This handout is meant to serve as a reminder of some of the key elements of coxing. Unlike high school and collegiate programs where boats and crews are under constant supervision of a full time coach, there will be times when you alone will be required to Cox and provide feedback to your crew. The procedures and techniques listed here will enable you to confidently Cox a complete practice, while providing safe, consistent, and knowledgeable coxing for the rowers.
Divided into three sections-- Safety, Communication, and Technique—this will give you a brief overview of the necessary procedures, commands and drills. Further information can be found in The Coxswain’s Manual.
Safety:
Of course, the primary emphasis of any row is on
safety. As a
coxswain, YOU ALONE are responsible for the safety of the crew AND the
boat. From "hands on" to
"tie-down" the boat is YOURS.
Treat it as such and expect your crew to do exactly as you tell them.
· Know the names of your crew and list them on the drill card.
· What to bring on the water: tools, drill card, Cox box.
· Be extremely aware of the boat when on land, watch the bow and stern, call "heads up," protect skeg/fin.
· Know hazards on the water (bridges, trees, weeds, kayaks, canoes, and motor boats)
Communication:
Chain of command: Coach->
Cox-> Crew. The coach tells the Cox
what to do, Cox tells the crew. Always
INSIST that the crew act ON THE COX'S ORDERS ONLY.
**NOTE: Different coaches have
different styles. Always defer to the
coach if he/she prefers a more active roll with the boat. Just make sure the crew is aware of whom to
listen to in this case.
When in the boat, the Cox is the only
one talking unless the coach is speaking directly to a crew member or questions
are allowed.
No talking from the crew from
"hands on" to "tie-down," especially on the dock.
Keep conversations with the Stroke
private (cover the mic).
When speaking to the crew, speak
slowly, clearly, and with confidence.
Be succinct with commands and
critique. Know what you're going to say
before you say it. REMEMBER, the crew
has their hands full trying to row the boat; they do not have time to interpret
your commands.
Always anticipate a new command by
two strokes, with the command being executed on the third, i.e. "In two
we'll weigh enough. One, two, weigh
enough."
Always call your cadences and
commands exactly at the Stroke's *catch*
Seek out feedback from coach and
crew AFTER landing. Actively look for
ways to improve your communication with the crew.
Always be POSITIVE and
ENTHUSIASTIC with your crew, you want them to improve and have fun.
Technique:
Launching:
When your crew is ready to lay
hold (all standing ready by the boat) check the beach/dock to make sure you
have a clear path and a place to launch.
Allow incoming boats to clear the beach/dock first.
Make sure your crew is balanced
bow and stern BY HEIGHT.
Call as follows:
·
"Hands
On" Crew grabs gunnels and is
ready to lift.
·
"Up an
inch." In unison, raise the boat only
enough to clear it from the rack.
·
"Walk it out
slow"
·
"Up and over
heads. Ready, UP"
·
"Face the
stern."
·
"Split to the
shoulders from stern. Ready,
split."
·
Before the boat moves
forward call out "heads up!"
·
"Walk it
forward"
·
BE VERY AWARE OF THE
BOW AND STERN AT THIS POINT. KEEP A
CONSTANT EYE.
·
Precede the boat onto
the beach/dock. Send the front four left
or right. When in position call
"weigh enough" and stand ready by the skeg/fin.
·
"Step to the
edge"
·
It is important to
perform the following commands in as fluidly and quickly as possible.
·
Up and over
heads. Ready, UP"
·
"Get an inside
grip"
·
"Roll to the
waist. Lean Out. And down."
·
Make sure they lean
out, and have a hand on the stern to make sure the skeg/fin clears.
On the beach/dock:
The aim is to get the boat
launched as quickly as possible in less than two minutes. The line up is to be set before "hands
on." There is to be minimal
talking; no chit-chat.
Call one side to oars, the other
to locks.
Allow crew to loosen stretchers if
necessary, but to make no adjustments until on the water.
·
"Countdown from
bow when ready."
·
"Extend
starboard/port oars. One foot in, and
down. Tie in, and count down."
·
"Lean away. Push off in two. One, two, push off."
Steering:
Be a part of the boat. Do not move
about unnecessarily as it will throw off the set. Ask Stroke regarding events off your stern;
avoid turning around if at all possible.
Pick a point and steer towards it
to avoid fishtailing.
Steer with your crew whenever
possible by adjusting port and starboard pressure.
Rudder movement will throw off the
set. Make small adjustments, when the
blades are in the water.
Anticipate turns by three strokes,
as it takes this amount of time for the boat to react. Conversely, anticipate the need to stop
turning by three strokes.
Docking:
Have your crew begin cooling down well in advance of the dock, usually about the middle of the last turn coming downstream.
As you approach the dock have the
bow 4 drop out and set. Then drop out 5 &
6 seat. Then go to arms and back (swing
pick) with stern pair. The idea being,
to slow the boat down but still keep it moving.
As your bow nears the dock have
the stern pair weigh enough, apply a little rudder, have the have the side on
the dock raise their oars and have the crew lean away. As your bow nears the beach have the stern
pair weight enough and all 8 hold water to stop the boat completely. Have bow get out and walk in boat and set
boat for crew to step out.
Call as follows:
·
“Untie and count
down.”
·
“On foot out, one on
the strip. And up.”
·
Call on side to oars,
the other to locks. The idea here is that oar handlers get their shoes while the locks are
being loosened, then the remaining crew can get their shoes while the oars are
heading up. This is crucial for
efficiency in removing the boat from the dock.
· Again stand by the skeg/fin. Call the next segment quickly:
“Get an
inside grip. Up to waist, ready,
UP. UP and over heads, ready, UP. Turn and face the bow (stern).
Position the boat to go onto the
racks BOW FIRST. Make sure the boat
isn’t resting on any riggers.
Common Drills:
Pick Drill: Most
common drill, used every row as a warm-up.
Half boat setting, half drilling.
All square blade: quick pick-
arms only, swing pick- arms and back, 1/4 slide, 1/2 slide, 3/4 slide, full
slide, then add the feather. Allows crew
to focus on the individual elements of the stroke.
Inverted Pick Drill: Legs
only, moving to legs and back, then legs back and arms (full stroke). Emphasizes proper drive sequence and good
front end suspension.
Outside arm only: Rowing with the inside arm behind the back,
blade squared. Focuses on the leverage
of the outside arm, drawing of the blade into the body, and control of handle
height during recovery. Helps the set
throughout as well as catch and finish precision.
Wide grip: Generally
done on the square, but not necessary.
Inside hand moves toward the oarlock, holing the oar on the carbon-fiber
shaft. Forces good lean around the pin,
proper pivot towards the rigger, lower inside shoulder.
Pause drills: One- or two-pause drills every ‘x’ strokes,
pausing at various positions, depending on the portion of the recovery needing
the most attention; finish, arms away, body prep, 1/4 slide, 1/2 slide. Works set, timing, and slide control.
Cut the cake: Blades feather and recover to either hands
away, body prep, 1/4 slide, or 1/2 slide before returning to the finish a
second time, then continuing to normal recovery—blade height remains
constant. This will help with all
aspects of the set being off, as well as working quick hands away, stroke
length, and rate.
Eyes closed: Continuous rowing with eyes closed (rowers
only). Forces crew to listen for slide
and catch timing, and to feel the body positioning. Helps timing, slide rush, catch, and lean
problems.
Feet untied: Rowing
with feet totally out of shoes. Forces
even foot pressure, clean release, controlled layback, controlled slide
recovery.