Spring 2021 Season Registration

SPRING 2021 SEASON DETAILS

We are very excited to have a plan and are moving forward with getting back on the water and competing in a limited capacity this spring. It’s hard to believe that it has been since Nov. 2019 that we have had our team boats out on the water. It will be good to be back! We have worked with the Mercy Athletic Director, Mr. Anthony Yandek, as well as utilized guidance from USRowing, NYSSRA and the local rowing community on a resumption plan for the spring – one where the health and safety of our girls are in the forefront. We will also be aligning our plan for the rowing season with those of the other local and regional teams.

REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN WED. MAR 17 – WED. MAR. 31

THE SPRING SEASON WILL RUN FROM TUES. APRIL 6 – FRI. MAY 28 (tentative)
PRACTICE WILL BE FROM 4:00PM-6:00PM (M, T, TH & F) AT THE GWC BOATHOUSE
(or as necessary due to weather/ conditions at the MERCY CREW ERG CENTER on Monroe Ave.)
Although NYSPHSAA has approved April 19^th as the official Spring sports start date, because Crew is not a Section V sport under the NYSPHAA, we have requested and have been given permission by the Mercy AD to begin our spring practices on Tuesday, April 6. This is the first day back after Spring Break.

• STAY TUNED as we will be scheduling a Pre-Season Parent & Athlete Virtual Meeting to go over the details of the season and answer any questions.
• NOTE:  If your availability has changed and you won’t be participating in spring crew, we ask that you please email the coaches at allcoaches@mercycrew.org so that we can plan accordingly.

SOME CHANGES/ INFO FOR SPRING SEASON:

• With Coach Liz’s retirement during the past year, we are thrilled to announce that Coach Mark Salzler will be rejoining us for the Spring season to assist along with Head Coach Casey Clark and Coach Anna-Marie Unger. Coach Mark had been a coach with Mercy Crew for many years, most recently as Head Novice Coach (prior to Coach Liz) before retiring in 2018 and has generously agreed to come to help out from time to time as needed since.
• USRowing recommends rowing in pods, i.e. pick a line up and stick with the lineup for season. Varsity and Novice boats will be created based on erg scores. Once a boat is created, it will be set for the season.  If a rower is unable to attend a practice substitutions will not take place and the entire boat will not be able to row! 
• Because boat lineups are assigned, rowers and parents need to be aware how critical every rower’s attendance is.
• We received news from Mercy AD, Anthony Yandek, that we WILL be able to carpool from Mercy as long as the carpools are assigned as a boat.  This is not a perfect solution, but it’s a great compromise. We ask that members of each boat make their own necessary arrangements as we will not be coordinating a team carpool as had been done during past normal seasons.
• It is preferable and highly encouraged that we train 5 days/wk, Monday-Friday, but understand that transportation could be a challenge for non-in person school days. If 5 days is not an option for the team as a whole…training will take place 4 days/wk on Mondays, Tuesdays Thursdays & Fridays. There is a selection on the registration form, please select what you are able to commit to.
• Mask mandate guidance:
  • Masks are required while carpooling, in the boat house and on the dock.
  • If the Monroe County 7-day rolling average is below 2% – row in 8’s without masks.
  • If the Monroe County 7-day rolling average is between 2%-5% – row in 8’s with masks.
  • If the Monroe County 7-day rolling average is above 5% – no team boats.
• We may use the Mercy Erg Training Center periodically on days where the weather is not suitable for going out on the water. We will notify athletes and parents prior to noon on days where that is necessary.
• All new novice participants will be required to take a swim test at the Bay View YMCA prior to being on water. We will be trying to arrange a day, likely a Sunday, where this can be done in a group all at once.
• Mercy Crew will follow all health and safety guidelines set forth by the CDC and USRowing.
• Regatta/ Racing Opportunities (thus far):
  • John Bennett Regatta, Buffalo, NY – Sunday, May 2
  • NYSSRA Spring Invitational Regatta, Saratoga Springs, NY – Sunday, May 23 
    • Will not be the formal State Championship we all have come to know.
    • None of the details are set in stone, and everything is dependent on the obtaining of permits and permissions from all the local and state authorities.
    • All boy’s racing will take place on Saturday, May 22 and all girl’s racing will take place on Sunday, May 23.
    • Varsity and Freshman boats only – no Novice nor Lightweight events to be held.
    • Are likely to add events for 3V and 4V crews into which teams can place crews as they see fit to get as many of their athletes race opportunities as possible. Planned format is to have heats leading to a Grand Final with B & C finals being unlikely at this time.
    • Will be held without spectators with only competitors, coaches and support staff being allowed on the regatta premises. Actively looking into providing drone and other coverage to be able to livestream all racing for spectators to be able to watch from the comfort of their hotel rooms or a comfortable restaurant in downtown Saratoga.
    • No food tents or vendors will be at the regatta and all the trailers will be spread out on the premises to maintain as much distance as possible between teams.
  • Baldwinsville Scrimmage, GWC, Rochester, NY – Date TBD
  • Various Scrimmages with other local high school crew teams – Dates & Locations TBD
• Hospitality – We will not be offering our traditional Hospitality tent with food & meals this season due to COVID health & safety protocols. Instead we will be putting together food recommendation lists and asking that athletes bring their own pre/post race snacks and meals.

COVID Protocols for Spring Crew
To help ensure the health and safety of our team, certain protocols will need to be followed for the fall strength and conditioning training sessions. These protocols include the following:

• Only girls who completed their due diligence about their health at the start of the school day and who participated in a full day of classes will be allowed to participate.
• Girls shall wear masks while going to and leaving practice.
• Snacks, water, any personal equipment will be provided by the individual and nothing will be shared.
• Equipment will be wiped down and sanitized between uses and at the end of each practice.
• Masks are required while carpooling, in the boat house and on the dock.
• If the Monroe County 7-day rolling average is below 2% – row in 8’s without masks.
• If the Monroe County 7-day rolling average is between 2%-5% – row in 8’s with masks.
• If the Monroe County 7-day rolling average is above 5% – no team boats.
• Parents are expected to pick up their daughters after practice on time and immediately leave the grounds; they are not permitted to leave their cars.

TO COMPLETE MERCY CREW REGISTRATION for the SPRING 2021 SEASON:

1. Complete MERCY CREW ONLINE REGISTRATION (scroll below) – DEADLINE is Wed. March 31
2. Submit the following to the SCHOOL NURSE’S OFFICE – CAN ONLY BE SUBMITTED Mon. Mar. 15 – Fri. Mar. 26 (otherwise will be invalid)
   • MERCY ATHLETICS MEDICAL RE-CERTIFICATION FORM
   • MERCY HEALTH APPRAISAL FORM 
     • You will not need to submit a new form if the Health Form you currently have on file in the Mercy Health Office is up to date (i.e. no more than one year old)
   • Go to Mercy Health Appraisal & Parent Recertification webpage for further info.
3. Complete USROWING WAIVER and Verify/Register/Renew a BASIC USROWING MEMBERSHIP (Cost $9.75/yr) – Due Tuesday, April 6
   • Go to US Rowing Membership & Waivers webpage for detailed instructions.
   • All current rowers should verify that their USRowing Membership has not expired since the previous season. If so, the current USRowing Membership will need to be renewed prior to beginning practices on the water to maintain USRowing insurance coverage.
   • Rowers who rowed in the recent Fall season will likely only need to complete the USRowing Waiver because the USRowing Membership should be current.
   • Rowers who started rowing with Mercy Crew in a previous Spring season will likely need to renew their USRowing Memberships & complete the USRowing Waivers.
   • New rowers to the team this season will need to register for a NEW USRowing Membership & complete the USRowing Waiver.
   • Waivers are valid for one full calendar year, Jan 1 – Dec. 31.
4. FOR NEW NOVICE ONLY:  Complete SWIM TEST on Saturday, April 10, 12:45pm at Bay View YMCA
   • Go to Swim Test for New Novice webpage for more information.
   • Must be completed prior to on the water practices in the boats.
   • A group swim test date will be arranged at the Bay View YMCA on an upcoming Sunday.
5. PRINT & COMPLETE the following and BRING TO THE FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE – Due Tues. April 6
   • Mercy Crew COVID-19 Waiver
   • Click to read the Mercy Athletics Student-Athlete Handbook.
   • Complete & sign the Mercy Athletics Handbook Athlete/ Parent Consent Form found on the last page of the handbook or by clicking the link above.
6. Mail SPRING REGISTRATION PAYMENT to Mercy Crew Treasurer – Due Friday, April 16