Boat speed and rowing technique
Ideal: The boat stays on keel during the recovery, catch, drive, and finish; the ‘run’ of the boat is not disturbed.
Reality: Technique is not perfect during each phase of the stroke and the boat dips to one side and rocks back, slowing down each time it dips and rocks. It becomes more and more difficult to row effectively.
The following information will help you to identify technique errors and offers ways to correct the errors. See the drills page for drills that will help with the proposed corrections.
| What the coxswain sees or feels | What the rower does to cause it | Its effects on rowers and boat | Solutions and drills | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blade is late entering and locking into the water | Sets the forward body angle late and lunges at the catch
Rushes up the slide Lacks coordination of arms and legs at the catch |
The rower will be in a weak position at the catch, minimizing ability to apply power
The boat will feel sluggish because all six blades are not working together to pick the boat up |
Pause drill at body forward
Catch placement drills Steady state, low stroke rate rowing |
| 2 | The boat “checks” or moves back toward the stern
The coswain’s back slams against the back of the seat |
Pushes on the foot board before the blade is in the water
Lunges forward just before the catch Rushes the last quarter of the slide |
The rower will minimize their ability to apply power
The rower misses water at the catch The boat will slow down because it is forced to move backwards, toward the stern |
Catch placement drills
Pause drills for recovery sequence Work to establish good ratio and rhythm |
| 3 | The blade skys in the air, rather than lowering toward the water, just before the catch | Moves on the seat before the body angle is set
Drops the shoulders or lunges to get more reach at the catch Afraid of clipping the water so pushes hands down toward toes |
Late blade entry and lock in – the blade is lifted away from the water instead of being lowered into the water (see #1)
The boat will dip down on the rower’s side |
Pause drills to establish the forward body angle after the hands come away and before the slide starts
Blade control drills |
| 4 | Blade and shaft dig deep into the water | Rower moves his or her hands and/or body vertically instead of horizontally during the drive
Rows the blade in with hands and shoulders |
The rower makes the drive more difficult and less efficient
The boat will dip down on the opposite side |
Blade placement drills
Legs only drill |
| 5 | The blade exits the water early, before the others, and/or creates washy water at the finish | Draws the oar handle down low into the belly or hips rather than high into the ribs
Applies little to no pressure to the face of the blade at the finish |
The blade slips out of the water prematurely and is unable to send the boat away
The boat will dip down on the rower’s side |
Pause at the finish
Square blade rowing |
| 6 | The blade exits the water with great difficulty or gets caught in the water at the finish
It is difficult to keep the boat straight |
Feathers in the water
Has a weak drive with poor coordination and transfer of power between the legs, back, and arms making it difficult to finish the stroke Does not have enough room to tap out cleanly |
Anchors the boat at the finish and forces it to turn
The boat slows down |
Arms only rowing in the proper lay back position
Square blade rowing Reverse pick drill Delayed feather drill |
| 7 | The boat dips back and forth – sometimes it is hard to tell if it dips at the catch, drive, or finish | Extra or out-of-sync movements
Poor concentration and moving the head around Rowers are not following the same recovery sequence |
Rowers are unable to row properly
Little run in boat Overall frustration |
Pause drills
Cut the cake drill Reminders for posture, timing and concentration |
Fixed Seat Rowing 