How to compete in Crew?

Question

ok im going into high school next year and taking Crew as my fall sport. i am planning on being the cocksan. can anyone give me info or a site with info on the sport???

Answer 1

The coxswain does not just sit there and yell. It is the cox's job to motivate their crew, to steer the boat, to notice bad technique, and to inform the rowers of where they are in a race as well as where the other boats are. It is an important job.

This is now my third year of college D1 crew, and I love being the coxswain. These sites helped me when I was first learning:

http://www.row2k.com/

http://www.firstandthird.org/tables/rowi...

http://www.coxie.com/

Good luck!

Answer 2

The cocksan is the smallest member with the biggest mouth.  You just sit in the back of the boat and yell at the people who are rowing.

http://www.usrowing.org/NewToRowing/View...

Answer 3

Very good response by rowan8286.

The coxswain can make a huge difference in races.  They need to appreciate that in a race, the rowers are at near their maximum effort almost the whole time.  To ask for more power is a somewhat delicate thing. You can ask for it in short bursts, such as 5 strokes or 10.  

Having a good eye to keep everyone in near perfect time will add boat speed, and improve the chance to win.  Understanding keeping the arm pull level, keeps the oars in the water at the right height, and again, helps boat speed.

Male coxswains at my college did the off water workouts.  Helped them appreciate the effort required by the guys pulling the oars.

Steer a straight course.  I was in a boat that lost a race because the coxswain followed a curve in the side of the course when he should have gone straight ahead to the finish.  His turn cost us about 30 yds, and put us behind by 20 yds. Yes, we had been ahead.  We caught up, but lost by 2 feet, as he then steered us too close to the other boat.

You don't want to be telling your boat where the other boats are.  That means you're behind.  But some coaches advocate a relaxed early race, with a big fast finish.  In that style, you may need to let them know their position.

Answer 4

The coxswain does not just sit there and yell. It is the cox's job to motivate their crew, to steer the boat, to notice bad technique, and to inform the rowers of where they are in a race as well as where the other boats are. It is an important job.