Coxswain Terms/ Calls

Hull

the actual boat. The hull is very thin and fragile. It scratches and can be punctured easily. Be especially careful when moving the boat, always listening to the commands of the coach and the coxswain. NEVER step over the hull; always walk around.

Decks

there are both stern and bow decks on the shell. These decks form compartments to trap air for flotation in the event of swamping or flipping.

Vents

There are vent hatches in both the bow and stern decks. When closed they trap air; when open they allow air flow to dry out any moisture in the fore and aft compartments. It is the responsibility of the coxswain and bow seat to close the deck vents. There are often vent hatch covers under the seats also. These allow access for adjustments to the seat tracks.

Gunwales

these are the top outer edges of the boat. A lifting point

Keel

runs the length of the hull, down the center, for structural support.

Ribs

run perpendicular to the keel, against the hull, for structural support. A lifting point.

Seat

on wheels that allow forward and back movement. Also a rower's place and # in the boat.

Tracks

guides in which the seat wheels roll (also called slides).

Foot Stretcher

adjustable plate to which the shoes are attached, allowing adjustment for length.

Foot Pad

space between the front of the tracks that is the only place you step when entering the boat.

Rigger

metal or composite "arm" attached to the exterior of the boat that holds the oar.

Oarlock

"U" shaped plastic part in which the oar is placed.

Gate

screw-down rod that keeps the oar from coming out of the oarlock.

Shaft

the long straight main section of the oar; usually composite.

Blade

the flat part of the oar that enters the water. Either hatchet shaped or, in older oars, tulip (Macon blades).

Handle

the oar part you hold on to; may be wood or composite with rubber grips.

Sleeve

plastic plate about 2/3 up the shaft that goes in the oarlock.

Collar

plastic piece attached around the sleeve that is pressed against the oarlock keeping the oar in the proper place.

Clam

a clip-on plastic piece that fits against the collar adjusting the load on the oar.

Catch

The beginning of the rowing stroke where the oar blade is set in the water.

Drive

The part of the stroke where the blade is pulled through the water.

Finish

The final part of the stroke where the blade comes out of the water.

Release

Pushing down on the handle to raise the blade out of the water at the end of the stroke to begin the recovery.

Recovery

The part of the stroke where the rower comes slowly up the slide to return to the catch.

Feathering

Rotating the oar in the oarlock with the inside hand so that the blade is parallel to the water.

Leg Drive

Pushing with the legs against the foot stretchers on the drive.

Rushing The Slide

Coming up the slide to the catch too fast causing one's weight to be thrown toward the stern causing the boat to check (slow down).

Missing Water

Not getting the blade into the water soon enough causing one to miss part of the beginning of the stroke (sometimes called rowing into the water).

Washing Out

Raising the blade out of the water before the finish of the stroke.

Skying

Coming to the catch with the blade too high above the surface of the water.

Run

The distance the boat moves after the release while the rower is on the recovery.

Puddles

Made when the blade is released from the water. Run can be judged by the distance between puddles.

Crab

When the oar is not released cleanly from the water. A rower "catches a crab" when the oar gets stuck in the water at the finish.

Coxswain

The person sitting in the stern of the shell who steers, gives commands to the crew and passes on the coach's directions to the crew. A good coxswain is just as important as the rowers and through good steering, calling a good race plan and motivating the crew can make the difference between winning and losing. When the coach or the coxswain is talking no one else should be saying a word.

Check It Down

A call for all rowers to square their blades and drag them through the water in order to slow down or stop the boat. The call can also be made for certain rowers only, such as, "check it on port" or "stern pair check it down". "Check it down hard" usually means there is an emergency and the boat needs to be stopped immediately.

Hold Water

A call for the rowers to square their blades in the water while the boat is sitting still. This keeps the boat in a set place.

Let It Run

A call for all rowers to sit with blades off the water at the finish, allowing the shell to glide through the water. Done correctly, the boat will be set (balanced) and no blades will be touching the water. A good drill for correcting set problems, especially those related to lean and handle heights.

Power 10

A call for the rowers to take "power" strokes, giving it everything they can for a certain number of strokes. This is used in races to make a move on another crew and, in practice, to build stamina and let rowers realize both how hard they can pull and how that affects the boat's speed. Can also be a "Power 20" or more.

"Back it down"

With the shell sitting dead in the water, the rowers bury squared blades in the water and push the handles towards the stern. Result is that the shell moves backwards.

"Check it down"

With the shell moving, the rowers partially bury squared blades at the finish to bring the shell to a stop as quickly as possible.

"Easy"

Called to end a piece or race so that the rowers know when to they can ease up on the pressure.

"Easy on port/starboard"

Called to assist in steering the shell when the rudder is not enough. The side called drops down to paddle pressure.

"Hand is up"

The coxswain communicates with coaches and officials by raising their hand to acknowledge they heard the given instruction. Also, when aligning the shell prior to a race, the coxswain will raise their hand and ask the bow seat to raise their hand if their point is off. When all hands are down, the race will begin.

"Hands on"

Called when the shell is on the water and the coxswain wants the rowers to move the shell. Let's the rowers know to get ready to pick up the shell.

"Hard on port/starboard"

Called to assist in steering the shell when the rudder is not enough. The side called increases to max pressure.

"Heads up"

Called when the crew is carrying the shell across land to alert nearby pedestrians to be aware.

"Hold water"

Called when crews are attemption to align prior to a race or piece. Once the adjusting crew has nearly reached alignment, the rowers bury squared blades to stop the shell.

"In two"

Used to call changes during rowing, it's most common for the coxswain to give the rowers two strokes notice before changing drills, stroke ratings, pairs, etc.

"Let it run"

Called when the coxswain wants the rowers to stop rowing and let the shell's momentum continue to move the shell through the water.

"Oars across"

Called once all the oars are secured in their oarlocks prior to launching. The rowers then push the oars out to the button.

"On the feather"

Called to let the rower's know to feather their oars on the release of each stroke.

"On the square"

Called to let the rower's know to maintain squared oars on the release of each stroke. A variation of the is the 'quarter feather' where the rowers slightly feather their oars on the release.

"On this one"

Another way of calling shifts between pairs and drills.

"One foot up, and out"

Called when the shell has pulled up to the dock to let the rowers know that they can get out.

"Over heads, ready, up"

Used to alert then tell the rowers to lift the shell over heads.

"Paddle"

Notifies the rowers to row at light pressure, usually prior to the start of a piece or immediately following.

"Power 10 or 20"

A move or part of a race where the crew takes 10 or 20 strokes at maximum effort to increase hull speed.

"Ready all, row"

Called to alert and tell rowers to begin rowing.

"Set it up"

A technical call used when the shell is leaning to either port or starboard.

"Sit Ready"

Used prior to a racing start to inform the rowers to move to the starting position, usually three-quarters slide.

"Settle"

Called during the race following the start sequence to have the crew settle to their base cadence.

"Scull"

Used when sitting in the starting dock to move the point of the shell to port or starboard. To move the point to starboard, the bow starboard will take the port oar behind them and take short strokes to move the point to starboard. The call is either, "3 scull 2" or "2 scull bow".

"To shoulders, ready, up"

Used to alert then tell the rowers to lift the shell to their shoulders.

"To waist, ready, up"

Used to alert then tell the rowers to lift the shell to their waists.

"Ship oars in/out"

To slide the oars out to the oarlocks, or to pull them back across the shell; whether on the dock or to avoid clashing oars with another crew.

"Spin it"

Called to turn the shell around. When the shell has been stopped, one side will back it, while the other side takes arms only strokes.

'Way Enough' or 'Weigh Enough'

A very common call by a coxswain to tell the rowers to stop whatever they are doing.

At The Catch

Rower's arms are at front of chest, swing the body forward from the hips and compress the legs so they make a 90 degree angle with the water

At the Finish

Legs are down, back straight, and leaning back a little, the handle is close to the chest and the oar is in the water. End of a normal stroke

Bow

Nautical term for the front of the boat. This end spears through the water, and the coxswain looks towards this. Rowers look away from this. Has a ball on it to protect the boat.

Bow or Bowman

The rower in the seat closest to the front of the boat, therefore the last seat, but counts as the first seat. First to count off with __ and not "one"

Catch

Position or act when the oar goes into the water at the start of the stroke.

Coxbox

Small device carried by Coxswains. This sits at a holder at the stern of the boat, and when batteries and cabling permit, it allows the coxswain to relay her amplified commands to the rowers.

Drive

Part of the stroke where the blades are in the water. Arms are straight and the back is straight and pitched forward. Rowers start by pushing down with their heels and making full contact of their foot with the foot stretcher, then push down with the entire leg, followed by swinging open the back and pulling the arms toward the body.

Eight

A boat with room for 8 rowers and the coxswain.

Feather

What you do with the oar when it comes out of the water. Once the oar comes out you rotate it so that it's parallel to the water. this action is controlled by the inside hand, (hand closest to the oar blade). If you don't correctly feather you can crab.

Finish

The end of the stroke when the blade is removed from the water.

Gunwale

The edge of the boat. This is the bit that you can grab when you are getting in and out of the boat.

Handle

The part of the oar you can hold.

Hull

The outermost part of the boat which touches water. The skin. This is fragile, don't stand on it as you will go through it and the boat will sink. Stand on the struts and cross-pieces instead as they are built for this purpose.

Launch

The small boat which carries the coach, spare parts, safety equipment and spare rowers.

Oarlock

The square looking thing at the top of the rigging. Each rower unscrews it, inserts the oar and then screws it back down. This holds the oar in place. Keep lateral pressure with the outside hand from the end of the oar keeps the oar's collar flush against this.

Port

The nautical term for left. Opposite of starboard.

Pyramid

An escalating series of power sets followed by an equal series of decreasing power or stroke ratio sets. Like this: 10 normal strokes, Power 10, 10 normal strokes, power 20 etc

Ratio

This refers to the proportion of the drive to the recovery. With a stroke rating below a 22 most boats will keep a 1:3 ___ (1 count for the drive, and 3 counts during the recovery to fully compress the body) Above a 24, rowers will move at a 1:2 ___

Recovery

The part of the stroke when the blades are out of the water. This is after the drive and you are allowing the momentum of the boat to slide you forward to the catch position. This is where you recover your breath, move forward to the catch, and get ready to drive again. the proper sequence during this is hand, body/back over, and then leg compression.

Rhythm

When all the rowers are rowing precisely together, the boat has this. It moves efficiently, and it's a pleasure to row.

Seat

The tiny plastic or wooden seat which rests on two tracks. The rower balances on this and slides back and forth during the rowing motion.

Set

This is the balance of the boat. Keeping the boat __ means keeping the boat balanced.

Square

When the coxswain wants you to ____ the oar blade you hold it vertical to the water. Usually this is just before you drop in the oar and pull.

Starboard

The nautical term for right. Opposite of port.

Stern

Nautical term for the back of the boat. When the coxswain sits. Rowers looks towards this. Where steering mechanisms are located.

Stroke

Rower in the stern most position. First rower. Rower who sets the pace, The rower that all the other rowers watch, Last rower to count off. In an 8 it's rower 8.

Swing

Occurs when the entire crew is moving perfectly in unison and the shell seems to be moving fast without much effort.

Walking the Gunwales

Switching rowers on the water without the help of the chase boat. Rowers straddle other rowers and make their way along the boat with hands and feet on gunwales. The other rowers lie back and let the switchers pass over them. If the rower is not walking or being walked over, they are setting the boat with their outside hand. If the trip is a long one you might find the switcher stops and has a rest on your chest.`

Ready all, Row

Command to begin rowing.

Hold water/Check it down

Call makes the rowers drag their oars through the water perpendicularly. Stops the boat, and can be effective when turning the boat.

Hold (port or starboard)

Having only one side check their blades results in a turn to that side.

Let it Run/Let it Glide

Call for all rowers to stop rowing and to pause at the finish, oars off the water, letting the boat glide through the water to a stop.

Weigh Enough

Call to have all rowers stop rowing with blades dragging on water.