A better hold on the mechanics and language of rowing can only give a cox more confidence in their command of the boat
It is no secret that many clubs face a shortage of coxes. So, when anyone comes through their doors showing any interest in coxing, clubs are all too happy to encourage them into the coxing seat. I, for one, love coxing, and would never wish to discourage anyone from pursuing it.
The role of the cox is not only vital, but also highly rewarding. That said, clubs ought to encourage their coxes to at least learn to row, not least hone their rowing skills to translate this expertise into better coxing.
Is there such a thing as ‘too much’ coxing?
It’s a sight I’ve seen many a time: a new rower on a learn to row course who says they are interested in rowing, or who is the ‘right size to be a cox’, placed into the coxing seat as quickly as they joined their club, never to hold an oar handle again.
Allowing coxes to become comfortable with the rowing stroke provides them with invaluable experience for when they are coxing. It is far easier to learn and understand the mechanics of rowing from actively engaging in the activity, than viewing it as a purely theoretical process.
Even just picking up the varied and obscure terminology around rowing is far easier if you are rowing yourself. Speaking from experience, a better hold on the mechanics and language of rowing can only give an inexperienced cox more confidence in their command of the boat, and allow them to be an even more valuable asset to the crew they cox.
Facing the ‘wrong’ way
By spending time facing the ‘wrong’ way – or not the way they’re used to – in a boat, this can be a very eye-opening experience on a number of levels for coxes. For someone sitting in the coxing seat 24/7, it can be difficult to appreciate how little information rowers have about their surroundings in a racing context. Besides the occasional landmark, rowers are a lot less aware of the intricacies of the course and the proximity of the crews around them. In the boat, the cox becomes the erg screen, responsible for delivering all the right information about rate, split, and distance at exactly the right time. It’s only from gaining some seat time as a rower that the cox fully understands why all this information is so helpful for pacing efforts, or simply calming the nerves in knowing that you’re still sticking to the race plan.
Ergs are friends
Finally, even if coxes don’t have the time available to get out on the water, I would encourage them to at least jump on an erg and get involved in some of the land training with the rowers. I’ll be the first to admit here that I have avoided getting involved in ergs while coxing, but time and time again it proves to be extremely helpful, from a team-bonding perspective above all else.
What’s more, taking part in regular ergs and tests gives coxes a true understanding of the physical exertion going into every stroke driving the boat on.
Sometimes, you might hear a crew complain about their cox being too optimistic about the amount of distance covered versus the reality. It is only after doing a few ergs that coxes come to understand the somewhat monumental difference between 300m and 500m at the end of a race, or, that after just a few hundred meters off the start, the rowers will already be starting to hurt.
I simply ask that clubs are not too hasty in pushing those in their learn-to-row or novice programs into just coxing, and continue to make the chance to row available to those coxing, even if it’s just access to a club single outside of training sessions.
To coxes, if you haven’t already, give rowing a go. For a cox, there is so much to learn from facing the ‘wrong’ way occasionally.
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