Tips for Rowers in the Coxswain Seat

By Liza Dickson

While it isn’t everyone’s favorite thing, it is a huge benefit that taking turns in the coxswain seat is the norm at SRA.  I have worked at several clubs that struggled to find coxswains and were not willing to take this on.  I ended up coaching A LOT of masters’ practices from the coxswain seat.  Here are some basic tips that I think will help everyone out, or at least ease some anxiety the next time you are in the coxswain seat.

The first thing I talk about with anyone before they cox is their priority list of responsibilities:

1. Safety!   #1 responsibility is to the safety of your crew, yourself, and your equipment.
2. Steering.  After safety, I want my coxswains to be where they are supposed to be
3. Commands.  The basic running of practice.
4. Motivation.

Number 1 and Number 2 are so important to me that I usually do all the commands for my new coxswains when possible.  That way they can focus on safety and steering.  While that may not be possible as you jump into the seat, don’t worry about complicated commands and motivation until you feel comfortable with safety and steering – especially if it’s dark.  Rowers may be rowers, and put some pressure on you otherwise, but remember your first two priorities!

Thanks to Matt and Ethan who helped me compile the list.  As you all know, every coach is different.  We tried to stay with general tips that most coaches feel are important.

GENERAL TIPS

1. Arrive early on the day you are coxing if possible.   Have your tools with you. Have a headlamp if required. Be dressed for the weather.
2. Use that time to review the workout and location with whoever will be coaching you that day.  Also, ask them how they prefer to communicate if you aren’t sure.  Hand raising, etc.  If you aren’t clear what their expectations are while on land, it’s hard to have a good practice.
3. Check your coxbox in the boat you are using while it is on the rack or in slings.  If you don’t know how to use it - reset, set time, etc. ask another rower or coach.
4. It’s fine to take a piece of paper with the workout and instructions with you in the boat.
5. On the water, it’s always okay to ask your coach for clarification if something doesn't make sense, or if he/she didn't specify something (rate, point, destination, etc.).
6. Anytime the coach makes a call, you should raise your hand high and straight to acknowledge. if you didn't hear it, then stick your arm out to the side and make a sweeping motion
7. Don’t forget, you know a lot from being a rower!
8. We all want to do a good job for our coach and our teammates, but at the end of the practice, if you have kept everyone safe, returned the equipment to the boathouse and gotten the workout in, that’s a win!

SAFETY

1. The overarching principle here is, if you are ever uncomfortable or feel unsafe, JUST STOP! While every coach is different on this, this is the number 1 rule Ethan and I tell our coxswains – we know a stopped boat needs us.
2. We can’t prepare you for every scenario that could happen on the water, but you have knowledge and experience based on your time rowing.  You also have other people in your boat.  If you stop rowing, you can collect your thoughts, or ask a teammate to help you handle whatever it is that is going on in that moment.

STEERING – it takes practice!

1. A boat will not respond like your car:  it will take a few strokes to start to turn AND it will continue to turn for a few strokes after you center the rudder.  This response time is different in each size boat and depending on how many people are rowing, at what pressure, if doing a drill, etc.
2. Less is more.  Do the least amount you have to with the rudder.
3. Don’t start rowing unless you are pointed in the right direction. taking an extra moment before you go will save you countless meters over needing to adjust a bad course.
4. Before you start, you should know what to point at and when/where to stop. (if you don’t know this, ask your coach for clarification).   Communicate with other boats on their point.
5. when you are rowing, you should drive in "racing lanes" with the boats around you.  Nothing drives a coach crazy like having boats all over the place.  Stay together.
6. talk with the other coxswains around you, especially for steering. if there is a big buoy and you need to turn to port, let the other boats know so you can all make the turn

COMMANDS

1. Use your common sense - your specific words don't matter as much as delivering the information clearly.
2. Be concise – you don’t need to speak in complete sentences
3. Before you do anything, you are going to first inform the crew of what is to come.  For pause drills and swapping pairs/fours - lay out for the crew how you want the pausing/switching to take place before you start the piece (i.e. will they switch pairs during the pause or will you call the switch separately from the pause?)
4. When you need to count strokes, do it at the catch
5. Rowers will want to know rate and time/distance in pieces.

MOTIVATION – once you have a handle on all the above, you can start some motivational calls.

1. Think about things that motivate you, and things you hate to hear in a piece.
2. Ask your crew for the same thing.  In fact, ask them if they need motivation AT ALL!  Some may just want to hear the rate, time and where other crews are.