Practice Information

Oct 19, 2026

Practice Guide & Park Logistics

Welcome to the season! To ensure a safe, efficient, and successful experience for our rowers and families, please review our official practice schedule, gear requirements, and park traffic patterns below.

Practice Schedule & Weather

Our schedule shifts dynamically with the sunset, as we must clear the park by dark.

Drop-off Time: 4:00 PM

Practice Start (Hands On): 4:15 PM

Standard End Time: 6:30 PM (Note: After Daylight Saving Time, practice will end later as daylight permits).

The Sunset Rule: Coaches will always have rowers off the water by sunset. Practice wraps up after boats are safely stored and rowers receive daily feedback from their coaches.

Rain or Shine: Practice is rarely canceled due to rain or temperature. However, player safety is our priority; Sandy Run features an automated lightning detection system at Sandy Run Marina to assist in keeping the team safe.

Gear & Packing Checklist

Water Bottle: Bring a full plastic water bottle to stay hydrated. Glass bottles are strictly prohibited, and metal bottles are not preferred. Metal is only acceptable if fitted with a protective rubber boot or water bottle sock to prevent scratching the delicate boat shells

Hydration Warning: Rowers must bring their own water supply. Park water fountains remain turned off early in the season until all danger of freezing has passed.

Post-Practice Bag: Pack a gear bag with warm, dry clothes to change into immediately after training. Dedicated changing huts are located right next to the boathouse area

Snacks: We highly recommend packing a small snack to refuel while waiting in the post-practice pickup line.

(Tip: Don't worry about packing perfectly on day one! After the first week of training, your rower will have a much better idea of exactly what gear works best for their daily bag.)

Required Apparel

Body-Hugging Clothing: Rowers must wear close-fitting clothes—such as spandex shorts, tight tops, or a traditional "uni." Loose clothing will get caught in the "slides" (the rolling tracks under the rowing seats).

Footwear: Bring athletic shoes for workouts on the rowing machines (ergs). Crocs are the team favorite for quickly transitioning to and from the docks.

Weather/ Sun Protection: Warm hat, layers, Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hats are highly recommended for long hours on the water. Dress for the weather.

Park Traffic & Safety Patterns

Sandy Run is incredibly busy during afternoon pick-up and drop-off, hosting hundreds of students, cars, and buses.

DO NOT SPEED - YOU WILL BE GIVEN A TICKET

VanThompson Road: 25 MPH Inside the Park Gates: 15 MPH

Please respect our neighbors and rowers by slowing down immediately.

Drop-Off Pattern (4:00 PM)

Enter the main park gates and immediately look to your left.
Enter Parking Lot C.
Pull as far forward as possible to allow the line of cars behind you to clear the entrance.
Safely drop off your rower, follow the lot circle, and exit back onto Van Thompson Road.

Pick-Up Pattern (6:30 PM)

Expect Lines: The pickup line frequently stretches from the drop-off loop all the way back to the park entrance sign.
Where to Wait: If possible, pull into Lot D (the large gravel lot on your right immediately after passing through the main gates).
Carpool Coordination: If your rower carpools, ensure their entire group leaves the boathouse together to ensure efficient, fast loading.
Be Patient: Safely launching, docking, and storing 60-foot rowing shells takes immense coordination—especially for novice rowers. On-water safety delays happen; thank you for your patience!