Adaptive Rowing - Ann Arbor Rowing Club

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AARC Adaptive Rowing Program

Program Description

The Ann Arbor Rowing Club (AARC) is dedicated to promoting inclusiveness in the sport of rowing. We strive to make rowing accessible to members of our community, aged 18 or older, who require modification of the equipment or methods of instruction to enjoy the sport. Our Adaptive Rowing program is available to athletes with physical disabilities that limit vision, hearing, or full use of limbs. We also provide opportunities for athletes with disabilities, both on and off the water, both on and off the water.

AARC's Adaptive Rowing Programs are supported primarily through fundraising, donations and other community support. Please consider supporting this program.

Donate to Adaptive Rowing

AARC Summer Program

During the summer months AARC provides on the water rowing opportunities for athletes with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. This program is designed to introduce new athletes to the sport of rowing, and improve the strength, fitness, and rowing technique of returning athletes.

We offer two distinct tracts in our summer program. Athletes with physical disabilities will row in a single scull with adaptions to the seat, and with pontoons to help with stability. Athletes with cognitive disabilities will be part of our barge, sweep rowing program. The barge allows up to 8 athletes to row on a stable platform with close supervision of one or two coaches.

Practice Schedule
Wednesday 6:30pm-7:40pm

Saturday 10:15 am-11:30am

Eligibility Criteria
Athletes applying to either of our Adaptive Programs will need to provide relevant medical documentation to help us tailor equipment and procedures to their specific needs. All medical information will be handled confidentially.
Click on the corresponding category for more information:

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Eligibility Criteria for Athletes with Physical Limitations

Essential Eligibility Criteria for Sculling (ScIP) On-water Rowing Training:

Rowing is an inherently complicated sport requiring listening to instructions from a coach in another boat, coordinating multiple body parts at once, and sitting in a boat on the water for 45-60 minutes per session.

Participants must be able to understand and respond to audible and visual instructions and commands provided by coaches and safety personnel.
Participants must be able to sit in a boat on the water for at least 45-60 minutes per session.
Participants must be aware of their surroundings and follow traffic patterns during training.
Participants must have cellphones stored during all portions of the practice.
Participants, including those using a wheelchair or other assistive device(s), must have sufficient mobility and strength to enter and exit a rowing shell safely and independently, or at most require only 25% assistance (minimal assistance). Volunteers will be available to stabilize the boat (to the best of their ability) while the rower is transferring into the rowing shell.
Participants must be able to traverse a slightly inclined, paved ramp to and from the boathouse to the dock.
Participants should have basic water safety skills and be comfortable in the water in case of emergency situations. Despite swimming ability, all participants must wear a life vest while on the dock and within the shell.
AARC provides life vests designed for individual needs.
Participants should be aware of their medical conditions (physical, emotional, and cognitive) and able to manage them independently or ask for assistance appropriately.

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Eligibility Criteria for Neurodiverse Athletes

Essential Eligibility for Sweep (SwIP) On-water Rowing Training:

Participants need to understand and follow directions. Participants must be able to understand and respond to audible and/or visual instructions and commands provided by coaches and safety personnel.
Participants must be comfortable having cellphones stored during all portions of the practice.
Participants must have sufficient mobility to enter and exit a rowing shell safely and independently, or with very minimal assistance.
Participants must be able to regulate emotions, even when faced with new sensory experiences. Frequent sensations experienced during rowing may include heat, loud noises, group activities, unbalanced seating, wet hands as well.

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Eligibility Criteria for Winter Adaptive Program

AARC Winter Adaptive Program

During the winter months (January - April), the Adaptive Rowing program provides training on indoor rowing machines, called “ergs”. Erg training is critical to understanding the sequencing of the rowing stroke and provides opportunities to improve the rowing stroke while on land with close coach supervision. Additionally, erg training is key to improving endurance and strength and provides an opportunity for aerobic training. Finally, erg training with a group can be lots of fun, and provides opportunities for socializing, before and after class.

Essential Eligibility for Indoor Erg Training:

Participants need to understand and follow directions.
Participants must be able to regulate emotions.
Participants in wheelchairs need to be able to transfer to and from the rowing machine with minimal assistance; for those unable to do so, the erg will be modified for use while seated in a chair.

2026 Adaptive Summer Program- Registration now open!

You must first become or renew membership ($25). Membership runs April 1 through March 31. 2027.

Adaptive Rowing Full Season $160 / Half Season $80