Middle School at Nathan Benderson Park

Who / Where / When: 2025 Spring Season Registration Open Now! 

• Registration: At the bottom of the page!
• Grades: 6 through 8 - No experience necessary! 
• Location: This Page is for Nathan Benderson Park location only.
  • 5851 Nathan Benderson Cir, Sarasota, FL 34235
  • Teams meet by the rowing boat trailers and large white arched tent
• Fall Dates (see below registrations for more details on times/dates):
  • Trial Period is August 13 - September 26 (Only offered at Nathan Benderson Park)
  • Regular Fall Season is weeks of September 30th - December 14th (no Thanksgiving week practices)
• Practice Days & Times: The middle school program is 2 days/week on Tuesday and Thursday. 
  • Weekday practices are 4:30PM-6:45PM (6:30PM during Daylight Savings)*.

*Schedule Note: For those who may get out of school later in the day, it is ok to arrive after 5:00PM for your weekday practice. You will still get to participate and we are used to working kids in when they arrive to us. 

• Fall Races: For athletes who are ready and interested in competing, there are 3 optional Fall races. Race fees are charged separately.
  • • Benderson Chase, Nathan Benderson Park, October 12th-13th
    • Halloween Regatta, Tampa, FL, October 26th 
    • Plant High Fall Sprints, Nathan Benderson Park, December 7th
    • Sarasota Crew Intrasquad Regatta, Nathan Benderson Park, December 14th

Spring Season: Spring Session: 10+ weeks of rowing in the program of your choosing. There will be a regular season beginning in January that runs through West Districts Championship Regatta on April 5th and a Spring Extension season that runs through Southeast Youth Regional Championships on May 10th and 11th. 

• • Dates: January 21st to April 5th
    • No practice the week of Sarasota School District Spring Break
    • We will have practices on days that are school holidays during this session.
  • Spring Extension Season: We offer an additional spring session of 5 weeks that ends with SE Regional Championship Regatta for those that want to continue. This is the only session where we recommend that athletes have prior rowing experience. Dates are April 5th through USRowing Southeast Regionals May 10th and 11th at Lake Lanier in Gainseville, GA. 
  • Spring Race Options: For athletes who are ready and interested in competing, there are 3 optional Spring races. Race fees are charged separately.
    • American Youth Cup, Sarasota, FL, February 14-15th
    • Florida State West District Championship - April 5th 
    • USRowing Southeast Regional Championship, Lake Lanier, Gainesville GA May 10-11th 
• End of the Year Banquet, May 18th, 2025. All program participants and their families are invited!