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It's been too long. I miss writing and being heard. My season's over. I almost quit a few times and my guys restored my faith in myself. (I didn't think I could do it anymore, I didn't think that I deserved to be in the boat, I didn't think I was helping or that I was on the same level of talent as the rest of my boat. They reminded me that I am.) When you are the coxswain for the best and fastest boat on your team, everyone makes a natural assumption that you are the best coxswain on the team. I (being in that position) am looked upon to lead the team and give advice to anyone who asks. It is my job to look after the other members of the team and I take pride in the fact that the guys notice that I am the only cox who is nice to the rowers who aren't in my boat on both the guys and girls teams.
I may not always like the other people on my team and I may even trash talk them a little (however distasteful you all may find that) but I am sure that I get my fair share of shit talked about me. No one is perfect, least of all myself. I know that and I will openly tell anyone that I am far from perfect.
My point in all this is that I am always dispensing advice to the other coxswains and telling everyone how I want to make national team and how I am trying to go the selection camp this summer. The guys in my boat prove themselves everyday (or almost everyday.) Now it's time for me to do the same. I have to cut TWENTY pounds to get where I want to be for the ID camps.
I have gotten by as the varsity coxswain simply by the fact that my coach put me there. I admit that I didn't give it my all this past season. I assumed that whatever I was doing was good enough to get me into the boat, it should be able to keep me there.
No more just getting by as the Varsity cox. I am raising the bar. On the letters I wrote to my guys at the end of the season I finished with "Are you ready to take it to the next level?" Now I as the coxswain have to lead that. I have to do what is the obvious job of all coxswains, I have to lead. I am no longer lying to myself and saying that I am doing what all the other coxswains are doing. I am going to do it.
I have to steer the straightest lines now, I have to be able to make anyone push until they cry and puke (at least help them, I know that I can't make them give me all they've got but I have to try.) I have to have more determination and desire than all the rowers combined and I have to convey that to the guys in everything I do. I have to have their trust completely and I have to know erg times, height, weights, phone numbers, birthdays, inner motivations, desires, goals, and pet peeves. How do I get that with them? How do I make a relationship with my rowers that would make them sacrifice their left nut for me? (or boob if I make the national team (laugh please) ) How do I know when I have that relationship? As much as I handed out advice, now I need it. Any one have any ideas on those questions?
I've been handing out advice and encouragement left and right and now I have to put my money where my mouth is. I have to do everything that I've been telling everyone else to do. Now it's my time to prove myself to the team, Robbie Tenenbaum, my boat, my coaches, and myself.
Here I go...
Never forget to fight.
~YogiB
P.S. SEND ME FEEDBACK!! PLEASE!!!! I miss you guys!
User Comments: | Subject: Re: Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is | |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2002-12-24 00:04:24 | Comment:
Its a tough thing, becoming the best and raising the bar. Obviously you have something inside you because the coach wouldnt put a shitty cox in an excellent boat....as strange as they may be most coaches arent stupid. You have to latch on to whatever your coach saw and just push yourself everyday. Just because you screwed up a call or hit a buoy doesnt mean you arent national material it means you had a bad day. Shake it off and just keep going.
First and foremost its about attitude. Always ask "How do I carry myself in front of rowers?" "How do I execute calls" "What body signals do I send out when I mess up or when coach yells at me?" The best advice my coach ever gave me was that if I ever screwed up wether the boat noticed or not do it with authority. Thats the most important thing is to be authoratative without abusing your power. There is a time to goof off and play and there is a time to be serious.
The next is physical conditioning. Rowers, but not all, respect a cox more when they can flex some muscle. Being in shape can help you focus, give you more of an attitude and help you channel into what your rowers are feeling. Plus being in the gym with rowers gives you an excellent oppurtunity to spent time with them. Rowers spend most of their time in the gym so take the time to spend time with them. If you have to drop 20 lbs for ID camp....trust me DO IT NOW BEFORE YOU GET CRAZY. Start with little things like 10 squats every time you sign online or 5 push ups when you open the fridge to get a snack. It adds up at the end of the day.
Moving onto forming bonds...since they are guys its a little harder to know much about how they are feeling but body language can tell you a lot about your guys. Be intuned to whats going on before and after you get off the water. Listen to them. Sometimes you learn the greatest tidbits about people when you are just sitting around the trailer or boat house. Make it a point to remember what you hear. Sometimes I write myself a note to remember what makes them mad, or sad, or birthdays..anything you remember about that you can ask later signals them you care on and off the water. You can also make it a point to talk to your rowers outside of practice. Since I am in college, I go and visit my rowers or call them if I noticed one was having a bad day. I also open myself up, and become friends with them because it allows them to trust me more. This year I got put into a new boat and it was hard because I had spent a long time forming bonds with the men's 8 but I applied the same techniques and so far so good.
The last thing is trash talking...watch what you say and who you say it to. Its OK to blow off steam because another coxswain is stupid or a rower pisses you off but it makes coxing harder when that rower ends up in your boat or the coach sends you to help the coxswain with something. Remember they are your teammates and you have to put up with them. Keep trash talking to trusted friends and family.
This is really long and I hope that this helps
MWCCOX (I lost my password)
| | | Subject: Re: Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is | | Submitted by YogiB (
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) on 2002-12-28 21:19:33 website:http:// | Comment:
Thanks for such a detailed response. I really appreciate it. You helped me a lot.
Happy New Year!
Never forget to fight.
~YogiB
| | Subject: Re: Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is | | Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2004-04-20 16:08:48 | Comment:
good idea about the squats, etc... im around 5 from the min so that may really help me. good point about the trash talking too- i know its like some unwritten rule that coxies get ALL the blame when something goes wrong... but is there some way to keep the trash talked about me behind my back to a minimum? it really gets on my nerves and doesnt ever help the boat's time. i love crew, but sometimes the people just drive me crazy! thanks for the advice, and for everyone-> we're all doing the best we can and trashtalking is a.) high school b.) not helping and c.) shady
hope someone listens to this!
imnotshortimfunsized (i also lost my password!)
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| Subject: Re: Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is | |
| Submitted by Coxiebelle (
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) on 2002-12-31 19:28:14 website:http:// | Comment:
I only wish i knew where you are coming from. Just give it everything and know that the whole team is behind you. We love you. Jut go girl!
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| Subject: Re: Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is | |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2003-10-05 09:27:52 | Comment:
Go for it coxie!
In a way I can see your view, coz I won cox of the year at my club this year and now everyone just expects me to be down there all the time and I can't! I live 25mins car ride away from the club, and there are NO buses. Every time I want to row or cox I have to go "Dad...."
Do your best. If you believe in yourself implicently, your guys will start to believe in you and your thoughts too.
Try a martial art! I know this sounds very odd, but I have now done judo for 5 years and the strength of mind that gives you is amazingly strong, you cannot win unless you believe, right from the start that you can. It works.
I don't know whether youcox a bow loader or dtern, but do you find that its easier to get the best out of your crew in a stern loader? I do coz I can look into their eyes and know how they're feeling and working. That was the only way I got my eight to get a good placing in the WHORR (London) I'm told I have a certain steely glint in my eye!
As for losing weigt, I understand, but be careful, if you loose it too quick you can make yourself seriously ill. Try and cut down gradually and don't quit eating!
Anyway GOOD lUk go win some!
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