2010 TSS ROWING HANDBOOK - The Southport School

Do not hold the handle to firm, relaxed grip with hands to be at the end of the handle with the
thumbs on end of grip in sculling, and in sweep, outside hand at the end of the handle with the
inside hand towards the end of the blue grip.
The left hand should lead
the right hand away from
the body during the
recovery.
During the drive, the hands
should be the same as the
recovery, that is the right
hand drawing in ahead of
the left.
The hand positions during the drive and recovery.
10.2 CATCH
Shins vertical
Lower back tucked in, sitting up a little. Small
variations may exist amongst crew members with
different limb lengths. ie. shorter rowers may have
more body length, taller rowers less shin angle etc
Head straight – chin NOT up or down….or out of the
boat!
Shoulders relaxed, sometimes feel as if they are
pushed down.
No stop of the hands or seat.
10.3 PLACEMENT & FIRST PART OF DRIVE
Bottom edge of blade should be aiming to be
entering the water as the wheels of the seat still
have one – two full rolls to go to ensure that the
rower does not miss any water. The blade MUST go
in when the rower has reached maximum length.
Placement of the blade should be a very small hand
movement upwards burying the blade only –
minimal shaft. Catches must be shallow. MINIMAL
VERTICAL MOVEMENT IS GOOD VERTICAL
MOVEMENT. Remembering bottom edge of blade
entering the water on the way forward – back
splash.
Once the blade is in the water, the seat is the first thing to move – PUSH THE LEGS FIRST.
The placement of the blade with the hands should be that quick that the wheels of the seat
should not stop at the front.
When pushing the legs off the catch, the seat, shoulders and handles should be all moving at the
same speed. We don’t want the legs going faster (bum shoving) and we don’t want the body
coming on too early.
The upper body must remain at its catch angle for the first half of the drive feeling relaxed
shoulders and a straight arm hang through the lats.
31