| New Coxswains Guide to AJRA |
 |
| Coxswains Guides - Coxswain Guides | |||||
| Written by Crank | |||||
Page 1 of 3 New Coxswain's Guide to AJRA
WHAT IS A COXSWAIN? "...that little person at the front of the boat who yells STROKE!" While that's probably the most you've heard, there is a LOT more that goes into it. The ability of a coxswain can determine the quality of a rowing practice. This set of hints, when combined with common sense and enthusiasm, will enable novice coxswains to face the more routine situations with a reasonable idea of what is. Let's start with where the word actually came from: Coxswain-1. From the Saxon: "cockes" ('for or of the boat') and "swain" (either 'lover' or 'servant'), thus: "Servant of the Boat". Unfortunately for rowers, we don't usually go by that definition. The coxswain is really the served of the boat. Each rower in your boat is under your control from the time he or she gets hands on until the moment the boat is back in place in the boathouse. Alright, so what do we actually DO? (we'll go into more detail later) · Steer the boat- Steering is KEY. A coxswain who is 85 lbs and says everything right has no advantage over a coxswain who steers the shortest, straightest course.· Motivate the rowers- In a 5,000 meter race, rowers will get tired. It is your job to keep them alert and pulling as hard as they can. · Act as a coach when there isn't one- Make sure the technique of your rowers isn't sloppy, and keep the race going according to the coach's plan. · Keep the rowers safe- Even though it is last on this list, this should be your NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. You are the brains on board, and you need to make sure you avoid conditions that could be dangerous. STEERING General Sit still and upright in the coxswain seat, bracing your feet against the board where the cox box is held. Hold the rudder lines or handles lightly in the V between thumb and forefinger. "Push" the rudder line AWAY FROM YOU on the side you want to steer toward. If you want to steer toward the right push your right hand forward, if you want to steer left push the left hand forward. It will take about three strokes to notice any change in course. Because the boat slides through the water, it will continue to move after the rudder has stopped being used. Therefore only small movements of the rudder are needed. Over steering is one of the most common mistakes of a novice. There is inevitably a blind spot where the rowers' heads obscures your range of view. Especially in conditions where there is a lot of traffic, it is important that you occasionally inspect the zone of the water blocked by the rowers' head. To do this SLIGHTLY lean out of the side of the boat, but be careful not to upset the balance by doing so.On the Hooch At practice, just stick to your side of the river unless there is a sandbar or another obstacle in the way. If you need to pass a boat, pass to their left. Going towards the boathouse from the dam (upstream) right past the fishing dock, you have to be almost on the wrong side of the river. That's okay; just watch out for boats, and only go as far as you absolutely need to. Another trouble spot: just upstream of the bridge, the current gets very strong. You CANNOT spin there. In a Race Oh, head races... They've been called coxswain races for darn good reason. With the long, winding course, you have to find the course that gets you to the finish the fastest, and not make a snake-like curve in your wake behind you. Once you get your course map for the upcoming regatta, try drawing a line of about where you want to be in the river. CUT CORNERS. If a boat is in your path and you are sure you are moving faster, the coxswain should get out of your way. If she doesn't, yell at her. If she still doesn't move as you approach, go around, and don't go too far out of your way. After you finish the race, tell a finish-line official what happened. MOTIVATION This is definitely the fun part of coxing. Only problem is, there isn't much to say about it. It's all about personal style and the people you are coxing. Almost everyone agrees, though, that saying anything negative is a bad idea. For example, try "LET'S GET THAT BOAT CLOSER TO US!" rather than "THAT BOAT IS WAY AHEAD OF US!" Go with what feels right to say. READ MORE ~Click on <Next>
|
