It's Bigger Than You's Sportsman Rowing is passionate about increasing the awareness of rowing and introducing the sport of rowing to a diverse group of Americans; including underserved urban youth who otherwise may not have the opportunity to participate in rowing. Sportsman Rowing doesn't just attract athletes. More importantly, we build self-awareness, mutual respect, team spirit, joy and optimism in life through rowing.
Interactive Sponsorship is a great way to engage an ambitious student, and learn a great skill at the same time. In our Learn-to-Row Mentorship Program, you'll learn to row and engage a child in a very unique way. In our Student Sponsorship Program, you supplement a student's full participation in competitions and sanctioned events both locally and nationwide.
Remember how fun it was to learn things as a child? Remember how easy it was? Here are a few reasons why learning to row with a young adult is good for you, as well as the mentee you're learning with:
Learning to row on your own is fun, but learning to row with someone else is a motivator to continue.
By learning to row, you're also impacting a young adult's ambitions to row, and strive to be the successful, confident adult you model to be.
By being a mentor, you get to model the importance of education, and how the sport can be of positive benefit in the college application process.
Additional opportunities for mutual growth through IBTU sponsored activities.
The student learns confidence, listening and presentation skills, mentorship, stewardship and physical fitness through the relationship you build.
Learning to row in any stage of life has many benefits. When sponsoring a mentee, you can now participate in securing the individual's ambitions to row, and sustain joy and optimism through the sport. Below are some example needs the student will encounter, but are not limited to:
Travel costs to and from the rowing facility.
Equipment, such as boats, oars and proper clothing.
Safety needs, such as water bottles and healthy snacks.
For advanced students, who've chosen to take the sport competitively, the ability to travel and pay the costs to continue rowing in local and national competitive programs.
To become a mentor, there are some basic qualifications to meet. Below is the simple process IBTU follows:
Complete and submit an application for Learn-to-Row Mentor.
IBTU will contact you and propose a perfect design for your Learn-to-Row day.
All students are welcome to learn to row with mentors. We only ask that students:
are in 7th grade and above. College students do qualify also.
are able to paddle with heads above water. This is a safety precaution, even though there will be a coached launch near the entire lesson. Safety vests will be available upon request.
The USRowing America Rows Program and It's Bigger Than You, Inc. recently submitted a professional video to the US Olympic Committee. The US Olympic Committee is issuing a grant for an organization that best promotes the olympic value of Friendship; striving to grow sport participation and access to sport. In this case, growth in the participation of rowing.
