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.