UA Novice rowing calls

Back it

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 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

Used to show that alignment of the boat is off before a race

Hands on

Called when the shell is on the water or in the boathouse 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 stroke

Another way of calling shifts between pairs and drills

one foot on strip one foot on dock

Used before the rowers get into of out of the boat

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 and slow rate, 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

Wayne off

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

Up and Out

Used to tell rowers to get out of the boat when at the dock

Ports Back, Starboards Row

used to make a 90° turn at a race or at practice

Lengthen 10/20

Used near the beginning of a race or piece to have rowers focus on settling their pace so they don’t fly and die