Learn to Scull Program
Sculling is taught in small group sessions scheduled between volunteer coaches and participants. Weather conditions are a key determinant of when sculling can safely be taught to beginners. It generally takes 4-8 sessions to learn club policies, procedures and safety, learn how to safely and effectively handle sculling equipment, maneuver during docking and rowing, successfully complete a self-rescue in the water, and take a coxing theory clinic.
Once new scullers have been certified, they are encouraged to practice on the lake or other safe setting with a sculling partner. First year scullers may also row in a double or quad on the river with more experienced, certified members in the bow. Following club guidelines of required experience and training, scullers may request additional certification for river and bow seat in a double and quad. Enrollment in Learn to Scull is first come, first served.
Learn more about our Sculling Certification below. Contact our Sculling Coordinator to get involved.
Certification Levels (last updated March, 2026)
| Level | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| LTS | Learn to Scull | Actively working towards certification. LTS-A: early beginner LTS-B: making progress towards certification LTS-C: ready or nearly ready for testing Sculling instruction to occur on warm days with winds <10 mph. The first sculling session for a beginning sculler who has never rowed before should be taught 1:1 (either two singles, or a double). |
| 1 | Beginner | At Easter Lake: Permitted to row trainer 1X anywhere on the lake, with a buddy. Also permitted to row in a 2x or 4x, but not in bow seat. At the River: permitted to row trainer 1x on the stretch of river between Cap’n Roy’s and the 2nd Avenue bridge, with a buddy. Also permitted to row in 2X or 4X on the full length of the river, but not in bow. |
| 2 | Intermediate | At Easter Lake: can row racing 1x. Can go out without a buddy in light wind after demonstrating the ability to carry a boat solo. Also permitted to row bow in a 2X with experienced rower in stroke. Permitted to row in 4x but not in bow. At the River: Permitted to row trainer 1X on the full length of the river with a buddy. Also permitted to row in 2X or 4X on the full length of the river, but not in bow. May bow cox a 2X on the river under close supervision (or with expert in stern) in mild conditions. |
| 3 | Bow Cox Beginner | May bow cox 2X on the lake or river under close supervision (or with expert in stern) in mild conditions. |
| 4 | Bow Cox Intermediate | Lake or River: Permitted to bow cox 2X regardless of crew mate. |
| 5 | Bow Cox Advanced | Lake or River: Permitted to bow cox a 4X. (see 4X note below) |
| T1 | Trainer – Beginners | Permitted to train beginners |
| T2 | Trainer – Experts | Permitted to train 2X and 4X bow coxes |
Coaching Caveat: a coach able to maintain close supervision from a motorized launch has the discretion to waive Certification Level requirements.
1X Solo Guideline: it is recommended that nobody row a 1X solo except in conditions that are very comfortable for the sculler. Also, scullers should demonstrate to an experienced other member that they can comfortably carry a boat single-handedly before attempting to do so alone. Carrying a 1X solo should not be attempted in anything more than mild wind (<8mph) unless the sculler is quite experienced at doing so.
4X Guideline: except in unusually mild conditions, coxswains of 4X’s are strongly encouraged to have a combined 10 years sculling experience in the boat.
Level 1 Certification Checklist
Policies
- Membership paid and waivers signed
- How to reserve & check out boats in both iCrew and log book
- How to access boathouse & turn off alarm (at River)
Safety
- Understands acceptable wind level (< 11 mph), thunder (> 30 mins since last), and temperature (air + water > 100 degrees), and water flow at the River.
- Demonstrates or attests to swimming proficiency
- Understands traffic pattern (“Right-hand rule”)
- Can get back into boat after capsizing (tests optionally performed at Easter Lake)
- Wears high visibility clothing
- Knows not to go under Easter Lake bridge
Equipment Usage
- Takes a boat out properly
- Works with a buddy until approved to lift boats solo
- Puts boat in slings – careful not to bump other objects or to set the boat on the fin (“skeg”)
- Removes foamies
- Checks for damage, close hatches
- Adjusts foot stretchers (generally, as far back as possible without bumping)
- Carries oars, blade first, to the dock
- Brings boat down, bow ball facing away from boathouse (at Easter)/ upstream (at River), being careful not to bump the boat
- Puts dockside oar in first, oarlock and curve of blade facing to stern with shorter edge of hatchet down
- Locks boathouse
- Keeps edge (“gunwale”) of boat off dock while stepping to strip
- Enters boat properly
- Controls blades with one hand
- Adjusts foot stretchers if needed
- Shoves off and, if necessary, pull in the inside oar to push
- Brings boat up properly
- Uses proper nomenclature for parts of boat (bow, stern, starboard, port, gunwale, foot stretcher, seat track)
- Can remove and replace seat (“the crack points back”)
Boat Control
- Grips blades properly, flat wrists, thumbs on ends of handles
- Launches and docks safely bow first and stern first, even with wind
- Looks over shoulder comfortably to check for hazards
- Can back the boat with ease
- Can spin in place
- Can hold a straight line for 500 meters
- Obeys “Right Hand Rule” traffic pattern
- Can sit at the catch with blades squared
- Can row a few strokes with square blades in calm conditions
- Navigates under and around a bridge.
- Hands wakes with poise
- Approaches dock at appropriate speed and angle relative to current and wind
- Doesn’t bump dock
- Can dock either by rowing (backwards) or backing (forwards)