University Rowing Development Programme
Discovering and supporting university rowers with amazing potential
What is the University Rowing Development Programme?
For Rowers:
2025-26 Dates
Date | Activity | Location
1-4 May | BUCS Regatta | Nottingham
09:00 5 May | Rowers Online Applications Close | Online
Confirmation Testing Days (Invite Only)
TBC May | Venue TBC
17-20 | British Rowing Club Championships (Open Entry) | Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham
4-8 Aug | National Development Camp (Invite Only) | Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham
Dates and venues may change.
This is your opportunity to show what you are made of and come together with other like-minded students from across the country to drive your development. Even if you start rowing at university you still have the potential to make it to the top of our sport. Over 20% of rowers representing Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics started rowing career after leaving school!
We encourage beginner or intermediate rowers of any ability who meet the criteria set out below to visit us at the British Rowing tent at BUCS Regatta.
- Aged 18 to 21
- Women who are 174cm or taller and men who are 186cm or taller
- Hold British Rowing or Scottish Rowing racing membership.
At the regatta, we will do a 7-stroke power test. We’ll also take your name, age, height and arm span. Don’t worry – this won’t tire you out for racing at the regatta as the tests are short and sweet.
Those who show potential will be invited (with their coaches) to a Talent Confirmation Day, where we’ll put you through your paces. Following the test day, we will invite a selected number onto the programme for the following year starting with the Performance Development Camp in August.
If you can’t make the Regatta you can still apply using the form below!
For Beginners’ Coaches:
University is where many rowers take their first stroke in the sport and for some it may be the start of their journey to the Olympic podium. Beginners’ Coaches play a vital role in shaping the next generation of rowing talent. We are creating a network of Beginners’ Coaches to support your coaching development by providing:
Register Here to become part of the network!
August National Development Camp
The summer camp focuses on developing technical competence in singles.
“I had the best time, it was genuinely a fantastic experience!”
Rowers: We’ll help you develop your confidence in a single scull throughout the camp even if you’ve never been in one before. At the end of the camp, you’ll take part in skills testing and some fun races to test out your newly developed skills in a single.
In the gym, you’ll take part in land training with an experienced Strength & Conditioning coach to identify common areas for improvement, learn to move efficiently to be able to perform a more powerful stroke.
For Beginners’ Coaches: You will work alongside our experienced Performance Development Academy Coaches, learning by delivering the sessions for athletes and learning about some tricks of the trade to take back to your freshers in the new year.
We also have an exciting range of education for both rowers and coaches throughout the week.
Ongoing Development
“Very friendly and confident British Rowing coaches running the camp, which gave confidence and lots of experience to the volunteer coaches.”
For Rowers: All Rowers will be invited to attend the England Pathway series of educational webinars, submit ergo data to track your progress as well as attending the Olympic Pathway Development Regatta.
In addition, rowers who are based in regions running Regional Development Camps will be invited to those camps.
For Beginners’ Coaches: We offer the opportunity for coaches who have attended any of the camps to attend virtual networking sessions. These sessions allow coaches to discuss a range of subjects, share thoughts and experience on a range of subjects relevant to you.
Contact
If you have any questions please contact [email protected].