Novice Parent Info

Info for Parents of Novice Rowers/Coxswains

WELCOME to the Langley Crew Team! Based on feedback from last year's parents of first time rowers/coxswains, we have created this page just for you to help you through the first year.

If this page doesn't answer your questions, always feel free to email us at saxoncrew@langleycrew.com.

First, the website does have a page of Frequently Asked Questions. Please take time to give this a read.

Other key questions we have heard from parents new to rowing are:

Q: What the heck are all these new terms I hear from my son or daughter.... she caught a crab, he is having trouble at the catch, etc...
A: Keep reading, we've included some Basic Rowing Terms at the end of this page.

Q: What exactly is the practice schedule and when can I expect my daughter home at night?
A: The activities bus departs LHS at 3:30 and arrives approximately 4:15 at the Occoquan. On the water practice typically begins around 4:45 depending on the coaches arrival (they have day jobs). The captains/coxswains lead land-based workouts (including erg work), prepare the coaches launches, take out the shells and oars so that upon the coaches arrival, the coaches have a brief meeting and then they hit the water. Boats are off the water by 6:30. It takes about a half hour to put the equipment away and have a boat meeting with the coaches. The bus departs by 7:00 p.m. and arrives back at LHSaround 7:45. There are plenty of cell phones on the bus so your son/daughter should call you after they depart to provide a better ETA at LHS.

Q: It sure is cold the first month of practice. What should my son wear to practice?
A: When the weather is cold, the key word is layering. Don't let your kids... especially the girls... worry about fashion. Make them wear sweat pants, layers of t-shirts, sweatshirt, stocking cap, and gloves (though gloves will be taken off when in the boat). As they heat up, they can remove layers and place them in the boat by their feet. After practice they can quickly layer up again. They should also always have a water bottle with them.

Q: My daughter said she had to go to a "Boat Dinner" the night before a regatta. What the heck is that and what is a goodie bag?
A: It is a tradition in rowing that the rowers/coxswains get together by boat line-up the night before the race to have a pasta dinner and get psyched for the race. They typically meet at someone's house though sometimes they go to a restaurant. The girls will often exchange spirit bags with members in their boat. The bags contain fun items, snacks and notes of encouragement.

Q: My son's hands are developing blisters from the oar. What should I do about it?
A: Blisters are a hazard of rowing that affects everyone at the beginning of the season until the hands develop protective callouses. Click here for a good article on handling blisters.

Q: When are the regattas? What time of day will my daughter be racing? What do I take there?
A: We actually have a Regatta Survival Guide that provides great tips for your first regatta.
A. Click on "Regatta Info" for the regatta schedule. In that schedule, you can click on the "Location" hyperlink for directions. The race schedule for the specific regatta will be posted the Friday before the Saturday regatta. Your son/daughter will know the Thursday before the regatta as to which race they will be entered. Plan to arrive an hour before the race to allow sufficient time for parking and walking to the finish line.

Q: What do my kids do between the end of school and 3:30 when the bus leaves?
A: Study! This year we have arranged for a room dedicated to the crew team for studying. A volunteer parent will be in the room. Encourage your son/daughter to use the room.... that 45 minutes can be invaluable!

Q: What kind of nutrition recommendations do you have for my our kids?
A: Athletes have special nutritional needs. Our coaches have put together nutritional information that novice rowers and athletes can benefit greatly from. Click here.

Rowing terms:

The Boat

Bow: Front of the boat.
Stern: Back of the boat.
Port: Left side of the boat when looking from stern to bow.
Starboard: Right side of the boat when looking from stern to bow.

Shell: Another word for the boat.
Sweep: A boat in which each rower has one oar.
Pair: A sweep with two rowers, each having one oar.
Four: A shell for 4 rowers, each holding a single oar.
Eight: A shell for 8 rowers, each holding a single oar.
Scull: A boat in which each rower has two oars.
Single: A scull for one rower
Double: A shell for two rowers, each holding two oars.
Quad: A shell for 4 rowers, each holding two oars each.

Fin: A triangular piece that attaches to the bottom of the boat that helps keep the boat on course.
Foot Stretcher: The device you strap your feet into inside the shell.
Gunwale: (pronounced "gunnel") The top edge of the side of the boat.
Oar Lock: The device that lets the oar pivot on the rigger.
Rigger: The metal extensions protruding from the sides of the boat.
Rudder: A squarish piece of material attached to the bottom of the boat just behind the fin.
Slide: The sliding seat in the boat.

Rowers

Coxswain: Also listed as "cox", The person who steers the boat. The coxswain eithers sits in the stern or lies in the bow giving commands to the rowers.
Stroke: The rower nearest the stern of the boat. The stroke is responsible for setting the pace of the boat.
Bow: The rower nearest the bow of the boat, when the boat is coxless, the bowman steers the boat and issues commands.
1, 2, 3, etc.: It is common to refer to rowers by numbers. The convention is to number from bow to stern with Bow being No.1 and Stroke being No. 8.

The Stroke

Catch: The beginning of the stroke where the oar is inserted into the water.
Drive: The propelling part of the stroke.
Finish: Where the oar is taken out of the water.
Recovery: The slide forward before the catch.
Feathering: Turning the oar blade horizontally.
Squaring: Turning the oar blade vertically.

Rowing Commands

Arms only: Term used by coxswain instructing rowers to use only arms in rowing.
Back down: (or Back) Row backwards.
Check it: Same as "Hold or Hold Water".
Hold or Hold Water: Square the oar in the water (to stop the boat fast).
Paddle: Row easy, no pwer on the stroke.
Half Power: Next step up from "paddle." Next step is 3/4 power then Full power.
Power: Take strokes at full power.
Ready all-row: The command to start rowing. Should be preceded by From the Finish or From the Catch.
Way enough: Finish the stroke in progress and stop rowing.

Other Rowing Terms

Catch a crab: When the blade gets stuck in the water during the stroke. This can sometimes stop the boat and throw the rower into the water.
Skying: When the blade is to high off the water just before the catch.
Digging: When the blade is to deep in the water during the stroke.
Washing-out: When the blade starts to come out of the water during the stroke.

Erg: Short for Ergometer. A land based rowing machine used for training that simulates the rowers action in the boat and measures various items such as power, length, frequency, distance and time.
Rating: The number of strokes taken per minute.
Regatta: A rowing race, sometimes called Sprint Races. Usually races covering 1,500 meters for high school and 2,000 meters for college. As many as six or seven boats may line up and race one another over a straight course to the finish line.
Head Race: Fall races, typically rowing upriver over a winding corse covering several miles. Times for the races are based on start finish times, not head-to-head racing.