Technique

 

“You play the way you practice.”

Pop Warner

 

I.                   The Basic Rowing Stroke:

 

If you remember one thing about the basic rowing stroke it should be that the stroke is ONE CONTINUOUS MOTION.  In other words, at no time during the stroke should you hesitate, pause or otherwise stop.  For teaching purposes, the stroke can be broken down into four major parts: the catch, the drive, the release (or finish), and the recovery.  In order to fine tune each part, we will add pauses and isolate certain aspects.  But, keep in mind that we are trying to achieve one continuous, fluid motion.

 

Below is an outline of the basic technique that we will be focusing on during the year.  A strong foundation will be essential in becoming an outstanding technical rower, which is why we will spend so much time reinforcing these ideas.

 

A.                 The Catch:

1.      Definition:  The catch is when the blade enters the water.  A solid catch is direct and quick.

2.      Body Sequence/Positioning:  At the catch, the legs are bent so that the shins are vertical.  The body is bent forward (or toward the stern) at the hips at about 60 degrees.  Good posture with the lower back is important here.  The key is to achieve the body-angle forward by rotating at the hip joint and not reaching forward with the upper back and shoulders.  The arms are stretched forward.  To place the blade in, the arms are raised slightly at the shoulder joint.  The shoulders should stay relaxed here, just allowing for the arm movement.

3.      Blade Work/Oar Handle Positioning:  At the catch, the blade should be buried just to the point that all the paint is covered by the water.  It should be squared completely (vertical).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.                 The Drive:

1.      Definition:  The drive is the part of the stroke when the blade is in the water.  To the outside observer, it may appear that the blade moves through the water.  However, we prefer to describe it as the blade being locked in the water and the boat being pried past the point of blade entry.

2.      Body Sequence/Positioning:  The key to body sequence/positioning on the drive lies in the concept of suspension.  Suspension is achieved as your legs push against the footboards and the arms and back pull on the oar handle.  If you are properly suspended, the body should follow a very natural, unfolding sequence on the drive.  The legs will initiate the motion while the back and arms act to stabilize the effort.  When the leg drive is about ¾ finished, the back will swing open (towards the bow), followed closely by the pull of the arms.  The body should work to stay suspended as long as possible through the drive.  There should not be a break in the momentum of the handle between the leg drive, back swing and arm pull.

3.      Blade Work/Oar Handle Positioning:  The blade should travel at the same depth throughout the drive, creating a small hole in the water behind the blade.  For this to happen, the oar handle must be pulled horizontally from catch to release.  With proper suspension, the shaft of the oar should bend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C.                 The Release:

1.      Definition:  This is when the blade is extracted from the water at the end of the drive.

2.      Body Sequence/Positioning:  To release the blade from the water, use the outboard hand to push downwards.  The legs remain straight, the body remains slightly angled backwards (towards the bow), and the head and chin should be behind the hands and the oar handle.  After the blade is released, the inboard hand works to feather the blade.  (see blade work description)

3.      Blade Work/Oar Handle Positioning:  As the hands push downwards on the oar handle, the blade should pop out of the water still vertical.  Once the blade is completely out of the water, it can be feathered.  As soon as the blade is released from the water, the wrist of the inboard hand cocks downward (feathering), just like giving gas on a motorcycle.  The oar handle will be brought very close to the chest but should not hit (about 1 inch away).  It will follow a small “c” motion down and away at the release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.                The Recovery:

1.      Definition:  This is the part of the stroke where the blade is out of the water (after the release) and you are preparing for the next catch.

2.      Body Sequencing/Positioning:  The sequence of the body on the recovery is: arms-body-legs. After the blade is released from the water, the hands move away from the body while the rest of the body holds its position from the release.  After the arms are straight, then the body swings forward at the hip joint and reaches full body-angle forward position (about 60 degrees).  Once this is completed, then the legs begin to bend, bringing the whole body up the slide towards the catch, or the stern.  During the recovery, the inboard band works to feather and re-square the blade.  (see blade work description)

3.      Blade Work/Oar Handle Positioning:  The oar handle moves horizontally for the first part of the recovery (while it is feathered).  As the inboard wrist starts to slowly roll (squaring) the blade back up, the handle starts gradually moving upwards to prepare for the catch where the wrist is once again flat and horizontal.  The wrist should be fully rolled up by the time the legs are bent to half slide.  The blade, in turn, will travel about 4 inches off the water while the blade is feathered (1st ½ of recovery) and about 1-2 inches off the water when it is squared (2nd ½ of the recovery).