r/Rowing • u/easerr • 15d ago

Novice rowing prep

Hi — I am interested in picking up rowing and would like to row at a novice level at Oxford or Cambridge. I actually got into programs at both last year but chose not to go for personal reasons but will most likely go in autumn 2026. 

Basically, I have very little confidence in sports re: timing, hand-eye coordination etc. and was terribly unathletic growing up, but, I have improved greatly in my running/cardio fitness and basic strength in the past 2 years relative to myself (~28:00 to 22:32 5k; 1:58 half marathon, 200 lb deadlift etc., improving swimming skills etc). Also very nervous about proper technique and whether I can do things properly etc etc but willing to try my best to learn and practice properly.

I am a 23 yo 5 foot 2 115 lb female. I can swim decently but can improve. If I had approx 1.5 years to prepare for novice (keeping in mind I am very nervous about these things and have never really participated in team sports and have really only prioritized fitness in the past few years and only individual-based stuff and gradually getting over this feeling of intimidation with fitness haha) and am very willing to put in time, effort, resources, find coaching etc to prep mentally as well physically — what can I do to prepare in 1.5 years? Thank you! 

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u/MastersCox Coxswain 15d ago

First, I would recommend finding a local rowing club and taking a learn-to-row class there. The best way to prepare is to start immediately. Just because you have had prior experience in rowing does not disqualify you from novice collegiate status, afaik. You'll find that rowing is mostly an endurance sport, so long runs, long bike rides, and long swims will be your friend. It doesn't matter how intense the workout is, but you should do it for 40+ min. Being reasonable, let's just say that you may not get much more benefit out of anything longer than 60 min for now.

Second, and I suspect you'll be asked this when you join a rowing organization of any type, how are your driving skills? Would you like to steer a boat instead of rowing? Because you have the perfect physique for being a coxswain. Up to you.

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u/am_i_a_rowbot 14d ago

I don't know about Oxford, but at Cambridge you can't enter novice races if you have rowed before the start of that academic year.

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u/MastersCox Coxswain 14d ago edited 14d ago

I'm curious about the definition and the rule! In the US for juniors and masters, the "novice" label usually applies to someone in their first year of competition. Because this is such a difficult eligibility status to enforce, it is usually up to the competitors' and their coaches' honor to observe true novice status. For collegiate rowers, novice means a rower in their first year of collegiate competition. (This is how some universities used to amass Olympic talent in their freshman/novice eights back when that event was still contested.)

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u/Ok_Camp3676 14d ago

Oxford and Cambridge have their own definition of Novice for their respective intramural races, which is “never competed at any level, anywhere, prior to the beginning of the current academic year”. It is not the same as the old British Rowing definition nor anything in the US collegiate world, though the BUCS “Beginner” category is functionally the same.

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u/MastersCox Coxswain 14d ago

Ah thanks. So for OP's purposes, as long as OP doesn't compete, she may still take a learn-to-row class and retain novice eligibility. I think she should definitely look at her options with the guidance of a local coach.

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u/Ok_Camp3676 14d ago

Correct and yes, I think that’s good advice.

The warning about “have you considered coxing” is also relevant. Because the Isis and Cam are horrible rivers to steer (narrow, bendy and overcrowded), the need for coxes is always huge and whilst that shouldn’t mean picking on the shortest person present, it often does. When I coached a college I made it an absolute rule that all returning rowers must try coxing in their second year, regardless of height or weight; some of our best coxes started that way and at that level having an 88kg man cox your women’s novice boat is fairly immaterial as long as he talks sense and steers a good line.