As this semester draws to a close, so does fall season for a lot of sports, club, intramural, or otherwise. And that includes the fall season of rowing (tear :'() but as one season draws to a close, another begins, and so does another bout of recruitment for clubs everywhere.

I guess it means it's time to do my part for the Rowing Club at USF.

Some of you wandering around campus may notice us. We look tired, we look hungry, and we wear some variation of spandex and easy to remove shoes. We travel in packs; we travel solitarily. We look a bit odd, I'll grant you that. But to the untrained eye, how do you spot a member of the Rowing Club when there are so many other people running around?

Here's a friendly list for your next favorite game: Spot the Rower.

1. Spandex

We wear all the spandex. Even guys have been known to sport the leggings underneath their basketball shorts. It's not because we like the tight-fitting clothes (although they do grow on you after a while, not gonna lie) it's because the excess fabric of running shorts or basketball shorts can catch on a rowing machine (ergometer) or even the actual boat itself- the seats roll back and forth, and the cloth can get caught in the tracks, which can not only ruin your shirt but become potentially harmful.

It's a non-contact sport, but it has it's own dangers.

2. Unnecessary layers of clothing

I see you looking. "It's 70 degrees outside," you say. "Why's she wearing a long sleeved shirt and leggings and a raincoat and toting a jacket?

I have one word for you: Coxswain. The short, small person (well, normally short and small,) who guides the boat through rough or calm waters, who relays orders, who has beady eyes and a habit of shouting "way 'nuff" on accident instead of "stop!" They're not all like this, but there's enough who are to make a stereotype out of it.

Factor in not moving, splashing from oars, and wind chill, and you get a pretty frozen little coxswain. Care for at all times by giving her your excess layers. She (or he) is going to need it.

3. Odd tan lines

My favorite part. Yes, these are sock lines. Yes, my spandex has created a permanent white line across the tops of my thighs. This is a sports bra tan line, yes. And a uni tan line in the front. And a watch line. Lots of white marks, I get it.

Just forget how sunburned my face is.

4. Hungry eyes, hungry mouths

We burn a lot of calories rowing up and down that stretch on the Harney Park Canal. It's a great workout. You should try it some time. And also, keep it in mind when you see us carrying 12 plates of food, a bowl of fruit, a cup of smoothie, a mug of coffee, our water bottle, PLUS that flavored water from the HUB.

We're hungry. For crying out loud, FEED US.

5. Zombie shuffle

We practice during that special time that's only really known during all-nighters and is normally referred to as "oh-dark-thirty," or "hell"

Early. Before 6 am early. Before the sun is up, early.

If you see us zombie shuffling around campus because the high of endorphins have worn off and the coffee hasn't hit yet and we're tired during our 8 AM class, don't judge.

6. Buff legs, great butts

This fact always blows minds: rowing is 60% leg muscle, give or take. 60% legs, 30% core, and 10% arms. As such, we have GREAT legs and butts. All the squats and lunges we do really sculpt us - and that means that when we work out, 99% of our driving motivation is "Do it for the butt!"

7. Short and loud

Once again, this is for our coxswains. Remember how I said they're the (generally) short, small member who steers the boat? They also have a habit of being SUPER loud. If the microphones or speakers in the boats give out, coxswains shout their way and their boat to victory. That's not to say that every "manic pixie dream girl" you meet who has an authoritative voice and a habit of shouting when she's excited is a coxswain, but send her our way anyway... we need more.