Creating Motivations
Q: Even though I make sure I’m constantly telling the rowers information like rate, position against boat/on river, and technical reminders I feel like i don’t have enough motivation techniques to get them past other boats. You wouldn’t happen to have any tips on creating motivations would you? I don’t want to end up saying the same phrase 10 times during a race. Thanks!! 
Laila
A: I get asked this question all the time, “What do you say to really get your girls going?” I’ll let you all in on a little secret…it doesn’t matter!!!! I cannot tell you the phrases that are going to get your rowers motivated because I don’t know your rowers.
So when I’m sitting in the coxswain seat and need to pull out some motivational phrases I…
- Think about what you would want to hear if you were in a world of pain and needed encouragement to finish the workout.
- What are your team goals?
- What are the goals of the workout?
- What are the personal goals of your rowers?
- Do you have a race coming up? If so start calling seats off of your upcoming competitors boat. Make scenarios of walking through your rivals boat.
- Are there any practices that you all talk about because it was so good. Remind them of that memory during the workout.
- Use inside jokes.
There are many ways to motivate and that is the beauty of our position. We have to find ways to trigger emotions from our rowers. With any motivational phrase you choose it has to be delivered in a believable way. Coxswains have to sell the phrase and make rowers believe their words. So keep your ears open and listen to the ways your rowers motivate each other. Be their teammate and be there when they need that extra push. Choose wisely but believe in your words and deliver with passion.
Good luck!
mwhip+
Tags: motivation, practice, racing
Posted at Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 in: Coxswain Q & A
One thing that always seemed to work well for me was (and this only works if you know your rowers well) to work individually with a rower during a piece. If I knew one guy’s trigger then I’d call it. I’d call it and then ask the other 7 guys to reach a little deeper for that guy’s motivation. When people talk about rowing as the ultimate team sport, it’s not just because you row together. You sweat together, you work together, and you share emotions. When those triggers can be spread across an entire boat the movement is awesome.
Just my $.02.
LK
quick question- what kind of inside jokes would you mean? -Lucy
Inside jokes are just that. I can’t tell you the kind of inside jokes that I used because it wouldn’t mean anything to anyone else other than your group of rowers/teammates. Some blanketed examples would be referring to another team or rower by a nickname. Or reminding your boat of some of the crazy workouts you have achieved that no one else has done. Or labeling/dedicating a move for a team goal or someone like a teammate or coach. There are many ways to hit someone’s trigger like my good friend Lacy said in her comment. Bottom line, try to bring a little personality into some calls when appropriate. –mwhip+
When I’m looking for motivational calls.. I go to the rowers! I ask them after a practice of pieces or drills, what did you like, what didn’t you like, how was the tone, etc. Also, a favorite thing of my girls is that when we row by other crews in practice, sometimes they get the funniest calls from other coxswains that they love and ask me to say that to them to pump them up. Motivational calls though, change if you change boats, so its pretty personal to the rowers, and your crew as a whole.
happy coxing! -meg
In my last race against a younger and more experienced crew, my crew was incredibly impressed with our cox. One great thing was that she would tell us where we were with respect to the leading boat, saying things like “We’re gaining on them. I want their coxswain.” and later “10 hard strokes, I want their 4 seat.” It made a big difference when all we could see was water. Because she was also a rower she said things like “I know your quads are burning but give me everything!” and I know that rowers on my crew really appreciated that. Another cox I’ve rowed with is wonderful about yelling things like “Legs!” on the drive. In general, it seems like the more the cox seems engaged in a crew’s performance, the more they want to give.
[Rower learning to cox]
Thanks for your thoughts! Rowers perspectives are always great. Coxswains should definitely not be afraid to ask their teammates if what they are saying is being effective. Any junior rower making the switch to collegiate coxswain has a lot more experience than they think in regards to what they should say in the boat. I like to say things that would make me want to work harder. That is why I feel it is very important for coxswains to work out and if possible do the land workouts with their teammates and when the workout gets hard and you want to quite, what do you tell yourself to get you through it? Those kind of situations will help you when you are on the water and in the 9th Seat!
What about swearing? Almost all of my rowers this year responded really well to swears, so I used them sparingly so they would keep their effect. The one problem I have though, is that I can’t use those four letter words in full pressure pieces during practice because my coach- who is very uncomfortable with swears- can hear me from his launch. What do you suggest that I do?
(pushed button to early)
It seems that swearing really ramps up the power, and I don’t want to sacrifice this during practice. I can get the power in other ways- but I want my rowers to have a realistic race piece.
Remember that at many races boats are disqualified for swearing. Think about reducing or eliminating such words from your coxing vocabulary. It’s too easy to accidentally throw in a cuss word during a race and get dq’d. It doesn’t matter how great it makes your rowers push themselves if the boat is dq’d, also it makes you, your boat, your coaches, and your entire program look irresponsible. Remember that beyond getting the win you are a representative of your program and the way that you behave and the words that you use are a reflection of this. Finally, remember that practices are meant as a way to prepare for the racing season and there’s no sense in using things like cussing if they’re not allowed at races. By the way this is coming from a cox/bow rower who otherwise loves to cuss.
I say try not to swear in practice. There are plenty of words to use to get the job done in practice. Do try to make your calls as aggressive as you would during a race at practice but try not to rely on swearing because it will lose its affect. With that said…if a little 4 letter word sneaks out of your mouth during a real race don’t sweat it. Do be aware that some racecourses have a no swearing policy and you will get assessed penalties.
Bottom line, listen to your coach….but don’t be afraid to let your personality come out.
Steer Straight!
mwhip+
Back with another question-
Singling out rowers when talking about power.
It always seems to work for that guy who is really pulling once you said his name (and the guy behind him) but what about the other 6 guys in my boat. Its not that I really notice anything, but sometimes I feel guilty about leaving out rowers who are really pushing it! I have some guys who in all honesty are pretty self centered, and whenever i don’t say one of their names during a race, I feel like they may have lost focus for a few strokes because of my call.
Don’t get me wrong, all my calls are for the good of the boat as a whole, but sometimes i am concerned that i am breaking a few cocky guys’ focus.
Should i incorporate everyone, no one, reword my call to make the cocky guys really show me what they got?
Let me know
Thanks!
When I ever decide to encourage an individual rower it is because no matter what anyone says, people push harder when they hear their name. During a race or a piece I make sure that everyone is engaged and usually it just happens that I say or encourage all the rowers by name. Not because I know they will like it or need it but just because I want to make sure that there is “no stone went unturned” so-to-speak.
So if you feel that your cocky guys need a little something don’t hesitate to give them what they need.
I have a specific series of 10′s that often work with my crew. I start with a power ten, then a concentration 10 to bring back the rate, then 16 strokes, two for each rower calling out their name, followed by something to get them going. sometimes they require a little extra focus after the second power call, but it seems to get them motivated well.
This is a great example, thank for writing in Erin!
I agree with Mary Whipple, in that what motivates one crew may not motivate another. What worked for me last season (the spring season of my senior year in high school) was really getting to know the rowers – what they are proud of, what they like hearing at certain points, their fears, their tactics, etc.
I feel the best opportunity to learn your rowers – as athletes and not just as friends – is during the “off-seasons,” most notably winter. See what their limits are, and help them bust through them.
I also feel that doing some of the workouts with will help greatly. Not only is it awesome to see a cox doing a 2k, but you also get to learn what parts of the race are most trying and torturous.
I’m a Novice coxswain and loving it, but my first race is tomorrow and I don’t know what to specifically say to motivate the rowers. Any suggestions?
Honestly just go with your gut and have fun. Once you are in the boat live in the moment and stick with your race plan.
Steer Straight!
Mwhip+
hi, i have been a coxswain for almost a year and its been with the exact same people in my quad. i know these girls like the back of my hand and we have talks after every practice about what they think of my coxing that day. i have read above in previous comments and i have been doing everything you have mentioned a coxswain can do, i know my steering isnt perfect but i am certainly not awful at steering. my critiqing is always exact and i help improve the boat as a whole (im trying really hard not to come across as bragging!!!) but i do tend to repeat some motivational phrases sometimes. i have about 30 phrases i use, but the rowers say they hate my motivational words… i NEED help!
Oh no….I’m sorry that your rowers are not reacting to your motivational calls. I’ve said this before but I firmly believe that it is not what you say but WHEN you say it. It sounds like you and your crew are a little burnt out with rowing with each other. You all need to let the rowing and boat moving speak for itself and react to how the boat is moving. Taking good strokes together is addicting so try and put some spice into the row and make it a goal to make the boat feel good and react to that boat feeling. That way your calls won’t seem fake or flat. Creating calls that are spur of the moment and that are created from a reaction you are feeling are the best calls.
Steer Straight!
Mwhip+
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