Calling all Rookies!
My definition of a Rookie in rowing is anyone training on the varisty squad for their first time. Rookie year was the hardest yet funnest. It was my Sophomore year of college which was my first year on varsity. It was a year of a lot of learning the hard way…making mistakes and trying not to make the same ones again all while telling upper classmen what to do.
What I quickly learned is that coxswains who are Rookies need to get over it. Someone is going to have to organize the boat and execute the workout. No matter what level a coxswain is the business side of a workout is an easy and simple way to get over the fact that you are telling Juniors and Seniors on the varsity what to do. In fact, they want to be told what to do and when to do it no matter who is sitting in the coxswain seat.
The trick is to not sound like a Rookie when giving commands. Even if you are unsure of what you are saying or calling say it with authority. Key word being, “Say,” not yell. Most importanlty end your commands or comments confidently and don’t let your voice trail off.
Lastly, the beauty of being a Rookie is that you are suppose to make mistakes. Let them roll off of your shoulder and get it right the next time.
Good Luck!
Posted at Thursday, March 19th, 2009 in: Intermediate Coxswain
Hi Mwhip+!
I’d say I’m in my Rookie year as a coxswain, but I’m in high school. I’m the Varsity coxn on my team and I’ve been coxing for about a year now, but I do feel like I am taken advantage of at times by the older rowers, even when I assert myself and speak with authority.
Any suggestions on how I could let my rowers know I know what I’m doing even though I’m not as experienced?
Thanks!
Shannon
Look for ‘Actions speak Louder than Words’ in the Q & A section for the answer to Shannon’s question. –mwhip+
Hey Mary!!!
This is my third year being a coxswain, and I know last year when I joined the varsity girls team i felt like i was always making mistakes and I thought I really sucked. But this year I think I’m a lot better! I know all the places on the river i need to avoid, like shallow areas and that spot under the bridge were there’s a sunken car. I guess it also helps that there are a lot of new girls who moved up from the novice team. Hearing the new rookie coxswains call power tens makes me laugh a little because it reminds me of what NOT to do. 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
PS: Way to get the gold in Beijing!! I met you at The Stotesbury Cup in ’07 when my coach made me sprint all the way up to your tent to talk to you and get your autograph, you had said you were going to the Olympic qualifyings in…i think you said Germany, but I never herd whether you made it or not until the summer Olympics. So a much belated con-grats on that as well!
Great Question Laila! Look for some answers in the Q & A section. –mwhip+
Hi Mary! Congrats! Your site is amazing!
I’ve started coaching High School Novis this Spring, and I was wondering how to help my coxswain’s figure out motivational calls during races/pieces. Thanks to YouTube, I’ve got them online listening to coxswain calls there. But I’m wondering how much you learned to say in your first year on the H2O. Between the warm-up, stake boats and steering, my novis certain have a lot on their plates! How do I help without overwhelming them? Thanks for any help you can offer!
Thanks Liane for your question. I answered most of your question in the Q & A section. You are right with not putting too much on a novice coxswains plate, but make sure that they are starting to get what they need to say and when to say it in a race. Hopefully with their enthusiasm as novices their voice will come across at motivating while they deliver the race plan. As a coach you need to make sure the coxswains know why they are calling a “Power-10.” I think a lot of coaches forget to tell their coxswains how to deliver a move. Too many moves are wasted because the coxswain didn’t frame it right. So make sure that you talk with your coxswain before the race and have the coxswain recite the race plan to you and then ask them why they are going to call a move or what the move is for? Then hopefully when your coxswain is in the race they will deliver the call for a reason, which is to move on the field closer to the finish line. Hope your season went well.
–mwhip+
Hi Mwhip!
I’m a novice cox in high school and feel like I’m doing pretty well. My only real problem is that I often have trouble docking even when i have a helpful wind, and I’ve even run up on the dock once or twice. my coach tries to help but she has no idea what she’s doing because she sometimes mixes up port and starboard so that usually makes it worse. I was wondering if you have any tips? Thanks, Lucy
P.S. My boat made it into nationals, but we will have really tough competition at Mercer’s Lake. any calls that you think i should make to motivate my rowers?
Hi Lucy,
Check out the Q & A section for motivation. –mwhip+
Hey Mwhip. I have been around the boats awhile, and now that im a rookie, its even harder having to fill my sis’s shoes. Even though this is her last year, i really dont want to mess up with or without her. any tips?
Taking over for someone who has had the seat for awhile is a tuff one. A coxswain brings a certain vibe to the boat and when that vibe is gone some rowers don’t like the new voice. With that said, just be very flexible and willing to take criticism. You must be yourself but be aware of what the rowers need to hear from you. Don’t be afraid to use certain phrases that your sis used when she coxed but try to make them your own or your teams own, if that makes sense. Each year is new and inside jokes are always created or movie quotes always seem to work their way into practice. Enjoy being on the team and fill that 9th Seat the best that you can.
Good luck and don’t forget to Steer Straight! If you steer straighter than the coxswain before then the rowers will start liking you more!
–mwhip+
Mwhip,
What is a move? i guessed that it is moving up on other boats, but how do you execute them? what do they entail? what do you do if your are way in last?
Some other coxswains call moves, “Power-10′s.” It is simply a part of your race plan. It is a chance for your boat to unify all their effort in changing the speed of their boat or change the momentum of the race. Moves only work if everyone in the boat commits to it and that they keep the momentum going after the move is done.
Hi,
I love your website, it’s so helpful! I have a question. What do you do when your rowers complain a lot about hard pieces and talk back to you about everything, even getting the boat out of the water?
It seems to me that there is a break down in team protocol. You should speak with your coach about your concerns and your coach is going to have to address the effort and expectations for the hard pieces and how to execute the hard pieces.
As for the talking back…that also has to be addressed by your coach on how to treat teammates with respect. It seems like your team needs to organize how to effectively communicate with one another. With that said make sure that you are treating your teammates with respect and recognize their efforts of hard work. Make sure that your words are correct and effective and that you present a clear message to your crew.
Good luck and steer straight!
mwhip+
Hi there,
i’m a new coxwain and i’d like help with motivational calls and respect. As a rower there was nothing more frustrating than having a bad relationship with your cox and not being able to trust them with their judgement and knowledge. I used to row but I got a serious injury so this is how I can still commit to the sport or life style! I’m bonded with my crew from rowing with them, but I want to establish more respect as a coxswain. I know how to turn and stear a boat well, and I want my crew to know and trust i’ll so the right thing for the crew. My other query was if you knew any good motovational calls that could get the boat running a bit faster and stronger?
Thanks.
Hi Elizabeth,
There is an entry called, “Creating Motivations.” There area great examples from other coxswains as to what calls have worked for them.
mwhip+
Thanks for this article!
I’m a sophomore in high school and this is my first time coxing varsity. At first I felt awkward telling people with a lot more experience what to do, but now I feel like I’ve improved once I’ve gotten to know my boat. However, sometimes they don’t listen, like when we were rowing with a double feather and after a few minutes they wouldn’t do it anymore because they were tired. Then my coach yelled at me because they weren’t doing it. What do I do in this situation?
Hi
I’m from Vashon Island and this is my rookie year and I feel that I’m not saying enough in the varsity boats. I need more things to say, during the practices so that I would benefit the rowers, and so I have a better vocabulary in the boat.
Thank you
-Rayna S.
P.s. Olivia Sayvetz, was one of my varsity coxwain’s.
Hi Rayna,
Stay confident in what you do know and start paying attention to not what you say but when you say it. Graduating to the varsity boat doesn’t mean you need to talk more or be more motivating. It means that you need to listen to your rowers and coach and let the boat speed dictate WHEN you need to remind your rowers what your coach has been having you all work on.
The timing of your calls is more important than what you say. So the longer you’ve been coxing or the more feedback your rowers and coach gives you the more boat feel you can develop. Having great boat feel will make your better than the next coxswain.
Steer Straight!
Mwhip+