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"Rowing has brought so many incredible things to my life including lifelong friendships, fitness, discipline, enjoyment, travel, and much much more."
"There are few things better in this world than rowing in perfect time with 1, 3 or 7 other people on flat water when the sun rises or sets. It brings people together to achieve a common objective like no other sport can." Coach Wisniewski
If you’re looking at this page, chances are you’re interested in joining crew or you’ve just joined and want to know what you’ve gotten yourself into. Either way, we hope to answer some of the questions any new rower may have.
Do I need rowing experience?
Most of the athletes on
H
T Crew have joined our club with no experience at all. Although there are junior rowing programs in the local area, it’s rare for athletes to have tried crew prior to their high school years. No experience is necessary, but desire to learn is a must!
What is a coxswain?
Coxswains are leaders. They must steer the boat down course, provide direction to the rowers, and act as an intermediary for the coaches. Most inexperienced people think a coxswain merely sits in a boat and barks orders, but coxing is so much more. Coxswains must establish a relationship of trust with their team and coaches. They need to instill confidence that the equipment is safe in their care, they will provide clear commands for the rowers to follow, they will keep one eye on the competition at all times, and they will strive to make the crew go as fast as they can possibly go. A coxswain is the glue to any boat and it is important that a big personality take on the role. You don’t have to know everything about rowing to become a coxswain. The rowers are learning along with you, but coxswains must take that extra step to learn all parts of a rowing stroke and how to perfect it without actually rowing. Coxswains are the only team members that may talk during rowing pieces and may even give direction while the coach is coaching. The coaches count on the coxswain to keep the rowers and boats safe, even if the coach has not provided any direction to the coxswain directly. If you're a take charge kind of person, coxing is right for you!
What should I wear?
It is important not to wear loose fitting clothing to practice. The seats in the boat slide back and forth on two tracks. If you are not wearing spandex-type shorts and a properly fitting t-shirt, the material can get caught under your seat and stop your rowing mid-stroke. Since everyone behind and in front of you will keep rowing, stopping may cause undo harm; usually a swift hit in the back by the rower’s oar behind you. Layers of clothing are best for rowing in the cold weather that is common in our fall season. It is important to keep your hands and body warm during the warm-up and times when you may not be rowing because the coach is working with another section of the boat. You will be given time during practice to peel off layers if you’re working up a sweat. Sneakers and socks are required for all practices! Please don’t wear flip-flops or sandals unless you plan on running in them.
What equipment do I need to bring?
All of our sport’s equipment is stored at the Cooper River Boathouse. The only thing you need to bring is yourself! A reusable water bottle is highly recommended for every practice. The Boathouse does not allow disposable plastic water bottles.
How will I know if practice is cancelled?
Practice is rarely cancelled. We row in all types of weather, including the rain. Only times practices may be cancelled are in the presence of high winds, lightining storms, or extreme cold. Currently, all of the coaching staff are comprised of non-school staff, so communication to the team is placed upon the captains who make sure any changes to practice are announced over the loud speakers at school. A phone chain is also organized at the start of the season to ensure that each person is called individually. When in doubt, show up for practice! Your coach will not take out an unasafe boat that has less than amount of required rowers.
On your first day, you may notice that rowing has an entirely new language to learn. Don’t worry if you don’t understand what “feather your blades” means. The coaches and experienced coxswains will help you through it. They may forget to explain terms before using them, so please ask if you don’t understand. Below are some of the key words you will hear.
“Weigh Enough/Way ‘Nuff”- (Listed first because it’s the most important term) Command used to stop all movement of the rowers and/or boat. Also alerts all rowers that another command or coaches’ instruction will follow.
Blade - The portion of the oar which enters the water.
Bow – The forward-most portion of the boat. Also the name of the rower who sits in the bow of the shell.
 Catch - The action of placing the blade of the oar into the water. Also, the position at the front of the slide from which the blade is placed into the water.
“Check it down” – Coxswain command to square the blade and placing it in the water stiffly, thus acting as a brake. The intent of this command is to stop the forward movement of the shell as quickly as possible. The coxswain also may command “Hold water” instead.
Cox-Box – A portable, rechargeable, electronic voice amplification device which coxswains use to assist in communication with the crew while in the shell. Also provides data feedback on stroke rating, elapsed time, and the number of strokes taken.
Coxswain - Member of the crew who coordinates the rowers, issues commands, and steers the shell. In an 8, the coxswain is seated in the stern of the shell; in a 4+, the coxswain is usually seated in the bow.
Crab - Undesirable loss of control of the oar while rowing. Frequently, a situation in which it is impossible to remove the blade of the oar from the water. In severe cases, a crab may result in the rowers’ ejection from the shell.
 Drive – The portion of the rowing stroke when the blade is in the water and the oarsman is applying pressure to the footstretchers, oar, and seat. The primary means of propelling the shell.
Eight – Also notated as 8+; a sweep boat for eight oarsmen with a coxswain.
Ergometer – Also known as the “erg”; a stationary rowing machine used for training.
Feather - Technique which involves rotating the handle of the oar 90 degrees so that the blade is parallel to the water. Feathering is used predominantly to decrease wind resistance. If an oar is feathered underwater or feathered before the stroke is finished, a crab may result.
Fin – Also known as the "skeg"; a straight, flat stabilizing structure which extends vertically downward and aids in maintaining a straight course while underway. It is fixed near the stern of the shell.
 Finish – The point in the rowing stroke when the oar is taken out of the water.
Foot stretcher – The adjustable structure to which the oarsmen's shoes are attached in the shell.
Four – A sweep boat for four rowers, with or without a coxswain. 4+ refers to a four with coxswain; 4- refers to a four without coxswain.
Gunwale – The vertical portion of the shell perpendicular to water's surface to which the riggers are attached. It is used by oarsmen to hold the shell while it is inverted. Pronounced "gunnel".
Inside Hand – The rower's hand which is furthest down the handle, and closest to the rigger, collar, and oarlock.
Layback – The bow-ward lean of rower at the finish.
Oarlock - An U-shaped swivel of metal or plastic that holds the oar with a "gate" across the top.
Outside hand – The rower's hand which is placed at the end of the shaft of the oar.
Paddle – A small amount of pressure applied by rower necessary to keep the shell moving slowly with almost no effort. The coxswain will command, “On the paddle.”
Piece – Units of work during a practice. For example, practice is broken down into "pieces," such as two 30-minute pieces, four 10-minute pieces, or 20-stroke pieces.
“Power 10” - A tactical burst of speed for 10 strokes; sometimes accompanied by an increase in the rating.
Port - The left side of the shell as one faces the bow.
Puddles - The swirls of water left by the stroking oars. The distance between sets of puddles (spacing) is a measure of the boat’s send when adjusted for different stroke rates.
Quad – Also notated as a 4x; a shell with four scullers, using 8 oars.
Racing Start - The first 20 to 40 strokes of a race, quicker than those of the rest of the race; the first few usually have less send.
 Recovery - The portion of the rowing stroke when the blade is out of the water and the oarsman is rolling toward the front of the slide towards the catch.
Release - The maneuver in which the oar is taken from the water on the square and feathered away from the body.
Rigger – The metal structure bolted to the shell which holds the oarlock and oar.
Rudder – The flat, movable structure used by the coxswain to steer the shell, located near the fin.
Scull - A rowing shell classification in which each oarsman uses two oars. Also, a technique used to move the bow of the shell sideways to adjust its heading while at the starting line.
Seat – Also known as the slide; the wooden or plastic sliding platform which the rowers sit on.
Set – The balance achieved while rowing when the shell is level in the water and all oars are not touching the surface of the water.
Square - Blade position with the oarface held perpendicular to the surfact of the water; the opposite of feathered. Also the action of rotating the blade from feathered to squared.
Starboard - The right side of the boat as one faces the bow.
Stern - The back of the boat, which the rowers face towards while rowing.
Stroke - The 4th or 8th rower in the boat, closest to coxswain. The stroke leads the crew and sets the stroke rating. Also refers to the entire rowing stroke.
Stroke rate - The number of strokes per minute.
Sweep – The class of boat which each rower uses one oar.
Tracks – The grooved metal guides which align the seat as it slides back and forth in the shell.
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