Every rower knows the erg. It’s the machine we love to hate (and if anyone tells me they love it… I don’t believe them). But, it’s also one of the most powerful tools in your college recruiting journey. As a high school rower with the goal of competing at the collegiate level, your erg score is more than just a number. It’s a key that can unlock incredible opportunities.
At Rower Academy, we’ve seen firsthand how a strong erg score can transform an athlete’s recruiting experience. In a competitive recruiting environment, our rowers know they need an edge. By dedicating themselves to a structured training plan, focusing not just on brute strength but on technique and mental toughness, they achieve scores that don’t just get her noticed—they start conversations with coaches at their dream schools.
In a lot of ways, your erg score is your introduction to a college coach. It’s the first measure of your potential. This article will break down exactly why erg scores are so crucial, how coaches evaluate them, and what you can do to make yours stand out.
Why Does Erg Score Matter?
The most common standard for college recruitment is the 2,000-meter (2k) test. But, why do college coaches place so much emphasis on this one metric?
The 2k erg is the great equalizer. It removes all variables that can affect on-water performance, such as weather conditions, equipment quality, and how the rest of the crew is performing. It provides a raw, objective measure of a rower’s individual power, endurance, and mental fortitude. A coach in California can directly compare the erg score of a rower from Florida to one from Massachusetts with complete confidence. This standardized data point is the foundation of modern rowing recruitment.
A strong erg score tells a coach several things about you:
- Your Raw Fitness: It demonstrates your physiological capacity and potential.
- Your Work Ethic: A great score isn’t achieved overnight. It reflects countless hours of dedicated, focused training.
- Your Mental Toughness: The 2k test is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. Pushing through the pain shows coaches you have the mental fortitude to succeed.
How College Coaches Evaluate Your Erg Score
Coaches don’t just look at a single number in isolation. They analyze multiple erg scores within a broader context to build a complete picture of you as an athlete. They understand that a single score is a snapshot in time, so compiling scores over time helps coaches better understand progress and trajectory of an athlete.
Benchmarks and Tiers
Recruiting standards vary significantly between different NCAA divisions (DI, DII, DIII) and even among programs within the same division. However, don’t be discouraged if your scores aren’t where you think they should be yet. Coaches are the experts at spotting potential. They consider your age, height, weight, and your progression over time. A sophomore with a solid score and a clear upward trend can be just as exciting to a coach as a Junior who has already hit a top-tier time. They are recruiting your future self, not just your current one.
The Importance of Progression
Coaches love to see improvement. A rower who consistently shaves seconds off their 2k time from season to season demonstrates coachability, dedication, and a high potential for growth. This is why it’s vital to track your scores and share your progress with coaches on a consistent basis.
When you send an update email to a coach, don’t just list your new personal best. Be sure to provide context around the achievement. For example: “I’m excited to share that I just pulled a new 2k PR of 7:15, which is an 8-second improvement from my fall time. I’ve been focusing on improving my drive mechanics, and it’s really paying off.” It is very helpful to remind coaches of your previous PR, so they do not have to search through previous conversations or their own records to find it. Help them instantly recognize not just the current number, but how much better it is than the previous number.
Beyond the 2k
While the 2k is the gold standard, other erg tests can also be valuable. Longer pieces, like a 5k, 6k,or 20 min. demonstrate your aerobic base and endurance. Shorter, high-intensity pieces like 500m, 1 minute, and max watt can showcase your power and speed. Including these scores in your profile can provide a more complete athletic picture, but always lead with your 2k. It’s the number every coach will ask for first.
Your Erg Score is Your Story
Your erg score is a significant part of your recruiting narrative, but it’s not the whole story. It’s a powerful data point that, when combined with your grades, on-water results, and character, paints a picture of the student-athlete you are and the one you can become.
Embrace the erg. See it not as a torture device, but as an opportunity. It’s your chance to prove your power, your dedication, and your will to win. Every session is a step toward your goal, and every PR is a new chapter in your journey to becoming a collegiate rower. Now, it’s time to set that monitor, take a deep breath, and write your own success story.