Coxswain's Responsibilities

Rowers:

What exactly is the coxswain's role on the freshmen team.

1. Safety. The coach and the coxswains together ensure that you, the rowers, are safe. Whereas the coach makes sure your technique is proper to avoid injury, the coxswain makes sure he steers you safely down the river, reminds you to re-hydrate when there are a few seconds to catch your breath, and report to the coach any comments on rower fatigue and complaints. Safety is the first and foremost responsibility.

2. Motivation. The coxswain needs to learn what charges each rower. Is it competition? Is it teamwork? Is it personal achievement? Coxing is not just a series of calls...it is not "row row row." Absolutely not. If the rowers don't respond to a certain call, figure out what call does elicit the desired response. It is very much a problem solving role. Go home after practice and think about what calls worked and what calls didn't. Discard the ineffective and rehearse the effective.

3. Be Prepared. Ready rowers: THE COXSWAIN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WATER BOTTLES! Figure it out. Bring your water down when you bring the oars down. Bring it down before warm-up. But do NOT throw your water bottle into the coxswain's arms just before we get hands on the boat. Coxswains, you must have in your hands a cox box, headset, and head band. If you remember, bring some tools for quick fixes in the boat. Most importantly, your cox box must be charged. Please do not be on the dock and discover your box is out of battery. Charge it after practice!!! Once the boat is on the dock, no one should be running back up to the boathouse. You and the Captain will make sure both sets of oars are down before warm up. If there's another pair, rowers, grab them.

4. Be On Time. Coxswains, please always keep an eye on the time. When we are boating out, it should not take more than 3 or 4 minutes. Same thing for when we dock at the end of practice. You must be in control of where your rowers are. Make your calls efficient and clear. "Starboards stay with the boat, Ports oars." "30 seconds." "Starboards, run out your blades." "Starboards, one foot up and in." "Starboards hold, Ports in." "Countdown from bow when ready." "1..2..3..etc." "Push off the dock in two: 1...2" And your off. This is a system.

5. Protect the Equipment. When our hands are on the boat, the coxswain is the only one voice. Protect the skeg and rutter with your life. Remind the rowers of the riggers in the boathouse. Make sure the boat doesn't scratch against other boats. "Shoulders in 2." "Hands in 2." "Heads in 2." Etc. Make the calls LOUD and CLEAR. LOUD and CLEAR!

We are developing a routine, something that will be done the same everytime we row.