Rowing Ireland are delighted to announce the launch of our new campaign with Sport Ireland and Crew Class titled ‘She Ergs‘. She Ergs is part of the country wide ‘Her Moves‘ campaign all about getting teenage girls active. Read more below on how your club can apply to get involved.

Her Moves is an evidence informed campaign, following consultation with teenage girls on what they enjoy for recreational sport and physical activity. It also is informed by the Sport Ireland study and project ‘Coaching Teenage Girls’ where girls around Ireland gave their voice about what inhibits them from physical activity and sport and what encourages and creates an inclusive environment for them. All across Ireland, National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships will be getting involved in this campaign.

Sadly, the drop out rate for teenage girls out of sport and physical activity in Ireland is the highest out of any population group. This has to change. Rowing Ireland is committed to supporting and playing our part in ensuring teenage girls can access our wonderful sport, with all its benefits for their physical, mental and social health and our involvement in this campaign will reflect this. We already do such amazing work with our competitive and get rowing campaigns and this is another opportunity to show how our sport is a leading game changer for teenage girls.

Clubs are invited to take part in this campaign where we have designed Indoor Rowing sessions for teenage girls that are based on fitness, health and enjoyment. This is different from a pathway into competitive sport. We want to facilitate clubs offering a new side of the sport to our communities, growing their membership and using their facilities to benefit both these users and the club itself.

We are excited to partner with Crew Class on this, who are the countries leading provider of adult indoor rowing fitness classes. Crew Class will work closely with us and the success clubs on this pilot campaign to ensure a fun, challenging, rewarding and positive experience for the teenage girls.

Crew Class founder and Olympian Niall O’ Toole had this to say about the campaign : “Having coached teenage girls, I’m acutely aware of the attrition rate. We are delighted to work on this campaign to help change that. Rowing is a great sport for those who don’t have that positive experience in other sports.”

“Rowing is a sport that everyone can participate in and can work at their own pace.” said Aifric O’Sullivan of Crew Class. “With indoor rowing we see people progress and increase their confidence in a really short space of time and this is particularly important to teenage girls”

Rowing Ireland CEO, Michelle Carpenter said: “On International Women’s Day, it’s particularly exciting to be a part of the launch of this campaign for teenage girls. In Rowing Ireland, we are committed to supporting women in sport and this begins for women and girls in the early teenage years experiences in sport. We have amazing competitive structures in our sport and our dedicated clubs. Now it’s time to develop and support recreational pathways into the sport for teenage girls who want to experience our sport for all the health and wellbeing benefits it has to offer”

Today, we are at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin for the launch of this campaign and you can find some images and videos about this on our social media.

To support clubs interested in getting involved in this campaign we will be providing the following supports:

  • Crew Class training for coaches so they can deliver the ‘She Ergs’ 6-8 week Programme
  • Merchandise for those coaches including a She Ergs hoodie and beanie
  • Financial support to pay for the coaches delivery of these sessions
  • Financial support for hall rental space in the club
  • Adminstrative support from the women in sport officer in sign ups, advertising and supporting the programme
  • Media support gathering videos and photos of the programme to promote its success in the club

A small number of clubs will be chosen via application process. You can apply by filling in the form below and send any queries to womeninsport@rowingireland.ie.