New in 2026, Whitemarsh Boat Club is offering a U23/Collegiate Summer Program designed for college athletes, who row for their collegiate team, looking to stay sharp and competitive during the summer months. Whether you’re a local athlete or home from school for the summer, this program provides a high-level training environment to maintain fitness, refine technique, and continue developing race speed.

The U23 Summer Program focuses on technical precision, boat-moving efficiency, and race execution. Athletes will train in a structured, competitive setting aimed at preparing them for a successful return to their collegiate teams in the fall. The program utilizes a combination of land and water training sessions each week to develop technical fundamentals, physiology, functional strength, and to improve mobility, core stability, and balance. Athletes will also build key performance habits through fueling education, goal setting practices, and intentional race preparation.

The team will consist of a small group of collegiate rowers under the age of 23 through December 31 of the current year, creating a focused and competitive training group.

The summer season will run from June 1 to August 11 with weekday morning practices 6:30 to 8:00 am, designed to accommodate work and internship schedules. With opportunities to join Masters teams for evening and weekend Club Row practices.

Registration

To Register, please use this LINK

U23 Team Fee – $750* payable at registration

• Coaches will make regatta entries, however, athletes are responsible for entry and trailering fees as well as travel arrangements and accommodations.

Parent Policy

Communication
All program-related communication will go directly through the athletes. Athletes will be included on an official program email list and are responsible for checking email regularly and sharing relevant updates with parents or guardians.

Merit-Based Opportunity
Athletes earn their seat every day. Rowing is a meritocracy where effort, ownership, and consistent performance create opportunity. This structure places responsibility in the hands of the athlete, who will be held to clear standards and expected to work toward them throughout the summer.

Active Participation
Athletes are expected to take an active role in their development and overall experience. While coaches are responsible for providing a safe, transparent, and productive training environment, athletes are responsible for initiating communication if they have questions regarding training, performance, or selection.

Transparency
The program is designed to provide transparency in decision-making related to training, lineups, and racing. Coaches will communicate decisions based on cumulative data, observation, and athlete development, and athletes are expected to engage in that process constructively.

Membership

The U-23 membership is a collegiate membership with coaching.

Collegiate Membership 

• Collegiate Members are rowers who have not graduated from their undergraduate program, or are currently in full-time college school.
• This membership is for the summer season only.
• Club owned equipment is available for members at off-coached row times, with the exception of boats that have been designated as having “Restricted” access. Bowing WBC boats can only be done by members who have been bow certified by a WBC coach.
• Athletes can choose to join in Masters Coached Club Rows on a “last-in” basis
• Members are welcome to row during school breaks throughout the year following their paid summer membership.

 

For more information about athlete qualifications, scheduling, and program details, please contact Marie Leonard.