VESPER BOAT CLUB High Performance Team VISION & STRATEGY for Tokyo Olympics 2020 Updated March 4, 2017

Vesper Mission and Racing Vesper Boat Club – Mission Statement The mission of Vesper Boat Club is to develop highly skilled and competitive rowers at all levels, by providing its diverse community of membership with premier rowing programs and first-class facilities and equipment. Vesper welcomes all athletes to our teams. Vesper operates three programs: High Performance (HP) Team – Team for athletes who have been on or are aspiring to be on the USA National Team. (Formerly known as the Elite Team – name change to HP is recommended in order to align with the terminology used by US Rowing). This team is a primary focus for Vesper Boat Club. Athletes on this team must meet a minimum standard. Club/Masters Team – Team for any athletes who are at least 18 years of age, and who is not a part of the High Performance Team. This team is open to anyone at the club and does not require that athletes meet any standards or even race. Summer Racing Teams – Teams will be formed each summer and include programs for U23 men and women–both open weight and light weight as well as Junior teams for men and women. These teams are temporary teams to be formed on an annual basis and to be run from May/June through Canadian Henley or Junior/U23 Worlds.

HP Team Vision Vesper Boat Club will provide athletes with the facility, the equipment, and the coaching in order to achieve the highest level of performance possible. Our HP plans are long term. We believe that athletes and great crews develop with time. Vesper expects to be a training facility for more mature rowers, who wish to continue competing at the highest level, but need to develop a life beyond rowing. Vesper also welcomes transient athletes. Both are critical to our success. Philadelphia provides career opportunities—in urban and suburban communities—in which athletes can live and thrive, beyond rowing. One can establish a life and a career while continue to train at a top level, at Vesper. Philadelphia is at the center of rowing in the United States with close proximity to Princeton, where the National Training Center is located.

HP Expectations & Support Vesper maintains that two elements are required for a winning crew: 1) a great athlete and, 2) great coaching. Vesper provides the coaching, along with the facility, the boats, the athlete support. All Vesper members—including HP athletes—join as a club member, and pay club dues*. Vesper’s motto is “All Together”. We are a team at all levels of the sport, and we expect all members, at all levels, to participate in the Club’s well-being. HP Athlete Support: The HP program is performance-based. Athletes are required to meet a minimum standard to be on the team. Athletes may be granted additional benefits based on the Vesper athlete benefits program. This program based on FISA gold medal standards. The benefits program provides financial support for athletes, including: dues*, housing, race fees, and travel, based on individual’s current and most recent performances. Vesper may provide additional support and benefits to HP athletes, in order to improve athletic performance ( e.g., physical therapy, massage, physio monitoring, etc. )

HP Program Focus and Scope Vesper is focused on building crews with two people in the boat, as there are are six such boats in the Olympic program. All six are currently trials boats (M2-, W2-, M2x, W2x, LM2x, and LW2x). The HP and Club coaches will recruit athletes to the HP program, based pro rata on number of seats available in the current Olympic rowing program. Vesper has a max capacity* of 20 athletes at the HP level, including any aspiring club members participating in this program. Vesper will provide a HP coach, and a club coach, who will work to manage, coach, and provide training plans for the HP program on year round basis. The HP Coach will define the overall program but may focus his/her resources on the top athletes / crews, and will periodically provide technical guidance to all other athletes. The Club Coach will provide coaching to all athletes, under the guidance of the HP coach. The Club Coach will focus specifically on the developmental athletes.

Training & Racing at Vesper Vesper uses a points-based system to identify athletes eligible to participate HP program, and to provide benefits to those performing at a high level. Points may be earned through ergometer testing results, as well as through results at on the water races. All HP athletes in the program must follow the program, as outlined by the HP coach. Athletes are encouraged to participate in Speed Orders, Selection Regattas, and Trials. Athletes should race at national-level events, as well as other, local races, in order to ascertain ability and speed. Select crews will also compete at National Team Trails. Crews that qualify for racing at Worlds, or Olympics, will be financially supported by Vesper Boat Club. Other international racing may include World Cup races, Henley Royal Regatta, Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, etc. These races may not be funded from the primary racing team budget.

Vesper Assets Olympic dreams inspire us today. Since the early 20th century Vesper athletes have stood on the podium at the Olympics. In 2016, Vesper placed four athletes on the Olympic Team, and four athletes at the World Championships. In 2015, more than ten athletes rowed at World Championships, and Pan American Games, bringing home numerous medals. Vesper is located at the center of Boathouse Row, on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Vesper is aligned with other high performance clubs in the United States, allowing us side-by-side training, and racing. Vesper is a designated USRowing Training Center. The Vesper Boathouse, built in 1895, was renovated in 1997,and provides a great facility for training both women and men, with weight training facilities, ergs, spin bikes, locker rooms, showers, conference areas, a kitchen and beer on tap! Vesper offers top-tier equipment needed by athletes for training and racing. Vesper has a dormitory available to athletes at nominal rates, located 3 miles from the boathouse. Vesper members may offer assistance to athletes seeking full-time or part time employment.