COXSWAIN COMMANDS:
Back it: Means to have the rowers place their blades at the release position, squared, and push the
oar handle toward the stern of the boat. This motion causes the shell to move backwards.
Blades down: This command is used to tell the rowers to place their blades back on the water after
performing a way-enough (see below).
Check it down: Tells the crew to square their blades and drag them across the surface to the water.
Used to slow and stop the shell quickly. Similar to hold water.
Count down when ready: This command tells the crew to call out their seat number, starting at
bow, when they are ready to row.
Ease off, Power up: These commands tell the rowers to reduce the pressure on the oar, or apply
more pressure as needed.
Even Pressure: This command tells the rowers to pull even pressure on both sides.
(#)Add in: Tells the rower to start rowing with everyone else.
(#) Drop out: Tells the rower to stop rowing.
Hands on: Tells the rowers to grab the boat so that the boat can be moved.
Hold water: Tells the rowers to stop rowing and square their blades immediately; dragging them
across the surface of the water to slow and stop the boat quickly.
Let it run: This is said after a Way-enough. It tells the rowers to, once stopped, allow the boat to
keep running through the water.
Paddle: This tells a crew to row with just enough pressure to move the boat. They still need to row
with perfect technique. The paddle command is also used to bring a crew down from full pressure at
the end of a workout piece or race.
Roll to water: Tells the crew to flip the boat over, together, from heads.
Sit ready: Commands the crew to move to the catch, blades buried, and be ready to start the race or
piece.
Way-enough: This command tells the rowers that when they finish the stroke, they will stop rowing,
sit at the release, extend their arms, and place their oar handles on the gunnel of the boat. The
rowers' blades will be off the water, and they will try to keep the shell balanced until the command
blades-down is given.
To get a boat off of the rack:
Hands on.
Up an inch. Ready, up. And out.
Up over heads. Ready, up.
Show intention.
Down to shoulders. Ready, down.
Walk it out.
To get a boat from shoulders into the water:
Up over heads. Ready, up.
Toe to the edge.
Roll to water. Ready, roll.
Ports to oars, starboards to oarlocks.
To get everyone in the boat and shove off:
Run your oars.
Hands on.
One foot in.
And down.
Hands on.
Shove in two. One, two.
To begin rowing:
(All eight), sit ready to row.
Ready, row.
To stop rowing:
In two, way enough.
One, two.
(Blades down OR let it run.)