I love love love coxing learn-to-row sessions. It’s a fantastic opportunity to review fundamentals because coaches will explain them thoroughly. I encourage rowers that want to learn how to cox to volunteer at learn-to-row sessions because the coach will be right next them the whole time.

I enjoy watching new rowers develop as better rowers after they join the club and continue to show up to practices. I also like observing coaches making lineup decisions and asking about them. It’s fascinating to learn about what they see and how they use the information.

These are some of the things I think about before coxing learn-to-row sessions:

• Attend the first day. Coaches that I’ve worked with like to spend the entire first day on land. It’s nice to see a representative of the team come out and greet the new rowers as they enter the boathouse for the first time. Share your experience and what you like about being on the team. On the ergs, it is often obvious to even novice rowers and coxswains what the new rowers need to fix in order to improve their form, and the coach may ask you to help them.
• I am sure this is a big part of any learn-to-row programs, but do make sure everyone knows of your calls when carrying the shell. I like to explain the whole process before making the first call.
• Use analogies. I thought it was awesome when a coach told the rowers to pretend like they were prom queens on the recovery. It worked a lot better than when we kept asking the rowers to slow down on the slides. A lot of the phrases that advanced rowers quickly respond to may not work on people who are rowing on the water for their first time.
• Think about the things that you can’t see from the coxswain’s seat. Remind them to put even pressure on the feet/seat. Inside arm only when feathering. Hands should be shoulder width apart on oars (or whatever your coach prefers.) Relax.
• One of the calls that I make sure everybody knows is “check it down/hold water.” If something’s going on and I must stop the boat immediately, the last thing I want is for me to yell, “Check in down!” or “Hold water!” and the rowers to have no idea what to do.
• Be consistent about calling to weigh enough at the catch for learn-to-row sessions. Do some weigh enough calls without counting down so that rowers get used to different circumstances.
• When they are on full slide, remind them the sequence from time to time, arms-body-legs-body-arms.
• If there are advanced rowers in the boat that are filling in to help out, establish the expectation before going on the water. Do you want them to be quiet during the session or help out the new rowers around his or her seat? Should the volunteer make a note of anything and report back to the coach after?