This section is meant to provide general questions and answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to call a coach to ask about Simmons Crew. We look forward to hearing from you!
Q: I’ve never rowed before. Will you teach
me?
A: Yes! Anyone can learn to row. Each fall, we train a new group
of freshmen that have never done crew before (novices) into
nationally competitive collegiate rowers. Our athletes come from
all sports backgrounds—basketball, volleyball, track and
field, swimming and field sports—and some have never even
played a sport before. You are limited only by your enthusiasm and
willingness to work hard!
Q: What is a coxswain?
A: A coxswain—pronounced “cox-en”—or cox,
shortened, is an athlete of smaller stature who is the eyes, ears
and voice of a crew. With her voice amplified throughout the length
of the shell, she serves as communication between her crew and
coaches, race officials, river traffic, and ensures the safety of
crew and equipment by mastering good steering techniques. Check out
this video by NBC Sports for more information.
Q: I heard that only really tall people are good at
rowing. Is that true?
A: We have crew athletes of all sizes at Simmons. Check out the
range of heights on our online roster. Don’t limit yourself
because of your size. Anyone can make an impact as a member of
Simmons Crew.
Q: What about my class schedule?
A: Most novice rowers come to school in the fall without planning
to row, and therefore don’t have a set time for practice
blocked off in their schedules. In the fall, novice practice will
be scheduled with athletes’ classes taken into account.
Usually this means that practice is held in the afternoon during
the week, and in the morning on weekends.
Q: How do I get in touch with the coach?
A: Head Coach Nik Kurmakov can be reached by email or
by phone 617-521-1041.