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Great Valley Community Organization

Spring Program (February-May)

Great Valley Crew launches from the John S. Trinsey Jr. Memorial Boathouse which is part of the Upper Merion John S. Trinsey Jr. Memorial Boathouse Township Park. The boathouse is located on the Schuylkill River in Bridgeport, just past the King of Prussia Mall.

Spring Season

Spring is our Scholastic Competitive Rowing Season. All rowers must be Great Valley High School and Middle School students in grades 8 to 12. We will row competitively in regattas against other high schools from all over the state, region and beyond. Regattas will take place in Philadelphia, Upper Merion, New Jersey and Delaware. We will end the season in Philly at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, which is the largest high school regatta in the world!

We have no transportation to and from practices nor regattas.Parents have a voluntary carpool you can join but must participate as a driver in order to guarantee weekday rides to practice. Athletes and Parents to be need to be committed to practices and regattas. Rowing is unique in that we are in boats and the boat cannot go out onto the water unless every seat is filled. One person missing practice can force 7 kids to remain on land and miss out on water training.

Registration/Uniforms

Registration for the Spring season begins in January on the GVCO website. Uniforms are an extra cost.

Fundraising and Volunteering

Fundraising is must in all sports, and Crew is no exception. We may even have some of the largest equipment costs in all of sports. We need and expect your participation in our fundraising events to keep the costs down and make this a successful program for our kids.

Volunteering is a must, whether it's a fundraiser, donation, a Friday or Saturday night pasta or pizza dinner, regatta food or transportation. In the end it’s part of the fun and connection that is what makes crew so amazing for kids and parents alike.

General Spring Schedule

  • SEASON: Mid-February to mid-May
  • PRACTICES: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school, Saturday 10am-1pm
  • Tentative Regattas - Navy Day Regatta, Head of the Schuylkill, Head of the Christina, Frostbite and Bill Braxton Memorial


What to Bring/Wear:

Sessions will be rain or shine. Rowers should be prepared for wet, cold and sunny and hot conditions. That means layers, hats and sunglasses when appropriate. Unless the coach deems water conditions unsafe due to heavy flow and debris, we will row in the rain. All participants should come ready to work out, with close-fitting leggings that allow a full range of motion. Stretch pants or compression shorts are ideal, blue jeans and basketball shorts are not. Please do not bring cell phones or jewelry on the water.

Bring a non-disposable water bottle for use in the boat every day. Please pack a snack for before practice. On hot and sunny days, wear sunscreen and a hat for protection. On cold rainy days, rowers should have a pullover waterproof jacket.