Write-Up from this past fall

Port Rowing’s Masters program had a great showing at the HOPR (Oct 13, 2012) coming in 2nd in the Masters Womens eight race. Many of the rowers from the successful ‘Four’ that rowed in Saratoga increased their racing experience rowing in this eight. The rowers (Christina Nadolne-bow, Mary Small-2, Brittney Flynn-3, Laura Halll-4, Deirdre Suanders-5,Tara Passoni-6,Laura Santala-7,Susan Steinberg-Stroke) were extremely grateful to have a multi-season high school coxswain join their crew for this race. Alex Herron stepped up, reviewed lineups, analyzed his athletes, reviewed coaches notes, and coxed the race as if he had been in a boat with these women all season long.

Port Rowing’s Masters Learn-to-Row had another successful session this past Sunday (Oct 14, 2012). 6 new rowers, accompanied by 2 current Master rowers learned the basics of sweep rowing. The program included on-land review of water/boat safety, on-land rowing technique using Concept2 ergs, how to carry a rowing shell, and lots of terminology. The group employeed all they learned as they launched into Hempstead Harbor, enjoying a calm comfortable October Morning. The High School team stepped up again, with varsity rower Phylicia Waskover helping out as coxswain.

Coxswain Clinic Outline – 26 May 2012

Here is the outline of the Coxswain Clinic that was held on May 26, 2012.

It was presented by Sarah Obernauer – s.obernauer@gmail.com

I. Safety
-#1 job
-Observing traffic patterns
-Handling wake
-Always parallel to wake, never perpendicular

II. Steering
-Always look ahead; Watch for hazards to avoid large steering changes later
-How to steer- small motions; Less is more
-When to steer?
-Blades in v. blades out
-Tell crew “on the rudder”
-Picking a point
-One on port, one on starboard: keep your boat in the middle
–Or, pick a center point on the horizon
-Working with other coxswains
-Coxswain on the right sets the course unless otherwise instructed
-Communicate regularly re: points, starting pieces, bringing boats even, etc.
-Keeping boats together: why is this important?

III. What to say?
-Practice v. racing: You get out what you put in
-We v. you
-Command v. conversation
-Tone
-Confidence & ownership
-Speak clearly & controlled
-When to speak
-Embrace the silence
-Fillers
-Technical calls
-Identify. Correct. Assess. & What. How. When.
-Speaking to individuals v. boat
-Kick, send. Rhythmic calls
-Motivational calls
-Internal v. external coxing
-meters, time, rating
-Moving on crews; Taking seats

IV. Demeanor
-How do you want to be n [by teammates, other crews, coaches, etc.]?
-Element of professionalism & composure
-How your attitude affects the team

Which crew do you want to be a part of?

When I was racing – I used to go to a lot of different water-fronts. I met a lot of people. And I saw a lot of different crews. I saw how they operated, and how they interacted within their crews, and with other crews.

One of the great things about our sport is the high standard that we hold ourselves to. That’s one of the things that got me hooked on crew. We expect a lot of ourselves, and from our crews, and from other crews.

My crew was amazing. On land we were a huge family. We did everything together – classes, meals, studying – and we pushed each other in the gym too. On the water – we had a very simple goal – Make the boat go fast. Work hard – and “prove it on the water”.

Here is where my crew and some crews that I observed differed. We wanted our boats to go fast on the water. We wanted every other crew to have the opportunity –on the water – to try to beat us. If that meant helping a crew with a broken rigger, seat or oar – well – we were up for that, whatever they needed to get onto the water, we were always willing to help. We were going to “prove it on the water” – which meant – they had to get on the water. Hey – this is rowing – if you want to win – you have to row.

With some other crews – I didn’t see that same attitude. Those crews were happy with a ‘win’ if they were the only boat in the race. They were happy with the ‘win’ if another crew couldn’t get to the starting line on time.

Which crew do you want to be a part of?

Rowing that Last Meter – Rowing that Last Second

I have discussed this several times with the early group this winter – and it deserves to be said a couple of more times…

If you are racing, or erging, or working out – you need to ‘go after’ that last meter, that last second… If you don’t – your competition will be glad to have it. On the erg – if there is 1 second left on your monitor – or on the water – and there is one meter left to the finish – you push yourself – and take it.

That’s your meter – that’s your second – don’t give it up to anyone – they don’t deserve it – its yours.

Don’t let up on that last second – don’t let up on that last meter. Your boat can’t glide into the finish, and your erg can’t coast that final stroke.

When you leave the race course, or get off the erg – you need to know in your head, that you went for that last meter, went for that last second. After the last boat is docked, after the last competitor gets off the erg – you need to know in your head, that you gave it your all. When you go check those race results, when you check your 2k time – if you come up 1 tenth of a second off – 1 meter shy – you need to know in your head, that you went for it. You can’t get back on the erg, you can’t go back and take one more stroke – that opportunity is gone.

That last second – that last meter – it could be the difference between 1st and 2nd place, it could be 1st or 2nd boat, it could be making a national team or not. Make sure that if it is 2nd – it isn’t because you eased off that last second, that last stroke.

That last second – that last meter – is more psychological than physical – your head needs to be stronger than your body.

That last second – that last meter – how will you handle it?

Thoughts? Comments?

Thanks,

Coach Mike

Things Coxswains Might Say on the Water

Hey Team!

It is almost time to get back on the water. Do you remember the things the coxswain might say?

Here are a couple of standard “on the water” phrases/words:

“READY TO ROW!” Command to begin rowing. Cox will generally gives specifics of warmup or drill, otherwise rowers row regularly on hearing the final command, Row. “All four, Sit ready to row. Row!”

“SQUARE ON THE READY” Used by cox to clarify at what part of the command the rowers are to square their blades. In windy weather or heavy current it may not be feasible to “square up” until the final command “Row!”. In calm weather it is more feasible to square up early so that all rowers are assured of catching at the same time.

“HOLD WATER!” or “CHECK IT DOWN!” ­ Coxswain call that makes the rowers drag their oar blades through the water perpendicularly, effectively stopping the boat. “All four, Hold Water!”

“HOLD (PORT or STARBORD)” Having only one side check their blades results in a turn to that side. Having one side hold while the other rows will turn the boat tightly. “Port, Hold!” “Port to hold, starboard to row. Ready to row. Row.”

“LET IT RUN!”­ “LET IT GLIDE!” Coxswain call for all rowers to stop rowing and to pause at the finish oars off the water, letting the boat glide through the water and coast to a stop. Used as a drill to build balance. This command is used in some programs interchangeably with weigh enough although originally it meant something different. “All Four, Let it run!”

“POWER 10 (or 20 or 30 etc.)” ­ Coxswain call to take a certain number of power strokes. A power stroke is a stroke that musters all the strength you can give. “Power 10 in two, One! Two!”

“WEIGH­ENOUGH!” ­ Coxswain call to have all rowers stop rowing with blades dragging on water. Call actually sounds like “way­nuff”. “In Two Weigh Enough. One! Two!”

“SLOW THE SLIDE” or “ADJUST THE RATIO” ­­ Used to correct either a rush or sluggishness on the recovery. The ratio compares the time used by the hands away from the body motion to the slide speed. “Stroke Slow the slide.”.

“BACK IT DOWN” ­­ Row backwards. The blades do not need to be turned around in the oarlocks although they can be. “Bow four, back it down”

“DOWN AND AWAY” ­­ Push the hands down fully at the finish to give the blade more height off the water. “Number Three, hands down and away!”

“QUICK HANDS AWAY” –The down and away motion after the finish should be executed quickly to maintain balance. This is often easy for the coxwain to see.

“EARLY” ­­ A part of a stroke is early. By itself, the word usually refers to the catch timing. “Number Six, you’re early.!”

“FINISH TIMING” ­­ A reminder to the crew to align their finish times. “Five, watch your finish timing.”

“FEATHER”­­ Roll the blades to the feather position. “All eight to feather, in two. One! Two!”

“LAYBACK” ­­ Go to the layback position. “All eight to layback.”

“PADDLE THROUGH” ­­ Row at no pressure or to stop the drill/ piece. Instructing one side to paddle through will turn the boat to that side assuming the other side is rowing regularly.”All eight, Paddle through.” “Port, Paddle through!”

“LATE” ­­ A part of the stroke is late. By itself, the term usually refers to the catch timing. Do not use this over and over without explaining which part of the stroke is late and how to correct it. “Three, you’re late.”

“SQUARE” ­­ Make the blade perpendicular to the water. “All Four, On the Square!”

“TOUCH IT UP” ­­ Someone to row gently to align or position the boat better. “Bow, touch it up.

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