RowDallas is a program to make the sport of rowing more accessible to Dallas youth, helping students to succeed on and off the water. RowDallas is a strategic collaboration between Dallas United Crew, Dallas ISD, the City of Dallas and Dallas Park and Recreation.  

To drive greater inclusion and diversity in rowing, we are breaking down the barriers to participation:

• Financial constraints - for Middle school this program is offered at no charge to students. As they progress to the High School team, scholarship opportunities are available to those that demonstrate need.
• Transportation - We arrange transportation to the boathouse after school.
• Swimming -  Knowing how to swim is a requirement to row, yet many students in under-served communities can't swim.  In collaboration with the City of Dallas, students have access to free swimming lessons at city public pools.

We will help students succeed on and off the water through rowing and academic coaching. 

Succeeding on the water: Rowing is a sport that builds fitness, yet also can have a positive impact on emotional wellbeing as rowing is the epitome of a team sport with 8 individuals pulling together to move the boat forward as one.  

• Physical fitness measured through timed runs and well as timed pieces on the ergometers

Succeeding off the water: Our program provides after school academic assistance to students which is a key RowDallas differentiator vs. other area rowing programs. For middle school rowers, our goals are:

• Math - readying RowDallas students to succeed in Algebra 1 Students that fail algebra 1 in High School are 4x as likely to dropout of high school
• Language Arts - improve reading comprehension, grammar and spelling. Basic life skills needed to succeed

RowDallas is working. Current 2019-2020 academic year:

• 23 students are receiving financial assistance from 8 different high school and middle schools
• Gaston Middle School and Townview are key schools for expanded pilot programs
• Participants express greater confidence and self-esteem
• For our middle school participants, 100% have improving math timed tests as well as improved physical performance completing a 5 minute run and attaining personal record at the SWEAT indoor rowing competition.