“Our experience with the junior team has been great. The coaches focus on building the individual and the team and they are so knowledgeable and good at coaching! The kids love the community -- they have a blast!”

SR, parent

Youth Uniforms

Junior rowers and coxswains are required to wear a team unisuit for competition, and many also wear them for practice. The Club provides a team unisuit and splash jacket to all new Junior rowers. 

Additional required clothing

• Long spandex pants,

• Long sleeve tech shirt (tight-fitting, quick-dry)

• Hat (beanie or baseball style). Available from JL with team logo, but may be purchased elsewhere.

• Socks, water, or regular

• Coxswains

  • wetsuit

Optional team gear is available online from JLRacing which opens for about two weeks at the beginning of each season. Our uniform coordinator will let you know the dates.  Orders can take 4 to 8 weeks to ship. 

More optional team gear, including parent gear, is available from Sew Sporty team name: Vashon Island, password: Vashonrowing (case sensitive). Items ordered from the Sew Sporty Team Store will be shipped directly to you. The store is always open.

A limited amount of loaner gear (splash jackets, uni suits, and other misc. clothing) is available for novices or others in need of uniform pieces.  There is no cost to borrowing these items. Contact the Parent Coordinator.

 Parent Participation

The success of the VIRC junior program relies on the volunteer efforts by parents. The many tasks not only guarantee the smooth running of the program but also give families the opportunity to get to know each other and bond over common experiences and achievements. And it’s fun!

The key contribution parents make is to attend and assist at regattas. These weekend events require help organizing and preparing meals as well as loading and unloading the boat trailer.

 SafeSport Training

USRowing recommends that parents take a free 15-minute online course called “Parents Guide to Misconduct in Sports,” administered by the U.S. Center for SafeSport as part of a much larger program to build a sport community where participants can work and learn together free of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and misconduct. More information here.

Some Ways Parents Can Help 

• Organize carpools to/from practices & regattas.

• Oversee registration & budgets

• Organize information meetings for new/returning parents each season

• Make travel, lodging & dining arrangements for out of state competition

• Manage Lost & Found items at the boathouse

• Coordinate loaner clothing & purchase distribute team uniforms/gear

• Fundraising

• Represent Junior Crew on the VIRC Board of Directors (2 positions)