2010 TSS ROWING HANDBOOK - The Southport School

The cox is in charge of the cox box. It expensive item must be looked after and placed back on a
charger after use.
When on the water the Coxswain will………..
1. Precede all commands on the water with “Ready……” or “On this stroke……NOW!”
2. You will find that depending on the exercise or drill that the call is being used for,
the “NOW” call will need to be said at the catch or the finish. If it is a blade work
drill, eg. Square blades, it will need to be said at the catch whereas if it an effort of
any sort it will need to be said at the finish in preparation for the crew to finish that
recovery and start the effort at the next catch.
3. All rowing sessions should include the following:
Arms only rowing
Arms & bodies
Quarter slide
Half slide
Three Quarter Slide
Full slide
If the crew is experienced enough, this could be done with square blades and then
go to feather shortly after.
An example of arms only to arms and bodies could be “Moving to arms and bodies
on this stroke………NOW!”
5.1 COMMANDS FOR THE STROKE
When taking boat out of the shed
1. “Hands on the boat”
Always precede lifting commands with “Ready…..” to ensure all are ready to prevent
any possible injury.
2. “Ready……lift” all crew members should lift up and out and the outer edge of the
boat should be lowered slightly to avoid hitting the boat above.
3. When the boat is clear from all other boats and racks, the boat should then be
placed on the rowers shoulders. Before the call is made to shoulders, it must be
made clear who will go through eg. “Bow side through” or “Stroke and two
through.” Then the shoulders by commanding “Shoulders, ready……UP!” or
“Shoulders, ready……DOWN!” depending if it is coming from a low rack nearer the
ground or a high rack.
4. When the boat is ready to move out the shed the command is “Forward….GO!” The
cox and all crew members need to watch carefully to avoid hitting any obstacles.
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