10 Reasons to Join a Rowing Club

You can row at home on an erg, but a club gives you the water, the boats and the people. Here are ten reasons to join one, followed by how to choose a club and what to expect when you start.

The ten reasons

1. Coaching. Rowing technique is hard to teach yourself, and a coach can fix habits early. A coach watches from the bank or a launch and sees what you cannot feel from the seat.
2. Access to boats and oars. Boats are expensive to buy, store and transport. A club shares that cost, so you can try a single, a double or a quad without owning any of them.
3. Safety. Clubs have safety rules, launches and people who know the water. You learn capsize drills and local hazards with support, which is far better than working it out alone.
4. Fitness for the whole body. Rowing works your legs, back, core and arms, and is low-impact. See what rowing does to your body.
5. Friends and community. Crews spend a lot of time together, and clubs are social. Many people stay for the people, and the post-row coffee or the clubhouse is part of the appeal.
6. Variety. Most clubs offer sculling, sweep, indoor training, and sometimes coastal rowing. Try different things before specialising. See sculling vs sweep rowing.
7. Racing, if you want it. Clubs enter regattas and head races at all levels, and novice events are common. You can also row purely for fitness.
8. Motivation. Fixed sessions with other people make it easier to turn up, especially on cold mornings.
9. Learning team skills. In a crew, you learn to match rhythm with others, listen to a cox and take turns. These carry over into the rest of life.
10. Time outdoors. Early mornings on a quiet river are a good reward for the effort, and rowing shows you stretches of water you would never see from the bank.

What to expect as a beginner

Most clubs start new members with a learn-to-row course, often several weeks long. The first sessions are usually on an erg or in a stable training boat, with a coach, and you learn to carry and launch the boat, sit in it, hold the oar and take short strokes. You will almost certainly catch a crab at some point; see catching a crab. Expect sore hands and tired legs at first, and wear sensible, close-fitting kit. Our guide to what you need to know before getting in a rowing boat goes through the first session.

After the course, you might join novice crews, a social group, a masters squad or a competitive squad. Most clubs have more than one route, so you can choose how much time and effort you want to give.

How to choose a club

• Visit and ask about learn-to-row courses.
• Check the cost, including membership and boat fees, and the session times. Compare how the fees are structured.
• Ask about coaching, safety and the types of rowing offered.
• Check the water: is it a sheltered river, a lake or a tidal stretch? Beginners are usually better on sheltered water.
• Ask about equipment, changing rooms, parking and showers.
• See if you feel welcome. Use our rowing clubs in the UK page if you are in Britain, or browse the clubs hub for other countries.

Things to be aware of

Joining a club takes time, and early starts are common. Clubs rely on volunteers, so you may be asked to help with boat handling, events or committee roles. Some clubs have waiting lists or limited places on their courses. If your first club does not suit you, try another, since atmosphere varies.

Getting started

Most clubs are happy to take beginners, and some will offer a trial. Build confidence on an erg first if you like; see our first month on the erg. Read the best things about rowing clubs for more.