J16 Development Programme

Information about GB Rowing Team J16 events including the GB v France Match

This page provides information on:

GB Rowing Team (GBRT) J16 Virtual Camp
J16 Coaches Meeting
GBRT J16 Crew Sculling Camp
GB v France J16 Match.

If you have any questions, please email Dan Cooper (U19 Programme Manager).

Key dates for 2026

Monday, 12 January – Sign up for GBRT J16 Virtual Camp open
Sunday 25 January – GBRT J16 Virtual Camp
Monday 16 February – Applications open for GBRT J16 Crew Sculling Camp
Monday, 9 March – J16 Coaches Meeting
Saturday, 28 to Monday, 30 April – GBRT J16 Crew Sculling Camp (NWSC, Nottingham)
Sunday, 21 June – Entries close for GBRT J16 trial for the GB v France J16 Match
Sunday, 28 June – GBRT J16 trials for the GB v France J16 Match (NWSC, Nottingham)
TBC – GB v France J16 Match (France).

GBRT J16 Virtual Camp

Due to the success of the GBRT J16 Virtual Camps that have been run since 2021, we have made the decision to run it again in 2026. This year it will take place on Sunday, 25 January between 2pm and 6pm and will once again be open to all J16 athletes and their coaches across Great Britain.

We believe that the learning that comes from attending this activity could be an important step in many young athletes development. Therefore, we want to make sure that this provision continues to be available to as many of the athletes that aspire to trial for the GB Rowing U19 Team in the future. We hope coaches will promote this event through junior sections and encourage the athletes to engage with this opportunity.

Registration

There is no cost to attend, but to access the educational materials (found on RowHow) athletes are required to have a valid British Rowing or Scottish Rowing membership.

Coaches should register their athletes and themselves using the J16 Virtual Camp Registration form form Monday 12 January.

All J16 attendees will need parental consent prior to taking part in the activity. The parental consent form can be accessed at – J16 Camp Parental Consent.

Details about how to access the learning material and the log in details for the session will be sent out to those coaches that register athletes.

J16 Coaches’ meeting (Monday, 9 March 2026)

The first part of this discussion will focus on the potential of this year’s J16 athletes and what can be done to best prepare and support them for their J17 season and beyond. The second part will be made up of questions that you have posed before or during the meeting.

GBRT J16 Crew sculling camp (Saturday, 28 – Monday, 6 March 2026)

The J16 Crew Sculling Camp is the first opportunity for athletes to work with the GB Rowing Team in a camp environment and will be held at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham.

Athletes apply for a place on the Sculling camp between Monday 16 February and Monday 2 March 2026. In their application they will be asked to provide height and arm span, a 5k r26 (if they have completed one), notable training scores, notable race results, and a personal statement on why they wish to attend the camp. This application needs to be endorsed by their coach.

40 athletes will be invited (20 male, 20 female) who will have demonstrated, through their application form, that they have an eagerness to learn and improve, and might be of the standard to be considered for the World Rowing U19 Championships or Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2027 or 2028.

The camp includes technical and work sessions on the water and ergo, as well as gym sessions led by an UK Sports Institute Strength and Conditioning coach, and athlete workshops led by specialists in their field. Topics covered at previous camps have included: athlete nutrition, anti-doping, mobility and flexibility, future standards, video analysis, and behaviours of high performing athletes.

One of the strengths of this camp is that rowers can row in crew boats with others outside of their own club/school environment. This coupled with the experience of being coached by coaches other than their own has been shown to be a catalyst for improvement.

GB v France J16 Match

Once details about this annual match and trials have been confirmed they will be posted on the GB v France J16 Match page.

Athlete Development Pathway

The J16 Development Programme is part of the wider GB Rowing Team Athlete Development Pathway.

Find out more