Under 16 (U16)
The youngest high school category; can include the 8th grade. Athletes are U16 if they do not turn 16 during the calendar year (i.e. 15 years old or younger).
High School / Grades 9 to 12 / Women’s + Men’s / Season: late August to early June
Compete with Oakland
Women’s and men’s teams racing U16, U17, and U19 against the best clubs in the country. No rowing experience necessary, and new rowers try the first two weeks free.
RegisterHow the team is organized
Squads and age groups
The team is organized into women’s and men’s squads. We start in August with the team split into first-year and returning athletes. By mid-Fall, squads shift into age-group categories: Under 16, Under 17, and Under 19 / Youth.
Under 17 (U17)
The middle step, where first year and returning athletes develop their rowing, build fitness and learn to race. Athletes are U17 if they do not turn 17 during the calendar year (i.e. 16 years old or younger).
Under 19 (U19) / Youth
The oldest high school age category. These rowers are high school juniors and seniors (and some sophomores).
A first-year athlete is anyone in their first season of high school rowing. A returning athlete has completed a first season here or at another club. Rowers are free to register and compete for the team that best supports their gender identity, and CoxswainThe one facing forward. They steer, call the race plan, and keep eight people rowing as one.All the rowing words may compete for either the women’s or men’s squads.
A day at Tidewater
What practice looks like
Practice runs from 4:30 to 7:00pm, and most athletes come straight from school. Once at the boathouse, they change and prepare the equipment to go out on the water. After a quick check in with their coach, they launch their boats and training gets going. Days are spent on the water working on rowing technique and doing training pieces. We also include a mix of land work (strength, running, ErgThe rowing machine. Short for ergometer, and used when the water is not an option.All the rowing words, and biking) to maximize our fitness.
In their words
“I feel like I have found myself in this sport... the community I have found here is unmatched.”
“Since joining Oakland Strokes, I have made friends that I think I will have for life... learned how to persevere and give 100% of my effort into something.”
“Strokes is a one-of-a-kind place. Every day I come down and push myself to embrace exactly who I am and exceed what I expect I’m capable of.”
“The Oakland Strokes is run with a level of professionalism and dedication that surpasses even my college rowing team. The coaches and staff are top-notch, and the athlete development has been amazing to watch.”
Practice times
Practice runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Weekdays are 4:30 to 7:00pm, Saturdays 7:00 to 11:00am, at the Tidewater Boating Center in Oakland.
Fridays are optional for most athletes, although as you move into the top boats you tend to add Friday, 4:30 to 6:30pm.
Athletes come from across the East Bay and almost all of them end up in a carpool. (Every family gets a team roster, so you can find who lives near you and sort it out directly.)
Fees are listed further down under What it costs. Cost should never be the barrier: financial aid is available for every program.
The season
What a year looks like
Rowing starts in late August and potentially goes through early June. (Check out the official race calendar.)
Fall 2026, Fall season key dates
- Mon Aug 17 to Sat Aug 29First-year first practice and free two week trial (past)
- Mon Aug 31Returning athletes first practice (past)
- Mon Nov 9 to Sat Nov 21November late start and free two week trial
- Sat Dec 19Last fall practice
Spring 2027, Spring season key dates
- Mon Jan 4First practice
- Mon Jan 4 to Sat Jan 16First-year two week trial
- Fri Apr 30 to Sun May 2Southwest Regional Championships
- Thu Jun 10 to Sun Jun 13USRowing Youth Nationals (qualified crews)
Never been to a regatta? What happens at a regatta walks through a race day start to finish, written for parents who have never seen this sport before.
New for 2026
The 8th grade U16 pathway
Oakland Strokes opens spots on our U16 squads to 8th-grade athletes ready to train and compete at the high school level. Selected athletes practice four days a week and race with the high school team.
Tryout windows
All 8th grade athletes complete a two week tryout. The next one is November 9 to 21. Athletes who are not placed on a U16 squad keep rowing with the Middle School Competitive Development team.
Practice schedule
Women’s 8th grade U16: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 4:30 to 7:00pm, Saturday 7:00 to 11:00am.
Men’s 8th grade U16: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 4:30 to 7:00pm, Saturday 7:00 to 11:00am.
For questions about the 8th grade pathway contact Allison Ray, Director of Rowing and Women’s Head Coach: allisonray@oaklandstrokes.org
Team culture
The Oakland Strokes High School team is built on our program values. We strive every day to live by these standards, and we let them guide our decisions and actions in both large and small ways.
- We Promote an Environment Where Everyone Belongs: We welcome and support every athlete, building an inclusive team centered on respect, empathy, and fairness.
- We Row in Community: We extend our impact beyond the boathouse, serving and uplifting others while bringing new leaders into the sport.
- We Grow Together: Our athletes take responsibility, work hard, and grow stronger through every experience, developing confidence and resilience on and off the water.
- We Use Our Voices: We communicate openly and respectfully, listening actively and advocating for ourselves and our teammates.
- We Are One Team: We succeed because we are stronger, faster, and better together.
- We Compete with Character: We provide our athletes with the tools, habits, and mindset to excel. Competition builds character... and character builds competitive might.
Whichever boat you sit in, you will be seen, coached, and pushed.
You’re not trying to outshine your friend. You’re trying to make the boat faster, and she is too.
Allison Ray, Director of Rowing and Women’s Head Coach
The standard here is simple: positive culture, a growth mindset, and hard, smart work. Get those right and the speed follows.
Sean Gibel, Men’s Head Coach
Our boats consistently place and win at regional, national and world championships and are invited to prestigious international rowing events such as the Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames in England and the Head of the Charles in Massachusetts. The Strokes have won 24 National Championships and countless Southwest Regional Championships.
National Championships:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Women's Youth 8+ |
| 1978 | Women's Youth 8+ |
| 1979 | Men's Youth 4+ |
| 1980 | Men's Youth 8+ |
| 2003 | Women's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2004 | Men's Youth 4+, Women's Youth 8+, Women's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2009 | Women's Youth 2- |
| 2011 | Men's Youth 4+ |
| 2012 | Women's Youth 8+, Women's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2013 | Women's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2014 | Women's Youth 8+, Women's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2015 | Men's Youth 8+ |
| 2016 | Women's Youth 4+, Men's Youth 8+ |
| 2017 | Women's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2018 | Men's Lightweight 8+ |
| 2022 | Men's Youth 4- |
| 2023 | Women's Youth 4- |
| 2024 | Men's Youth 4- |
| 2026 | Men's U17 8+ |
Fees
What it costs
High school program fees
| Program | Fee |
|---|---|
| Two week trial for first-year rowers | Free |
| 8th grade U16 tryout | Free |
| Fall season, first-year or returning | $2,800 |
| Spring season | $2,800 |
| November late start | $600 |
Fees for the year include local races around the Bay Area. Travel costs for overnight regattas are charged separately with no markup; athletes attend between one and four travel regattas per year depending on their skill and experience, so travel fees can range from $650 to $6,500 for an athlete who attends four overnight regattas.
Financial aid is available for every program (including travel); cost should never be the barrier. How financial aid works.
For the racing team
Summer Competitive
For current Oakland Strokes high school athletes, the summer turns rowers into racers. Coxswains are encouraged to join; talk with Allison about your summer.
Pre-camp
Late May, right after the spring season ends. The reset before summer training starts in earnest.
Four-week summer camp
June into July, training with a cohort pointed at championship racing in the fall.
Join the team
Registration runs through Active.com. Questions about squads, schedules, or moving here from another club? Email information@oaklandstrokes.org and a coach will get back to you.
Stay in touch
Get on the email list
Trial dates, registration openings, and what the team is up to. A few emails a season.
Join the email list →Follow on Instagram
Photos of race mornings, first strokes, announcements and race results, plus pretty pictures of the boathouse at sunset.
Follow @oaklandstrokesrowing →Ask a person
We’re always available to answer your questions or schedule a visit:
Email or call:
information@oaklandstrokes.org
(510) 926-4100
Financial aid questions go to aid@oaklandstrokes.org.