-appropriate programme delivery with your peers! Regardless of year level, this program offers a fantastic opportunity for school rowers to stay connected to the sport, train with like-minded athletes from other schools, and get insights into what club rowing is like after Head of the River.

Importantly, the ARC Winter Programme is not designed simply to provide a head start for the next school season or to get your foot in our door as a future club member. The programme prioritises enjoyment & connection to the sport first and foremost — our goal is to foster a genuine love of rowing that sustains athletes well beyond a single season or outcome.

Winter is where better rowers & coxswains are built.

Why train with a senior Club?

Training with a senior rowing club provides experiences that differ meaningfully from school rowing environments, while reinforcing the broader life skills and values that rowing uniquely develops.

Rowing is a sport that rewards commitment, consistency and teamwork. Athletes learn to set goals, manage time, work through setbacks and contribute to something larger than themselves — lessons that extend well beyond the boat and into school, work and life.

A Different Development Philosophy

At ARC, athletes are encouraged to:

Take responsibility for their preparation and equipment
Be organised, punctual and self-managed
Learn through feedback and repetition rather than constant instruction

There is no spoon-feeding — athletes are supported, but expected to take charge of their own development. This approach builds independence and confidence, helping athletes understand that progress comes from ownership and effort.

Building Independence, Resilience & Team Skills

Through training and racing, rowers & coxswains learn to:

Adapt to different crews, personalities and boat classes
Communicate effectively and work constructively within a team
Manage training alongside school, family and other commitments
Persist through challenges and respond positively to feedback

These experiences develop resilience, problem-solving ability and emotional maturity — qualities that benefit athletes long after their rowing careers.

Pathway Awareness

Rowing is a lifelong sport - it doesn't stop at Head of the River. And our programme is deliberately designed to show this.

Through exposure to varied boat classes, shared facilities and a broader rowing community, athletes begin to see rowing not just as a school sport, but as an activity they can return to, grow with and enjoy long-term.

By training in a senior club environment, athletes experience rowing as something that can remain part of their lives for decades — whether for competition, fitness, connection or enjoyment.

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Why train with ARC?

Adelaide Rowing Club has over 13 years of proven experience delivering successful winter development programmes for school-aged rowers. We pioneered the winter programme model for school rowers in South Australia, establishing a clear pathway for athletes and coxswains to continue training outside of the traditional school season.

While our programme has a long history, our approach is continually evolving — refreshed regularly to reflect modern coaching practice & athlete wellbeing principles.

All sessions are delivered by experienced, passionate & fully accredited coaches
Training plans are structured, progressive and age-appropriate, and sessions are adapted based on conditions and athlete readiness.
Athlete safety & sustainable development are central to programme delivery.
We recognise the realities of demanding school time-tables, keeping perspective that rowing is likely to be just one of many commitments to be juggled.

Our Winter programme approach is simple - we focus on enjoying the process rather than chasing outcomes. For younger athletes, this creates an environment where high standards, strong habits and proven pathways are visible and tangible — without placing excessive pressure or expectation on performance outcomes.

We know that there might be cheaper options out there that will get you in a boat over winter. We are committed to delivering a great experience for every participant with long-term benefits - and having awesome coaches is key to this. This is why 85% of the programme fee is directed towards recognising the expertise and commitment of our coaches through coaching development & recognition.

Ambition. Respect. Camaraderie.

Train. Race. Belong.

Year 8 & 9 Rowers

12-week programme
- Starting Sunday 31st May through to Sunday 23rd August
Weekly Programme:
- Two on-water sessions each week at the Torrens
  - 9 - 11am Sunday mornings
  - 4:30 to 6:30 pm Wednesday evenings
A sculling-focussed programme primarily in coxed quad sculls, but with an introduction to sweep rowing
Places limited to 20 rowers & 5 coxswains (male/female combined)
$450 per rower; $300 per coxswain
- Includes all equipment, coaching and a free ARC T-shirt
- 50% rebate on 2026-26 membership fees (for new membership applications only)
- 50% discount on winter program fee for existing ARC 'Active' members
Registrations open Monday 2 March

Year 8 / 9 Rower Registration

Year 8 / 9 Cox Registration

Year 10 & 11 Rowers

12-week programme
- Starting Sunday 31st May through to Sunday 23rd August
Weekly programme:
- Two core on-water sessions each week at West Lakes
  - 9 - 11am Sunday mornings
  - 5:30 to 7:30 am Tuesday mornings
  - Sweep-focussed programme, primarily in eights and fours with some exposure to small boats & coxless rowing.
- Three optional strength & conditioning / group ergo sessions
  - From 4:00 to 5:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
  - ARC Torrens Gym
Places limited to 36 rowers & 4 coxswains (male/female combined)
$550 per rower; $300 per coxswain
- Includes all equipment, coaching and a free ARC T-shirt
- 50% rebate on 2026-26 membership fees (for new membership applications only)
- 50% discount on winter program fee for existing ARC 'Active' members
Registrations open Monday 2 March

Year 10 / 11 Rower Registration

Year 10 / 11 Cox Registration

Coxswains

Coxswains are not an afterthought at ARC — they are recognised as performance leaders - the coaches in the boat - and are developed accordingly.

The ARC Winter Programme is ideal for coxswains who want to:

Move beyond simply steering the boat and start leading crews with confidence
Develop clear, effective calls that improve rhythm, focus and speed
Learn race craft, tactical awareness and decision-making under pressure
Build independence, presence and authority in a senior club environment

Coxswains will be challenged to think, adapt and communicate — not spoon-fed scripts or calls. They will work with experienced coaches, gain exposure to different crews and boat classes, and learn what it means to be calm, credible and composed on the water.

The focus is on enjoyment, confidence and long-term development — helping coxswains build a genuine love for their role and the skills that make them valuable at every level of the sport.

Year 8 / 9 Cox Registration

Year 10 / 11 Cox Registration