The Catch

The catch is the part of the rowing stroke when the blade enters the water. A rower completes the catch by lifting the handle to drop the blade into the water or by unweighing the handle to allow it to rise slightly as the blade enters the water.

NOTICE
During the recovery, notice the weight of the handle as you carry/push it forward during the recovery. To unweigh it for the catch, simply release the downward pressure on your outside hand.

Timing is critical for a good catch; be patient but decisive. As you start to approach the front edge of your seat and are extending and rotating your torso toward the pin, start thinking about dropping the blade into the water. 

Body Position and Execution

It is important to establish the forward body position early in the recovery and keep it as you slide forward on the seat. When you are just about finished the slide forward, your blade should be square and you should be ready to drop it into the water.

COACHING TIP
Think about the catch as the last part of the recovery and separate from the drive. If you try to catch and drive at the same time, you will be rushed to get the blade in the water and the body, arms and the oar handle will go up, making the blade go deep. Catch first, with the arms only, leaving the body in position to accept the load from the initial leg drive. 

Below is an image of a rower in the catch position.

  • Arms and shoulders are relaxed but are extended forward from the lats
  • Upper body is angled forward at the hips and is straight from the hips to the top of the head
  • Shins are at a 90 degree angle (maybe a little less in a fixed seat boat)
  • In a fixed seat boat, you will be sitting on the front edge of the seat
  • The blade is fully submerged in the water
The-Catch
Image courtesy of concept2

Two Steps for a Perfect Catch

Step one: when you are approaching the very front of your seat during the recovery, unweigh the handle; without downward pressure on the handle, it will rise and the blade will enter the water. There is no need to lift the handle to make it go deeper.

Step two: without changing your body angle, push on the foot board immediately to lock the blade in the water.

NOTE
The timing of the blade entering the water and the initial push on the foot board is critical.

Common Mistakes

  • The cox may say that you are ‘skying’ the blade. ‘Skying’ happens when you lunge forward and or dip your hands down at the catch forcing the blade to go up in the air.
  • Slamming the the blade into the water aggressively.
  • Lifting the blade into the water with the shoulders and back instead of lifting with the arms only or unweighing the handle.
  • Failing to engage your core muscles when the blade is in the water, making it impossible to make a solid connection with the water.
  • ‘Rowing it in’ or ‘missing water’ meaning that you start your leg drive, and/or your back swing, before the blade is buried under the surface of the water.

Drills

Use the following drills to develop a good catch:

  1. Blade placement drills in the catch position
  2. Pause drills at arms away and body forward so that your body is in the forward position ready for the catch
  3. Rowing in pairs and fours

See Technique Drills – Top 10 for details on each drill.