2026/2027 PARENT HANDBOOK NEWPORT AQUATIC CENTER
SERVING THE COMMUNITY The Newport Aquatic Center was founded in 1982 and built in 1987 as a non-profit corporation offering the pubilc unique opportunities in the Olmpic water sports of rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and outrigger canoe competition.
MISSION STATEMENT The Newport Aquatic Center is an extraordinary community resource, whose mission is to teach and inspire athletes of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds by fostering a passion for Olympic style rowing, kayaking, canoeing, and related marine activities. Through character building programs and world class professional instruction, the NAC not only develops exceptional athletes but creates a positive and influential path for young adults, a common destination for devoted enthusiasts, and a teaching ground for environmental stewardship.
NEWPORT AQUATIC CENTER
Canoe & Kayak Recreational Olympic
dragon boat
we are ocean
Recreational Competitive
Camp We Are Ocean Local Days
MAKING WAVES IN OUR COMMUNITY
rowing
outrigger
Junior Rowing
Competitive Racing Recreational Makapo Aquatics Project Community Outreach Groups
Competitive Middle School Camps
Adult Rowing Olympic Masters Recreational
General Operations Camps Classes & Lessons Avalon Ocean Club Community & Corporate Events Memberships Annual Monthly Hourly Boat Storage
THE WASHDECK BLOG GET & STAY CONNECTED!
The NAC Washdeck Blog is your go-to source for the latest news, updates, and stories from around the Newport Aquatic Center. For Junior Rowing families, it’s a great way to stay connected with the program, including race recaps, athlete highlights, team accomplishments, events, and other happenings at NAC.
The NAC Washdeck Blog is a great way for parents and athletes to stay connected to everything happening at the Newport Aquatic Center. The blog shares race recaps, Junior Rowing updates, athlete stories, team accomplishments, upcoming events, and behind-the-scenes stories from around the boathouse. Throughout the rowing season, Junior Rowing families can follow along with regattas, read perspectives directly from our athletes, celebrate team milestones, and see what our crews are accomplishing both on and off the water. The Washdeck also highlights the greater NAC community, including rowing, paddling, community programs, special events, and the people who make NAC what it is. We encourage parents to check in throughout the season to stay connected and follow along with the NAC Junior Rowing experience.
COACHES 2026/2027 SEASON
WESTON COLE
Junior Rowing Program Director Girls Head Coach
MARCEL STIFFEY U17 Boys Head Coach
JANET WILLIAMS
U17 Girls Assistant Coach Equipment Manager
LUKE HOLSCHER Boys Assistant Coach
JACK PUSZTAI
Middle School Assistant Coach
MIJO RUDELJ
CIERRA BIRD
Boys Head Coach
U17 Girls Head Coach
MADISON BYRD
ERICH HANXLEDEN
Girls Assistant Coach
PIERCE RANDS
U17 Boys Assistant Coach
HALEY MACKAY
Head Middle School Coach
BRIELLE KIDDER
Middle School Assistant Coach
Boys Assistant Coach
CONNOR BREEN
Assistant Coach Strength & Conditionins Coach
MILES CROOK
Middle School Assistant Coach
NATALIE BATISTA
Middle School Assistant Coach
JUNIOR ROWING
CORE VALUES “Success is peace of mind, which is a result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.“ - John Wooden
COLLEGE BOUND college recruitment starts now! The NAC Rowing program provides access to universities across the country that may not have been attainable otherwise. Many of our rowers receive acceptances and scholoarships, providing opportunities for continuing not only rowing, but education.
2026 SENIORS
WELCOME TO THE NAC
JUNIOR ROWING TE AM You are now part of a nationally recognized junior rowing program with a rich history within Newport Harbor. In 2026, NAC took a total of 64 athletes to Sarasota, Florida for USRowing Youth National Championships.
1st-4th place at Regionals qualifies your entry at Nationals.
2026 RESULTS REGIONALS TEAM POINTS
YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
NEWPORT AQUATIC CENTER 3rd PLACE
WOMEN‘S U17 8+ ��� 2ND IN THE NATION
MEN‘S U17 4+ ��� 2ND IN THE NATION
GIRLS TEAM 2ND PLACE
MEN‘S 2V8+ A - ��� 4TH IN THE NATION
BOYS TEAM 2ND PLACE
MEN‘S 2V8+ B ��� 9TH IN THE NATION
MEN‘S V8+ ��� 6TH IN THE NATION WOMEN‘S V8+ ��� 9TH IN THE NATION WOMEN‘S 2V8+ ��� 13TH IN THE NATION WOMEN‘S U17 4+ ��� 18TH IN THE NATION
REGIONAL COMPETITORS
CALIFORNIA Berkeley High Crew Berkeley Paddling & Rowing Club California Yacht Club Capital Crew Channel Islands Rowing Club Community Rowing of San Diego Delta Sculling Center Golden State Rowing Club Humboldt Bay Rowing Association Junipero Sierra High School Lake Casitas Rowing Association Long Beach Junior Crew Los Gatos Rowing Club Marin Rowing Association Marina Aquatic Center Junior Rowing Newport Sea Base Rowing Norcal Crew North Bay Rowing Club Oakland Strokes Oakland United Rowing Pacific Rowing Club Redwood Scullers River City Rowing Club RowLA San Diego Rowing Club St. Ignatius College Prep ZLAC Rowing Club
ARIZONA Arizona Junior Rowing Inc Brophy College Preparatory Crew Tempe Junior Crew
NEVADA Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club
UTAH Utah Crew Waterford Crew
HAWAII Ikaika Hawaii
RACE SCHEDULES -FALL 2026OCTOBER 4
LIDO CHASE Newport Harbor, CA *Full Team
OCTOBER 24
HEAD OF THE AMERICAN Lake Natoma, Sacramento CA *Full Team
NOVEMBER 24
TURKEY TROT Newport Aquatic Center, CA *Full Program
DECEMBER 6
CHRISTMAS REGATTA Long Beach, Marine Stadium, CA *Full Team
DECEMBER 13
NOVAR Newport Harbor, CA *Full Team
-SPRING 2027JANUARY 30-21, 2027
LOS GATOS SCRIMMAGE Newport Aquatic Center, CA *Full Team
MARCH 18-21
CREW CLASSIC San Diego, CA *Select Athletes
APRIL 30 - MAY 2
SOUTHWEST JUNIOR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Lake Natoma, Sacramento CA *Full Team * Stay tuned for full Spring Schdule *
TYPES OF BOATS 8+
8 Rowers Has a Coxswain Sweep: 1 oar per Rower
Four (Quad)
4x
4 Rowers No Coxswain Scull: 2 oars per Rower Athlete is steering
Four (Quad)
4x+
4 Rowers Has a Coxswain Scull: 2 oars per Rower
Four
4-
4 Rowers No Coxswain Sweep: 1 oar per Rower Athlete is steering
Four (w/Cox)
4+
4 Rowers Has a Coxswain Sweep: 1 oar per Rower
Eight
Note: Training in double, pair, and single boats provides coaches and athletes the opportunity to improve boat feel and speed, as well as offer recruiting coaches the opportunity to see an individual athlete’s speed on the race course. This gives athletes more opportunities to race!
Double
2x
Scull: 2 oars per Rower.
Pair
2-
Sweep: 1 oar per Rower.
Single
1x
Scull: 2 oars per Rower.
COMPETITIVE RACING CL ASSIFICATIONS * YOUTH * A Youth is a Competitor who: • • •
In the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19; or In the current calendar year does not attain the age of 20 Has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma.
A Competitor thus ceases to be a Youth after December 31 of the year of their 18th birthday (U19), or upon completion of the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full-time student within the year of their 19th birthday (U20). Athletes older than U20 are never eligible to compete as Youth.
* U17 * A Competitor may compete in the U17 category until December 31 of the year of their 16th birthday.
* U16 * A Competitor may compete in the U16 category until December 31 of the year of his or her 15th birthday.
* U15 * A Competitor may compete in the U15 category until December 31 of the year of their 14th birthday.
* PARA ROWING * Para rowing is determined by multiple factors, and the three categories are determined by the athlete’s ability: 1. 2. 3.
PR1 are rowers with minimal to no trunk function and primarily use their arms and shoulders to row. PR2 are rowers with functional use of their arms and trunk but have weakness in their legs. PR3 are rowers with function in their legs. This class is open to athletes with visual impairments.
*
FOR ALL PARENTS R AC E DAY PA RENT G U I D E •
BUILD COMMUNITY with other parents by cheering for the success of EVERY RACER
•
Wear your NAC PARENT GEAR
•
Help set up and take down the PARENT HOSPITALITY TENT
•
Athlete zone, boat, launching, and returning are NO-PARENT ZONES
•
Taking photos of your athletes, giving hugs, congratulations, or consoling happens only AFTER post-race talks and COACHES HAVE DISMISSED THE ATHLETES
N AC PA RKI N G I NFORMATIO N •
Drop-off / Pick-up Options: 1.
Drive to the water-end of the parking lot, have athlete quickly hop out, then continue forward to exit through the dirt lot; OR
2. Drop-off your athlete near the entry gate to walk in •
Driving Athletes: 1.
Athletes can park in the main or dirt lot
2. Remind your driving athletes to SLOW DOWN through the neighborhoods and parking lot 3. Remind your athlete to leave their valuables in their car or locker, NOT on the public tables
COAC H COMMU N I CATI O N •
Know that all coach decisions, including boat lineup selections, have been carefully considered and are to be respected by the parent.
•
Preferred communication with coaches is via email.
*
PARENT CODE OF CONDUCT: FAIR PLAY & RESPECT
It is mandatory that all parents of NAC Junior Rowers read and understand this Parent Code of Conduct and continue to observe and follow all principles and policies contained within as you interact with the NAC Jr, Rowing Program throughout the year.
*
Receipt of this handbook will be considered confirmation that you understand and comply by the following terms:
*
1. I am committed to upholding the goals of the team
my child is on and the mission statement of the NAC Jr. Rowing Program and will encourage and support my child with the same commitment.
2. I understand the Athlete Code of Conduct and will
support my child’s commitment and understanding of what it entails.
3. I will encourage my child to abide by the rules and to
resolve conflict without resorting to gossip, hostility, or violence.
4. I understand that my child will face challenges, successes, and failures, both on and off the water and will allow these experiences to be their experiences.
5. I will leave the coaching and coaching decisions to the
coaching staff. I will treat the coaching staff with respect and give them space to perform their jobs.
6. Should I have a question or a concern, I will direct it
appropriately and respectfully to the coach via email.
7. When I have questions about my child’s experience, I will
contact the appropriate coach via email. If my questions cannot be resolved, I understand that the next step will be to meet with the executive Director, my child, and myself.
HOW TO
SUPPORT YOUR ATHLETE The succesas of the Newport Aquatic Center (NAC), Jr. Rowing program relies on your participation as an athlete parent. We strongly believe that an engaged and active parent is vital to making the athlete‘s experience rewarding. For many families, this program is their first experience with professional coaches. Rest assured, our coaches bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program and are unbiased towards the success of any individual athlete. High school is a time for parents to take a step back from their child‘s athletic experience. We strongly encourage you to allow your athlete to advocate for themselves with their coaches. We acknowledge that, for many athletes, there is a difficult and steep learning curve as they try to communicate with their coaches and navigate the team environment. This may result in frustration from time to time but allowing your athlete to learn this important skill will better prepare them for college and beyond. We pledge to provide an environment where your athlete will feel comfortable speaking up with any concerns in a nonjudgmental atmosphere. As parents, the instinct to step in to smooth the path for your child is strong. However, these actions often lead to undermining the relationship between your child and their coach. We urge you to be continuously supportive of your athlete as well as understand the boundaries of your interaction with the coaches. Every athlete‘s journey is unique; do not judge your child‘s performance based on other athletes, or even the day-to-day frustrations that they may express to you. Athletic progress takes time, and your support is important as they find themselves in this sport.
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BALBOA ISL AND A B
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THE LIDO CHASE HEAD RACES 1 Castaways Park
2K RACES 2 Balboa Bay Club; or 3 Lido Public Dock
THANK YOU!
TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
A huge thank you to last year’s Program Sponsors for investing in our athletes and the future of NAC. Your support helped provide the coaching, equipment, resources, and opportunities that make our programs possible. We are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the NAC community and for the impact you continue to make on our athletes.
OUR FAMILY SPONSORS:
The Joseph Family The Hicks Family The Hollman Family The Liu Family The Greenberg Family The Wainberg Family The Cheng Family
JUNIOR ROWING PROGRAM
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNTIES PLATINUM - $20,000 • Logo on Varsity 8+ for Spring Racing Season • 1-year launch advertisement + top billing on Team Shirt • Two-page Spring Regatta Guide ad + featured Jr Rowing Newsletter ad • Premier recognition on Donor Board, Jr Rowing website & social media throughout the year
GOLD - $15,000 • Logo on 2nd Varsity 8+ for Spring Racing Season • 10-month launch advertisement + logo on Team Shirt • Two-page Spring Regatta Guide ad • Gold-level recognition on Donor Board, Jr Rowing website & social media throughout the year
SILVER - $10,000 • 6-month launch advertisement + logo on Team Shirt • Two-page Spring Regatta Guide ad • Silver-level recognition on Donor Board + social media throughout the year
BRONZE - $5,000 • Logo on Team Shirt • Full-page Spring Regatta Guide ad • Bronze-level recognition on Donor Board, Jr Rowing website & social media throughout the year
FRIEND OF NAC - $2,500 • Donor Board + Jr Rowing website recognition • Full-page Spring Regatta Guide ad • Social media + newsletter recognition
SPONSOR - $1,500 • Jr Rowing website recognition • Full-page Spring Regatta Guide ad
ATHLETE SHOUTOUT - $1,000 • ½-page Athlete Shoutout in Spring Regatta Guide
JUNIOR ROWING
CONTACTS COACHES WESTON COLE ............... Weston@newportaquaticcenter.com MIJO RUDELJ ................... Mijo@newportaquaticcenter.com CIERRA BIRD .................... Cierra@newportaquaticcenter.com MARCEL STIFFEY ............ Marcel@newportaquaticcenter.com JANET WILLIAMS ............ Janet@newportaquaticcenter.com MADDIE BYRD ................. MadByrd@newportaquaticcenter.com HALEY MACKAY ............. Haley@newportaquaticcenter.com CONNOR BREEN ............ Connor@newportaquaticcenter.com LUKE HOLSCHER ............ Luke@newportaquaticcenter.com
NAC BILLY WHITFORD, Executive Director Billy@newportaquaticcenter.com MALIA RUDELJ, Bookkeeper Bookkeeping@newportaquaticcenter.com
COMMUNICATIONS WASHDECK BLOG: https://newportaquaticcenter.com/thewashdeckblog/ INSTAGRAM: @nac-rowing FACEBOOK: facebook.com/newportaquaticcenter
LEAVE A GOOGLE REVIEW FOR NAC JR ROWING
CORPORATE TE AM BUILDING AT NAC NAC’s Corporate Team Building program brings companies and groups together for a unique experience on the water. Led by NAC coaches, participants learn the basics of rowing while building communication, teamwork, and trust in a fun and active setting. No rowing experience is necessary, making it a great option for company outings, leadership groups, and team retreats.
Corporate Team Building also provides an opportunity to introduce new people to NAC while supporting our programs and mission.
CONTACT COACH WESTON COLE FOR MORE INFORMATION! weston@newportaquaticcenter.com