Rowing Glossary Blade: Boathouse: Buoy: Bow: Bowball: Bowman: Button: Catch: Check: Collar: Cox Box: Coxswain: Crab / Catch a Crab:

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Terence Moore
6 years ago
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1 This document is designed to be a source of educational information for rowers and their families, with articles pertinent to Northville Rowing Club and the sport of rowing in general. Rowing Glossary Below are some of the most common rowing terms that you will hear from your rower. We guarantee you will become familiar with not only these, but many more! Blade: The wide flat end of the oar that is in the water. Blades are usually painted with team colors; NRC is orange and black. Boathouse: A building used for storing boats. Buoy: A floating marker that is sometimes used to lay out a course. Bow: The front section of the boat and the first part of the boat to cross the finish line. Also: The rower in the seat closest to the bow. Bowball: A small rubber ball that covers the end of the bow, protects the boat against damage in case of a collision. Bowman: (see also bow) The number 1 seat in the bow. Button: (aka Collar) A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock. Catch: The moment the blade first enters the water Check: An unwanted motion of the boat when it appears to momentarily stop in the water. Collar: See Button Cox Box: A battery powered, small amplifier that allows the coxswain to communicate with the crew and also gives the coxswain stroke rate information. Coxswain: (pronounced cox-un) Person who directs the boat, crew and acts as an on-water coach. Coxswains are typically small and light but must meet a minimum weight. Crab / Catch a Crab: A stroke gone bad. Happens when the oar blade slices the water at an angle and gets stuck under the surface, acting like a brake on the boat. Comes from the excuse given of "a crab grabbed the blade and wouldn t let go. Deck: The part of the boat at the bow and stern that is covered with fiberglass cloth or a thin plastic. Double: A boat with two rowers. Eight: A boat with eight rowers and a coxswain. Ergometer: Rowers call it an "erg." A rowing machine used for training that closely approximates the actual rowing motion. Preferred ergs give a digital readout of strokes per minute and distance. Feathering: Turning the oar blade parallel to the water during the recovery, to lessen wind resistance. Fin: (aka skeg) A small flat appendage located along the stern section of the hull which helps stabilize the boat in holding a straight course. Finish: The oar blade leaving the water at the end of a stroke. Foot Stretcher / Stretcher: Where the rower's feet go. An adjustable plate to which a rower's feet are secured. Four: A boat with four rowers. May or may not have a coxswain. Jumped Seat: The unpleasant happening when a rower slips off his seat while rowing. Keel: The center line of the boat. Launch: To put the boat into the water. Also: the boat which the coach uses to follow the crew. Lightweight: Refers to a division for the rowers, not the boats. There is a maximum weight for lightweight rowers as well as a boat average. Oar: Used to drive the boat forward. Rowers do NOT use paddles. Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the movement. Note that rowers face backward, coxswains face forward. Port-rigged: A boat rigged so that the stroke oar (#8) is a port oar. Power 10: A call for rowers to do 10 of their best, most powerful strokes. It's a strategy used to pull ahead of, or hold off, a competitor.

2 Puddle: The swirling effect in the water caused by the movement of the oar, particularly at the end of the stroke. Used to determine Run. Racks: Wood or metal structures in the boathouse used to hold the boats. Ready-All, Row: Starting command for most races. Recovery: The time between drives, when the blade of the oar is traveling through the air. Repechage: The second-chance race which ensures that everyone has two chances to advance from preliminary races. Rig: The art/science of setting up a boat for the rower(s). Rigger: The triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oars. Rudder: The device used to steer the boat. Run: The run is the distance the boat moves during one stroke. You can figure run by looking for the distance between the puddles made by the same oar. Scull: One of the two disciplines of rowing - Two oars per rower is called Sculling. Set: (aka Set-up) Balancing the boat as it is rowed. A boat is set when all the oars are equidistant from the water. Shell: The boat. Can be used interchangeably with boat. Single: A one person shell. Sky: Lowering the hands too much, causing the oar to be too high off the water at the catch. Slide: The set of runners for the wheels of each seat in the boat. Slings: Collapsible, portable frames with straps upon which a shell can be placed. Split: The time a crew takes to complete a 500 meter segment of a race. Squaring: Term describing the turning of the oar from horizontal (feathered) to vertical (squared) blade position. Stakeboat: The small anchored boat that is used to hold the shells in place before the start of a race. Starboard: Right side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of movement. Starboard-rigged: A boat rigged so that the stroke oar (#8) is on the starboard side. Stern: The back of the boat. Straight: Refers to a shell without a coxswain (i.e. a straight four). Stroke: A part of the rowing action. Also: The #8 rower, who sits closest to the stern. The stroke sets the rhythm/cadence for the boat that rowers behind must follow. Strokerate: The number of strokes per minute. In a race, usually between 34 and 38 strokes per minute. Strokewatch: Used by the coxswain to measure the strokerate. Swamped: A boat is swamped when it is full of water and can't be rowed. Sweep: One of the two disciplines of rowing - one oar per rower is called Sweep Rowing. Swing or Swinging: The hard-to-define feeling when near perfect synchronization of motion occurs in a shell, enhancing performance and speed. Tank: An indoor training device that consists of a row of rowing seats next to a tank of water. Allows rowers to feel their strokes in the water. Wash: Wake turbulence caused by the motion of the boat through the water. Weigh-Enough: A coxswain command to have all rowers stop rowing. Sounds like "way 'nuff"

3 Coxswain Facts "I am a member of a team and I rely on the team; I defer to it and sacrifice for it because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion." ~ Mia Hamm Thanks to Hollywood, many people think that the role of the coxswain (pronounced cox-un) is to simply sit in the boat and yell stroke so the entire crew stays together. Nothing could be further from the truth! The coxswain, or more commonly the cox, is the eyes, ears and brains of the boat. The cox is responsible for steering the boat, commanding the crew, and the safety of the boat and crew. Rowers should consider the cox to be "captain of the ship" and an extension of the coaching staff. There is a very special relationship between rowers and their coxswain - the process by which the they learn to work together and develop mutual respect for what the other is doing, is essential for winning crews. Steering the Boat... This is the coxswain's main role. The steering of a 60+ foot long boat, with a very small rudder and rowers of different strengths is not easy and the coxswain who can steer a true course and stay off the rudder as much as possible to avoid drag will make a tremendous difference to a crew. Beyond steering, the coxswain plays a critical role in keeping all members of a crew on the same page. For safety - of both people and boats - No rower, at any level of competition, does anything without the coxswain's command. This includes no talking when taking the boats to/from the water. Listen to your coxswain. Coaching... In addition to steering, the coxswain helps the rowers by pointing out flaws which they may not have noticed; being late at the catch, washing out or skying. A good coxswain can really help a rower and good rowers appreciate the fact that when a coxswain says something, it is done to help everyone and make the boat go faster. Rowers need to listen to the coxswain and at the same time, coxswains need to be sensitive to what rowers are having to deal with. Race Day... On race day, it is the coxswain s job to keep his or her crew in the race, mentally, physically and strategically. The coxswain must keep the crew informed as to where they are in the race (ex. 500 meters down, half way home, 100 to go, etc.) and also where they are in relationship to other crews. A properly timed Power 10" may allow a crew to sprint past another boat and go on to victory!

4 Dressing For Practice Rowers will be outdoors and on the water in a wide range of weather conditions. The weather, along with alternating peak activity and idle periods, make taking a few minutes to think about and plan practice clothing very important. Below are some tips as we start training. Land Practice: Rowers may be running outdoors, working with weights and on ergometers or a combination of all three. Good running shoes, socks and layers of clothing warm outer wear with conditioning clothing underneath is recommended. Don't forget a hat or headband that covers the ears and gloves. Tight fitting trou are needed for the ergs - NO gym/basketball/baggy shorts! On Water: The best clothing for rowing is soft, stretchy, breathable and fairly form fitting. Always have sun protection. In hot weather, a t-shirt and trou are fine. Once it gets cold, you'll need layers - see below. Again, gym/basketball/baggy shorts are NOT allowed in the boats. Rowers should have several light layers avoid bulky garments that retain moisture and emphasize lightweight 'wicking' materials, including a wind and water-resistant outer shell. Throw what you aren't wearing and extras (socks, etc) in a bag to bring with you every time, as conditions on the water can change very quickly. ALWAYS bring a complete change of clothing to every practice! Layering - Important for keeping warm and maintaining body temperature. Rowers' needs will change during practice depending on exertion and weather conditions, and having multiple layers enables them to add and remove clothing as needed. o Base layer of synthetic fabric: Form fitting and intended to wick moisture away from the skin. It is a thin material, and similar to base layer garments worn when skiing. Polypro, CoolMax and similar are good choices as athletes will get wet from perspiration, rain and splash. Multiple base layers can be worn for added warmth. Loose clothing in a boat is a hazard! NO basketball style shorts or sweatpants - they easily catch the seat rails causing injury and damage. Close fitting, breathable rowing trou are standard for a reason. On colder days, rowers may want to wear cycling/running tights or similar for warmth. o Insulation layer: A synthetic fleece garment worn on colder days when extra insulation is needed. Thicker than the base layer, but not bulky; Polartec or Polarfleece clothing is in this category and is great to pull over the base layer. Some fabrics have wind protection built-in. Again, avoid loose clothing. Sweatshirts and bulky jackets get caught on rigging and oar handles. o Outer Shell: Protects against wind and water and retains the warmth of your previous layers. Ensure that the shell breathes and is relatively form fitting. Hats People lose most of their body heat through their head. On cold days, wear an insulating, snug hat. Ski caps are inexpensive and do a good job. For warm weather, baseball caps are great for shading the face. Some rowers like to wear headbands to keep sweat out of their eyes. Hands - Hands get cold while rowing, however, athletes CANNOT row or handle boats with gloves. The reason for this is that rowing requires a tactile feel of the handle. Gloves can be brought and worn when on land, or consider investing in Pogies (rowing mittens that fit over hands and oar handles. Hands stay warm without compromising grip) for practice. Dry Clothes on Land Especially on rainy days and for the ride home, rowers should have dry clothes to change into when they get back on land. Sweats or fleece clothing that can be quickly and easily pulled on are ideal. Athletes are asked to change quickly so that we can continue with team activities.

5 Socks - Synthetic or wool will help keep wet feet warm. Minimially, one pair for practice and a second, dry pair for after practice is highly recommended. Shoes Rowers must have running shoes for land practices. For on water days, rowers need shoes they can quickly and easily slide in and out of on the dock. Waterproof Clothing - Waterproof clothing is not recommended for rowing - but a water resistant outer shell is. True waterproof clothing tends to not breathe well, increasing body heat and sweat and then holding that perspiration within the clothing making it hard to regulate temperature. Down Clothing NEVER wear down on the water! When down gets wet, it clumps and gets very heavy. This is dangerous in the unlikely event your rower ends up in the water. Viewer's Guide to a Regatta If you are new to the sport of rowing, this Viewer's Guide will give you the basics for your first regatta. The Events Events are divided into two disciplines: sweep rowing and sculling. There are two categories within each, lightweight and open. Sculling and Sweep Rowing Athletes with two oars one in each hand are scullers. Athletes with one oar are sweep rowers. Sweep boats may or may not carry a coxswain (pronounced cox-un) to steer and be the on-the-water coach. In boats without a coxswain, one of the rowers steers by moving the rudder with his or her foot. Sweep rowing can be done in pairs with a coxswain (identified as 2+ on heat sheets) or without (identified as 2- on heat sheets), fours with or without a coxswain (4+/4-) and the eight (8+), which always carries a coxswain. The eight is the fastest boat on the water, capable of moving at speeds of almost 14 miles per hour. Rowers are identified by their seat in the boat. The rower in bow is seat #1. (S)he is furthest from the coxswain and crosses the finish line first (which makes it easy to remember first across the line is #1 seat). Then, working toward the stern (back of the boat), are rowers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and finally #8 a.k.a. the stroke. The stroke of the boat must be a strong rower with excellent technique, since s(he) sets the rhythm and number of strokes per minute the rest of the crew must follow. Lightweight and Open Weight An athlete of any weight can enter the open categories. Lightweight Men cannot weigh more than 150 pounds and the average weight in the entire boat cannot exceed 155 pounds. Lightweight Women cannot weight more than 130 pounds and the average weight in the entire boat cannot exceed 125 pounds. Lightweights row the same events as open weight athletes, except that other than the men's lightweight eight, they do not carry coxswains, so there is no lightweight 2+ or 4+.

6 The Stroke The whole body is involved in moving a shell through the water. Although rowing tends to look like an upper body sport, the strength of the rowing stroke comes from the legs. The stroke is made up of four parts: Catch, Drive, Finish and Recovery. As the stroke begins, the rower is coiled forward on the sliding seat, with knees bent and arms outstretched. At the catch, the athlete drops the oar blade vertically into the water. At the beginning of the drive, the body position doesn't change all the work is done by the legs. As the upper body begins to uncoil, the arms begin their work, drawing the oar blades through the water. Continuing the drive, the rowers move their hands quickly into the body, which by this time is in a slight "layback" position, requiring strong abdominal muscles. During the finish, the oar handle is moved down, drawing the oar blade out of the water. At the same time, the rower "feathers" the oar turning the oar handle so that the oar blade changes from a vertical position to a horizontal one. The oar remains out of the water as the rower begins recovery, moving the hands away from the body and past the knees. The body follows the hands and the sliding seat moves forward, until, knees bent, the rower is ready for the next catch. The Equipment Oars Oars move the boat through the water and act as balancers. Sweep oars are longer than sculler's oars and have wooden handles instead of rubber grips. The shaft of the oar is made of extremely lightweight carbon fiber instead of the heavier wood used years ago. The oars are attached to the boat with riggers, which provide a fulcrum for the levering action of rowing. Generally, sweep rowers sit in configurations that have the oars alternating from side to side along the boat. But sometimes a coach will rig the boat so that two consecutive rowers have their oars on the same side in order to equalize individual athlete power. The Boats All rowing boats can be called shells. Originally made of wood, boats are now made of honeycombed carbon fiber. They are light and appear fragile but are crafted to be strong and stiff in the water. At 58 feet, the eight is the longest boat on the water. The Race Fall Season races, called Head Races, are 2.5 to 3 miles long. Boats are started individually in approximately 30-second intervals. Depending on the course, you may only see a very small portion of the race and will not know the results until the end of the day. Spring Season races are called Sprints. Courses are meters long (aprox. 1 mile) and much easier to watch, with true head-to-head competition along a visible course. The racecourse is divided into lanes and each 500-meter section is marked with buoys. The stroke rate (the number of rowing strokes per minute spm - that a crew is taking) is high at the start, then the crew will "settle" into the body of the race and drop the rate. The coach, coxswain and the way the race is going will determine when the crew sprints to the finish line. (In the Olympics finishing stroke rates of 46+ in the last 200 meters aren't unheard of!). However, higher stroke rates are not always indicative of speed. A strong, technically talented crew may be able to cover more water faster than a less-capable crew rowing a higher stroke rate. Rowers are allowed to leave their lanes without penalty, so long as they do not interfere with anyone else's opportunity to win. An official in a motor launch follows the crews to ensure safety and fairness. Despite being exhausted at the end of a race, the crew will continue to row afterwards in order to cool down.

7 Watching The Race The crew that makes it look easy is most likely the one doing the best job. While you're watching, look for a continuous, fluid motion of the rowers. There shouldn t be a discernible end or beginning to the stroke. Synchronization - rowers strive for perfect synchronization in the boat. Clean catches of the oar blade. If you see a lot of splash, the oar blades aren't entering the water correctly. The catch should happen at the end of the recovery, when the hands are as far ahead of the rower as possible. Rowers who uncoil before they drop the oar blades are sacrificing speed and not getting a complete drive. Even oar blade feathering. When the blades are brought out of the water, they should all move horizontally close to the water and at the same height. It's not easy, especially if the water is rough. The most consistent speed. Shells don't move like a car they're slowest at the catch, quickest at the release. Good crews time the catch at just the right moment to maintain the speed of the shell. Rowing looks graceful, elegant and when done well, almost effortless. Don't be fooled! Rowers haven't been called the world's most physically fit athletes for nothing. A 2000-meter rowing race demands virtually everything a human being can physically bring to an athletic competition aerobic ability, technical talent, exceptional mental discipline, ability to utilize oxygen efficiently and in huge amounts, balance, pain tolerance and the ability to continue to work when the body is demanding that you stop. Race times can vary considerably depending upon the course and weather conditions. Tailwinds will improve times, while headwinds and crosswinds will hamper them. If a crew "catches a crab," it means the oar blade has entered the water at an angle instead of perpendicularly. The oar blade gets caught under the surface and will slow or even stop a shell. A "Power 10" is a call by the coxswain for 10 of the crew's best, most powerful strokes. Good coxswains read the course to know how many strokes remain for their crew to count down to the finish. Crews are identified by their oar blade design. The NRC blades are orange and black. It doesn't matter whether you win an Olympic medal or don't make the finals each crew still carries their boat back to the rack. Coxswains from first-place boats worldwide are thrown into the water by their crews. A coxswain's job is to implement the coach's strategy during the race, in addition to steering and letting the rowers know where they stand in the race and what they need to do to win.

8 Nutrition - Guidelines & Tips Few sports make such sustained, intense physical demands as rowing. A healthy, well-balanced diet, utilizing the major food groups daily and avoiding junk food, is the foundation for practice and competition. Since so many theories and myths surround athletic nutrition, we thought a few reasonable guidelines would be appropriate. Rowers' nutritional needs differ from other athletes in daily calories. A typical rowing workout burns a minimum of 1000 calories, ON TOP OF the already high metabolism of a growing teen. Without ample calories and proper nutrients a rower's body will not strengthen and grow in response to training. Daily Nutrition Guidelines 5 servings of fruits and vegetables 3 protein servings: fish, chicken, beans & rice, eggs, dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) Starches as often as possible: grains, bread, pasta, muffins, cereals, energy bars Nuts (assuming no allergies) are a good source of protein and fat for snacking Avoid going hungry at any point during the day. That may mean eating several smaller meals or snacks (see below) throughout the day, rather than a couple of large meals. Current recommendations are to try to eat 60% carbohydrates, 20% proteins and 20% fats in each meal. Drink Your Water! Hydration is a critical - not just before, during and after workouts and competitions, but throughout the day. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Get in the habit of drinking water at every opportunity throughout the day. Soft drinks do not help, and may actually hurt, hydration efforts. Regarding Carbohydrates: It is critical that athletes consume carbohydrates shortly before and within 30 minutes after a workout, facilitating muscle glycogen replenishment and stopping the breakdown of muscle tissue for energy. "Carb loading" means consuming large amounts of carbohydrates to build high-energy reserves in the muscle tissue. This should begin two to three days before competition. Pre-race meals should be light and easily digestible. Overeating is never a good thing and before a race is especially bad, leading to possible stomach cramping. Athletes should eat as simply as possible, with the less processed and junk food, the better. Snacks When you're on the go, you don't always know when you'll be able to grab your next meal. Pack healthy snacks to keep you from getting hungry. Here are some quick, on-the-go ideas: Fresh fruit Yogurt and granola Chocolate milk Bagel with peanut butter Sport bars Pretzels Crackers with cheese or peanut butter Bran muffin Graham crackers and juice

Glossary of Rowing Terms

Glossary of Rowing Terms Backsplash: The water thrown back towards the bow by the oar's blade as it enters the water during a catch. A proper catch should throw a small amount of water Blade: Another term