This page contains a list of rowing commands and terms compiled by Kate Athmer of the Dayton Boat Club. Understanding the coxswain's commands is essential for safety and good teamwork and mastery of the basic terms of rowing is very useful for novice and experienced rowers alike. For easy printing you can download a copy of these definitions in Word format (39 KB).

Rowing Commands

Adjust the ratio

(or Ratio Shift) - Used to correct either a rush or sluggishness on the recovery. The ratio compares the time used by the hands away from the body motion to the slide speed.

Arms across

Reach your arms across the hull and grab on to both sides.

Back it

Row backwards. The blades do not need to be turned around in the oarlocks although they can be.

Catch/ finish together

A reminder to the crew to align their catch/finish times.

Check it down

Drag the blades on/in the water to slow and/or stop the boat from moving forward or backward. Having only one side check their blades results in a turn to that side.

Down and away

Push the hands down fully at the finish to give the blade more height off the water.

Even it out

b\Both sides pull with even pressure

Every other under

Every other person move to the other side of the boat, either to have everyone on the same side, or half the people on one side and half on the other

Feather

Roll the blades to the feather position.

Hands on

Grab onto the boat and prepare to move it.

Hold water

Continuously check it down.

Heads up

Pay attention, something to watch out for is near you. This should always be used when someone may not see your shell coming at them such as when leaving the boathouse.

In Two

Wait two counts and on the third count, do whatever was instructed “Bow pair, add in two, one, two, (third stroke) bow pair in”

Lean Away

Lean in the opposite direction (usually away from the dock or from the side on which someone has caught a crab) to allow more room for the necessary action to occur

Let it run

Oarsmen to stop rowing at the finish, hands away, or on the gunwale and allow the boat to glide (run) across the water's surface without the blades touching it.

Oars across

Run the oars out so they rest on the water – must be done before getting into the boat!

Oars to the gunwales

Push the oar handle down so it touches the sides of the boat

Paddle

Row at no pressure or to stop the drill/piece.

Relax

Put your blades flat on the water

Roll (it up)

Two meanings: 1. When out of the water, roll the boat from the waist position to the over the heads position or vice versa. 2. When on the water, roll the blade.

Set it up

Balance the boat by making small adjustments to handle heights or applying slight pressure with one’s feet – never shift body weight or lean to one side!

Square

Make the blade perpendicular to the water.

Toe to the edge

Put your toe slightly over the edge of the dock so the boat can be rolled directly into the water

Up And Over (your) Heads

To lift the boat to the over the heads position.

Up/Down to Shoulders (waist, ankles, etc.)

To lift the boat so that the gunwales of the boat rest on or near the shoulder (waist, ankles, etc.).

Tap it/hit it

Someone to row gently to align or position the boat better.

Weigh enough

Stop whatever you are doing such as rowing, a drill, etc...

Backsplash

The water thrown towards the bow at the catch. Too little or no backsplash indicates that an oarsman is rowing his blade into the water. Too much backsplash will slow the boat down and cause a jerking feeling at the catch.

Backstay

Part of a rigger. A backstay is the angled bar which is closest to the bow. Most backstays are adjustable to change the pitch of the oarlock.

Body angle

The term for the angle of the body off perpendicular to the water. A proper body angle is approximately 15% at the finish. This term also applies to a position in the stroke when the body is towards the stern, but the knees are still locked down. Rowing with body angle means that you are using your back.

Bowball

A rubber ball attached to the most forward part of the bow to protect that boat and others upon impact. Bowballs are required safety equipment.

Bowman (bow seat)

The oarsman in the most forward seat in the boat

Cap

The plastic cover for access holes to the hull compartments. Caps must be secured in place during practice to prevent the compartments from filling with water. After practice, caps should be removed to air out the compartments.

Catch

The beginning of a stroke when the blade enters the water. Opposite of the finish.

Check

a command as in “Check it down”, i.e., drag the water with the blades to slow or stop the boat.

Collar

A plastic fitting around the shaft of the oar which prevents the oar from sliding through the oarlock. Collars can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the reach of the blade.

Cox-Box

Stroke rate information and amplifies sound.

Coxswains crate

A crate sometimes used by a coxswain to carry tools, Cox Box, and the team’s water bottles. Shoes should be placed in the crate before crews shove off in order to keep them out of everyone else’s way

Crab

A term for a situation in which the blade is not fully feathered before leaving the water, or when entering the water. This results in the blade getting stuck in the water, severely slowing the boat down and throwing off the set.

Double

A boat with two scullers and no coxswains. The symbol for a double is 2x.

Drive

The part of the stroke when the blades are in the water.

Eight

A shell with eight sweep oarsmen and one coxswain. The symbol for an eight is 8+.

Ergometer – (erg)

A rowing machine used to simulate rowing on land. Most ergometers used by rowing teams today are manufactured by Concept II.

Feather

Opposite of square - a noun and a verb referring to the rotation of the blade at the finish when the blade is parallel to the surface. Feathering is the actual motion of turning the blade. Feathering in sweep boats is accomplished with the inside hand only rolling the oar handle. The outside hand has no impact upon feathering except to provide leverage. An incomplete feather will result in wash at the finish and may result in a crab. A feathered blade is parallel to the water's surface.

Fin

A triangular or rectangular part of the boat which is underneath the water on the stern near or behind the coxswain. A fin keeps the boat on a straight course when the rudder is not in use. Bent or missing fins cause extreme steering difficulties. A fin is the most likely part of a boat to be damaged - by hitting something in the water or by dragging it across the edge of the dock. Rudders are typically located immediately behind to the fin and may actually be a part of the fin.

Finish

The end of the stroke when the blade is removed from the water. Also the end of a race

Footstretcher

The parts which attach the shoes to the boat, including the footboard, the adjustable metal bars, and the wingnuts which secure it to the boat.

Foresplash

The water thrown towards the stern at the catch. Too much foresplash indicates that the blade is being rowed into the water wasting energy and throwing off the set.

Forestay

The angled part of a rigger leading from the oarlock towards the stern of the boat where it is bolted onto the hull near that oarsman's feet. A forestay is not part of every rigger as some riggers only have a mainstay and backstay.

Four

A shell with four sweep oarsmen. The two types of fours are: four with a coxswain (4+) and four without a coxswain (4-).

Gunwale

The edge of the hull. Often misspelled as gunnel.

Hatchet

A design of blade which has a shape similar to a hatchet. This design is believed to provide more power in certain conditions than older models, such as Spoons (symmetrical blades)

Hull

The skin of the boat which is in direct contact with the water. The hull is typically made of carbon fiber, fiberglass, wood, or a combination of these. Since the hull supports the weight of everyone on the water, the hull is rigid and fragile and should not be stepped onto when getting into or out of the boat. Any obstruction in the water can puncture the hull, cause sinkings, and make coaches highly annoyed.

Impeller

Device on the hull of a shell that is used to give speed readings

Jumped seat

The term for an oarsman slipping off his seat while rowing.

Jumped slide

The term for a seat coming off the slide.

Keel

The backbone of the boat running down the center of the hull to which the ribs attach.

Launch

A motorboat used to carry the coach, spare parts, safety equipment and spare oarsmen.

Lunge

A sudden lean of the upper body into the rigger before the catch, rather than a desired slow lean into the rigger. A lunge will not only cause set problems, but can also cause catch timing problems.

Mainstay

The center bar(s) of a rigger.

Megaphone

A device for amplifying sound. Electronic megaphones, such as Cox-Boxes are used by coxswains to amplify their voices.

Oar

consists of an oar handle, a shaft, and a blade – used to power the boat.

Oarlock

The part which holds an oar in place. Oarlocks have a gate that opens to remove the oar.

Octuple

A coxed shell with eight scullers. An octoped is a very rare racing category and is used primarily for training. The symbol for an octoped is 8X+.

Pair

A shell with two sweep oarsmen. The two types are the pair with [coxswain], 2+ or 2w, and the pair without [coxswain], 2- or 2w/o.

Port

The term for left (meaning the coxswains left). Also, the term for a sweep oarsman whose blade and rigger are on that side. Opposite of starboard.

Port-rigged

A boat rigged with the strokeman on port side. Opposite of starboard-rigged.

Puddle

The result of a stroke through the water. A correct stroke should create a whirling puddle with very little wash or waves.

Quad(ruple)

A shell with four scullers in it, 4X. The full name is quadruple. A few training quads have coxswains. The symbol for this boat is 4X+.

Rack

The storage place for boats when not in use. The boat should be stored with the bars of the rack directly beneath the ribs of the hull.

Ratio

The relationship between the speed of the drive and the speed of the recovery, usually about 3:1

Reach

The distance an oarsman is able to extend his arm forward at the catch. Also the distance towards the bow an oar can travel at the catch.

Rib

The skeleton of the boat. Ribs are made of wood, carbon fiber, or aluminum. Riggers are attached to the hull through the ribs. Ribs can be damaged by over tightening of the rigger bolts.

Rigger

The metal or carbon fiber bars that extend from the hull at each seat consisting of a backstay, mainstay, and occasionally a forestay. Attached to the riggers are oarlocks, topnuts, and pins.

Rowing the blade in

To begin rowing before the blade is completely buried.

Rudder

A small part used to turn the boat. A rudder's surface area is only a few square inches, yet properly used, a rudder can handle most turns.

Rush

As a noun- the motion of arriving at the catch too early. As a verb - the act of rushing.

Scull

As a noun (called a “sculling shell” usually)- A boat which has two oars for each oarsman. Also an oar used in such a boat (sculling blades). As a verb - To row in a boat which is a scull.

Set

The balance of a boat. A boat that does not dip to either side is considered balanced or set. Sometimes called “on keel”.

Shaft

The long stick that connects the oar handle and the blade.

Single

A small one-person shell in which the rower sculls.

Skeg

The fin attached to the bottom of the hull – may come off if scraped against the dock, racks, or debris

Sky

Improper hand motions (usually dropping one’s hands at the catch) that send the blade high into the air at the catch.

Smoothies

Oars with handles covered in rubber

Square

The blade in a perpendicular position to the water.

Starboard

The term for right (meaning the coxswain’s right). Also the term for a sweep oarsman who has his blade on that side. Opposite of port.

Starboard-rigged

A shell with the strokeman's rigger on starboard.

Stern

The nautical term for the back of the boat. More precisely the farthest point on the back of the boat

Stroke

The motion of rowing, as in “take a stroke”.

Stroke (-man, -seat)

The oarsman in the stern most position (usually nearest to the coxswain). He sets the pace to be followed by everyone.

Strokemeter (SpeedCoach)

A device used to measure the stroke rate of the boat. The measurement is usually obtained through the use of a magnet on the bottom of the strokeman's seat and a sensor underneath.

Strokerate

The number of strokes per minute. In a race, the average stroke rate might vary between 26 for longer races to 38 for short races. The term rate is used interchangeably with stroke rate.

Swamping

A boat filled with water due to waves, rain, or a leak.

Sweep

As an adjective, a boat in which each oarsman has only one blade, versus a scull. As a noun, a blade used in such a boat.

Topnut

The nut on the top of a backstay to hold the oarlock between the mainstay and backstay. Since a very tight topnut will prevent the oarlock from turning smoothly, topnuts should only be kept slightly more than finger tight, but checked often to ensure that they do not fall off.

Track

A piece of metal to keep the wheels of a seat following a straight path. Tracks must be kept clean at all times.

Wash

Water stirred up at the finish by the boat as a whole, or by an individual oarsman with a sloppy finish

Washout/up

When an oarsman finishes his stroke by pulling the oar handle into his waist, creating a wash Woodies – oars with wooden handles