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7 Reasons Why Coxswains Should Learn How to Row
1). You'll make better technical calls.
There is no substitute for learning by doing. One of your major responsibilities as a coxswain is to reinforce your coach's idea of good technique. Instead of parroting the coach's calls, you can build on those concepts with your own vocabulary and keep your crew engaged and listening for the whole practice. It'll also be easier to diagnose issues and make suggestions when something isn't quite right.
Say for example that the boat tips to starboard right after the release. If you'd spent enough time rowing, you might be able to recognize that this is likely a timing issue, with the port blades coming out of the water slightly before the starboard blades. Instead of barking, “get it off starboard!” you might make a more targeted call for ports to keep their outside elbows up and pull the handle all the way in.
2). You'll have a better idea of what your rowers are going through.
Most novice coxswains assume that their biggest responsibility, after safety, is to motivate their crew. While having actual rowing experience can help you make better motivational calls, you can have an even bigger impact with the little things. The only way to understand the special kind of pain caused by blisters and track bite, or the frustration you feel when you can't adjust your foot stretcher properly, is to experience it first-hand. It's a lot easier to remember to bring athletic tape and a wing-nut tool when you can relate to how it feels to not have those things when you need them.
3). You'll have more credibility in critical moments.
That said, when you're down a seat with 100 meters left in a race and you need your crew to find that extra gear, every ounce of credibility and relatability helps.
4). You can add value by being able to sit in any seat.
My college teammate Alexa originally joined the squad as a rower. She went through the learn-to-row process with the rest of the freshman novices and trained with the team from day one. It turned out that she had all the qualities needed for an excellent coxswain--she was organized, articulate, assertive (and tiny!), so she stepped up and took the reins. At that point the team had exactly enough rowers to fill three eights, so if one person was sick, it left more the team in a difficult situation. Rather than shift all the rowers around and leave the third eight on land, Alexa could fill in for the missing person and have one of the coxswains from the men's team sit in her seat. Practices on those days were much more productive than they would have been otherwise, and Alexa built up a huge amount of trust and respect.
5). You'll stay fit.
You're much more likely to be taken seriously by your crew if you make a commitment to staying fit and healthy. It's about more than being light, it's about being part of the team. Winter training is the perfect opportunity to push yourself physically, and with the rest of the squad cheering you on at the end of your erg pieces, you'll be able to do that.
6). Rowing is fun.
If you've never rowed before, you're definitely missing out.
7). The Short and Snarky Coxswains think you should.
We reached out to the Short and Snarky Coxswains (Instagram: @shortandsnarkyrowing) to get their thoughts on coxswains putting the time and effort into learning how to row. They found us the perfect quotation from their book, The Short and Snarky Guide to Rowing and Coxing, and sent us a great banner photo for the article.
We strongly encourage you to learn to row, or at least do some erg pieces to get a better appreciation for what the rowers are going through. Your job is to help motivate them beyond their own limits, not punish them. When you listen to your recordings, listen for what sounds like a military basic training instructor coming through in your voice, or an 'I don't care' attitude about the rowers pain. The alternative, the overly sympathetic cox, is just as bad.
