Safety precautions

Navigation

Essential commands

Giving commands

Preparing for an outing

Steering

Commands during the outing

After the outing

Manoeuvring the boat

Exercises

Work

Coaching points

Advanced navigation and steering

Regattas

Heads

The cox's highest priority is the safety of the crew (including themselves) and other river users and the safety of the equipment. The stroke is responsible for the use of the boat but the cox has control of the boat both on and off the water. What you say, goes, so if you are not happy about any aspect of safety then tell the crew. On the water you are the eyes of the boat and must be aware of what's happening around you.

Safety precautions

Navigation

The job of the cox can be split into three parts:

Steering

Giving commands

Coaching

However it is not necessary to be familiar with all rowing terminology and commands before going out on the river as long as there is a coach going out with the crew or Stroke is relatively experienced. Neither is it necessary for a cox to be familiar with all the nuances of advanced steering or navigation, and effective coaching is only something a cox can do after years of experience.

Steering is the most important part of the cox's job after ensuring the safety of the crew. This can only be learnt through experience and familiarity with the river. When you feel happy with the steering you can start to give commands. If in doubt, ask Stroke what to say or say nothing.

It is the responsibility of the crew to teach you how to cox in the way which is going to be most helpful to them. They can't expect you to be a wonderful cox through some sort of method of telepathy! Listen to any commands given and use them later. At the end of the outing ask if there was a command used that you didn't understand. Remember as a cox you are a valuable commodity and it is up to the crew to make you happy enough to want to cox them again!

Giving commands

First things first

• Make sure you are wearing a life jacket
• If you are using a coxbox check to see if it works while the boat is still on the rack.
• It is useful to ask before the outing what work it is intended to be done. If there is a coach with you then you don't need to worry too much as they will tell you as you are going along. If there is no coach you need to discuss the work first and ask questions about anything you don't understand. You may need a ratemeter or a stopwatch.

Carrying the boat out of the boathouse

• You should stand at the end of the boat closest to the boat house doors so that you can direct and help with the carrying of the boat out of the boat house.
• To get the crew to stand by the boat give the command : "Hands on".
• To lift it, give the command : "Are you ready? Lift".
• There now follows a series of commands which become quite complicated depending which rack the boat is on. An experienced crew can take the boat out without too much guidance from the cox. See the next section for these commands when you are feeling more confident.

Putting the boat in the water

• Boats should always be put into the water with the bows pointing upstream. (At Walbrook this basically means that the boats go out of the creek in the normal way, bows first.) Check the boat as it comes out of the boathouse to see if it needs to be turned round.
• To put the boat in the water an experienced crew can "throw" the boat : " Throwing the boat above heads. Bowside moving. Are you ready? Go." Then : "And in".
• Other crews may wish to do it in four stages : "Half turn. Riverside riggers up. Go." Then : "Strokeside under. Go." Then : "As she floats." Then : "And in".
• If the boat is to be put onto trestles so that the crew can do some faffing around (traditional for a large proportion of outings!) then the boat needs to be rolled over : "As she floats. Bowside (or strokeside) riggers coming up. Are you ready? Go."

Getting into the boat and out onto the river

• Bowside (usually) have to hold their riggers while strokeside get in : "Bowside holding. Strokeside in. Go."
• When all of strokeside's blades are in the gates and pushed out on the water ask bowside to get in : "Bowside in. Go" while you hold a rigger half way down the boat.
• You get in when all the crew appear to be ready. Before doing anything else ask the crew to: "Number off when ready." They will shout "Bow, 2, 3" etc. up the boat to stroke.
• Check for river traffic before moving off then say "Push off on bowside" to get the crew to push away from the bank.
• Getting out of the creek at Walbrook: This needs to be done slowly and carefully. An experienced crew can get out themselves but even they will need some direction. Most crews will wait for instructions. This is most likely to consist of: "Paddle on Bow. Go." and if a tighter turn is needed ask for : "Hold it Stroke." Check that no boats are heading upstream before emerging from the creek.

Steering

Using the rudder

• Pulling the rudder string to the left turns the boat to the left (by pushing the stern to the right) and vice versa.
• Hold a rudder string in each hand with the rudder lines taut and the rudder straight.
• Only a very small movement of the hands is necessary. Steering an eight is like trying to drive a juggernaut from the back. Think ahead as far as possible and plan your course accordingly. Good anticipation and gentle corrective action that does not interfere with the run of the boat is the essence of good steering.
• Try only to use the rudder when the blades are in the water.
• Sit up straight and try to avoid moving. If the boat is unbalanced then it is up to the crew to try to correct it, not you, though at times it can be very difficult to ignore your instinct to lean out.
• Keep your eyes to the distance ahead, picking a fixed marker (tree, building, moored craft etc.) so as to be able to pick, and follow a straight course.
• If you need to look to the side (e.g. to judge proximity of adjacent craft) make it a very short (1 or 2 seconds maximum) glance and resume your look ahead. Longer looks to the side almost always result in an unwanted turn in that direction.

Avoiding the use of the rudder

• Always try to set off straight without having to use the rudder. Ask for Bow or 2 to "Touch it. Go" before getting the whole crew to set off.
• If a tight turn is required for some reason, ask strokeside or bowside to paddle harder by saying :"Harder on strokeside (or bowside). Go." then when you are straight say "Together. Go".

Spinning

• Remember only to spin downstream of bridges or obstacles unless you are absolutely sure there is no danger of being pushed onto the pier
• Spin well above the weir at Teddington.
• Always stop the boat first
• If spinning upstream point the boat out into the middle of the river. If spinning downstream point the boat into the left hand bank (checking first that the river is clear).
• Usually you will want to spin anticlockwise which will require you to get bowside to paddle on and strokeside to back down: "Spin the boat. Bowside paddle on. Strokeside back it down. Starting with bowside (or strokeside). Are you ready? Go."

Warming up

• Ask the stroke how s/he wants to warm up. Often it involves half the crew sitting the boat and the other half moving up the slide, possibly with square blades. e.g.: "Bow pair, backstops, square blades, hands only. Are you ready? Go." Then "next stroke, body swing. Go" then " next stroke, quarter slide. Go" etc. moving through half slide, three quarter slide to full slide.
• After bow pair/four have got to full slide taking five to ten strokes at each slide position ask them to "easy oar. Drop" and repeat with stern pair/four.
• To get the whole crew rowing together you can either ask stern pair/four to stop rowing and get the whole crew to row together : "Backstops. Paddling light. Are you ready? Go" or you can ask stern pair to feather their blades : "Next stroke, feather. Go" and then get bow pair/four to join in by saying : "Bow pair, get ready to join in. Join in now."
• Increase the pressure by saying : "Next stroke, half pressure. Go"
• Give the crew one or more bursts of work by saying : "Get ready for ten firm. Next stroke, firm. Go"
• Some crews like to do five, ten, then fifteen firm with light or half pressure in between.
• On the penultimate stroke of each set say: "Next stroke, light. Go."

General commands and counting strokes

• Whatever the pressure or work always set off by saying : "Backstops. Paddling light. Are you ready? Go." i.e. even if the crew wants to go firm start off light.
• After a few strokes call for half pressure then go into any stronger pressure rather than going straight from light to firm, say.
• Use your fingers to count strokes. If you have to call a change in stroke at the end of ten strokes which is not easily anticipated by the crew give them lots of warning. e.g. count six then say : " Get ready. Rating up two. Next stroke. Go" or some crews prefer (after five strokes): "Rating up two. In three. In two. In one. Go." Check with stroke which s/he prefers if possible.
• When you wish to stop, check behind for approaching boats, move towards the bank and say : "Next stroke, easy oar". Then say : "Drop". Reprimand crew for dropping the blades on the water before you wish them to as it can be useful to allow the boat to run on until it is in the position you want.

After the outing

Getting into the creek

• The safest way of getting back into the creek is to go past the end of the creek and then spin.
• Go in very slowly - you need time to make the turn and to check that no other boats are coming out
• Get 3/7 to hold it up and 2 to paddle on.
• For the last few strokes, ask Stroke to paddle and get strokeside to push their hands down to avoid them catching their blades under the edge of the hard.

Getting out of the boat

• Ask strokeside to lean towards the bank and hold on to allow you to get out
• Hold a rigger in the middle of the boat and say : " Strokeside out".
• Get strokeside to hold their riggers : " Strokeside holding the boat, bowside out".

Putting the boat away

• Usually the crew will put their blades away while you hold the boat.
• When the crew is ready, ask for : " Hands on. Lifting the boat above hands, on three. Bowside moving. 1,2,3".
• Or if the crew don't wish to throw the boat, say : " Hands on. Lifting to waists. Are you ready? Go." Then " Half turn. Riverside riggers up." Then "Bowside under. Go."
• The boat should be carried to just outside the boathouse, put on trestles, then washed.
• Then ask for : "Hands on. Are you ready? Lift. Half turn on bowside shoulders. Go." (This works for racks that are to the left of the rowers as they carry the boat in, otherwise strokeside shoulders.) Carry into the boathouse slowly keeping an eye on gates which might get caught on the ceiling and other boats as it is put back on its rack.

Taking the boat out of the boathouse

• Boats sitting on trolleys can be pulled out and crews can step over them to position themselves opposite their riggers before lifting.
• Boats being lifted off the top racks involve half of the crew moving underneath to get on the other side of the boat as it is lifted off. Experienced crews will automatically work out who needs to move - if not you will need to tell them what to do: look at the rigger closest to you which is sticking out into the boathouse. If it is bow's rigger then bowside need to move under so that they end up opposite their riggers. Otherwise strokeside move. Say "Bowside moving. Are you ready? Lift."
• With racks that are at waist height all the crew will need to stay on the same side until there is room to ask bowside or strokeside to move under.
• Boats will need to be carried out of the boathouse on the "half turn", i.e. with the riggers vertical. Again many crews will do this automatically. If not, say : " Half turn. Bowside (or strokeside) shoulders. Go."
• As soon as possible, give the command : "Level" to allow the crew to carry the boat at a more comfortable position. If needs be, the boat can be carried at different heights to avoid obstacles. To achieve this say : "Shoulders", ".Above heads. Go.", "Waists", "Up in the bows".

Spinning

• In a tight place you might need to ask just one side to paddle on then to get the other side to join in e.g. "Bowside only, paddle on. Go" then "Easy there" then " Strokeside hold it" then Strokeside paddle on" then "Bowside back it down, spinning alternately. Go."
• A completely different technique involves both sides "chopping" the water together with bowside paddling on and strokeside backing down just using hands only.
• If there is a strong stream, then you will only need one side to paddle on while the other side holds the boat.

What follows are just a few of the most common exercises. Every new coach or stroke is likely to have a repertoire of exercises that they particularly favour. Listen carefully to what they say and use these commands at a later stage. If you don't understand why a crew is being asked to do something then ask after the outing.

If the command is quite complicated then explain what's going to happen first, then say " Get ready. Next stroke. Go" or "Get ready. Change. Go." Remember always to give the "Go" on the finish.

• Slide work: see Warming Up section but with whole crew. e.g. : "Whole crew. Backstops. Hands only. Paddling light. Are you ready? Go." This helps to get the crew swinging together, swinging before sliding and sliding together.
• Strong point rowing: "Three - quarter slide, three - quarter pressure. Are you ready? Go." This works on getting the catches together.
• Acceleration paddling: " Half pressure catch, three-quarter pressure finish. Next stroke. Change .Go." This is good for the finish and co-ordination.
• Square-blade paddling: " Get ready for square-blade paddling. Next stroke. Go." This is to get everyone working the finish together, drawing up, thinking about consistent hand heights and making sure the finish is coming out square.
• Alternate square-blade and feathering: (You need to really concentrate on the timing of the commands for this one!) "Get ready for alternate square blade and feathering. Next stroke, square blade. Go. Change. Go." etc.
• Single strokes: "Single strokes to hands away, bodies over. Are you ready? Go." This concentrates the minds on moving together and letting the boat run. It can be done to a variety of positions. You need to shout "Go" after a brief pause then after a while increase to two strokes etc. by saying : " Two strokes. Go."
• Changing hand positions: "Inside hand down the loom. Change. Go." "Hands together. Go." "Outside hand off. Go." "Normal paddling. Go." These get the crew to think about what each of their hands are doing and to draw the stroke through to the chest.
• Feet out paddling: stop the boat and ask the crew to take their feet out. This gets the weight onto the feet and gets them drawing through the finish together.

Listen very carefully to what the coach or stroke want you to say and ask again if you're not sure what is wanted. There is nothing worse for both you and the crew than to get half way through a piece and not be sure what to do next.

Again what follows just covers the most common forms of work - the variation is endless.

• For timed pieces, check you have a stopwatch. Ask what sort of rating is expected. If the watch doesn't work or you forget to start it then you can count strokes.
• Check the pressure wanted. It is likely to be firm for 1-3 minutes or half/three quarter pressure for five -ten minutes. Steady state is about three-quarter pressure.
• Check whether a running start or racing start (i.e. stationary start) is wanted. For a running start, start off paddling light then say : "Build over five. Go." Count two then say : " Next stroke, firm. Go."
• If a short piece of work is in progress, give the time every minute: "One minute gone" . This however can be very depressing if there are nine more to go so for longer pieces give the time every two or four minutes.
• If the rating is about thirty, then the last ten strokes will be when there are 20 seconds to go. If in doubt always overestimate the number of strokes left. Say : "Last ten. Go"
• Tell the stroke at regular intervals what the rating is and if it's below what's being aimed for, ask her/him if s/he wants to take it up. If so : "Next stroke, rating up two. Go"
• Every so often if the pressure is going or concentration is being lost have a push for ten. This could be a push for ten on the legs, catches, finishes, length. Say " Get ready. Next stroke. Ten on the legs. Go." Most crews do not want you to count it. They can do that themselves if they wish. You must count silently however and could perhaps say : "Five more". At the end say : " Rhythm" or "Lengthen out" to let the crew know that the ten is over.
• A "Pyramid" is where the rating goes up two and the time goes down a minute then it is reversed e.g. five mins rating 28, four mins rating 30, three rating 32, two rating 34, one minute rating 36 and back down again. At the end of each time period say : " Get ready. Next stroke, rating up. Go."
• A "Castle" is where the rating goes up and down for fixed periods e.g. two minutes rating 26, two at 28 repeated a number of times.
• "Fartlek" is a certain number of strokes firm then light e.g. twenty firm, ten light. In the light count 7 then say : "Next stroke, firm. Go". On the tenth stroke of the firm say : "Light. Go".
• At the end of a piece, say : "Next stroke, wind down."

If in doubt, don't try to coach. There's nothing more infuriating for a crew than to be told to do something that doesn't make sense or makes the situation worse. If you are unsure then before the outing ask stroke to let you know if there's anything s/he wants you to say.

Sailing craft - What speed? Are they tacking ? Is it a regatta?

Day hire craft - They probably do not know the rules and may not be alert.

Youngsters - They may not be experienced

Uncoxed scullers - They are fast but not always vigilant

Large pleasure boats and steamers who travel up and down the middle of the river.

Canoes often stick very close to the bank going upstream and paddle in a row going downstream

Craft moving out, crossing or turning including the ferry at Raven's Ait

Effects of stream.

• The river flow on our reach can vary from negligible to a stream of 5 knots or more making safe rowing impossible.
• Right at the bank the stream (flow rate) is always zero, but the rate of increase in stream for every foot of distance from the bank is the highest.
• On a straight stretch of river with a symmetrical bed, the stream is always fastest at the centre (the "eye" of the current). The variation in stream over several feet in mid-river is usually small - but the effects of bank shape, shallows, moored craft or other anomalies may make the "eye of the current" very narrow and off centre
• Water doesn't change direction until it has to. At bends therefore the "eye of the current" will not follow the inside bank, but will run straight and wide and turn late. It may then overcorrect and bounce off alternate banks as the river settles to a new direction.
• Narrowing or widening of the river can speed up or slow down the stream, but can also cause eddies or other effects.
• These variations in the position of the eye of the current cannot usually be seen from the cox's seat. They can be anticipated but should be confirmed with hard won experience of the reach in different conditions.

Special considerations for Hampton Court to Kingston reach

• Keep well clear of the piers of Hampton Court Bridge and Kingston Bridge.
• If you turn above Hampton Court Bridge then take the middle arch of the bridge coming downstream and stay wide round the bend as where the Mole joins the Thames, the eye of the current is pushed to the left of centre nearer the Middlesex bank. Sometimes the Mole causes serious eddies on the Middlesex side of the river.
• Stay in the middle past the Fox on the River then anticipate the top of Thames Ditton Island by moving slightly to the left well away from moored boats then back into the middle again.
• At the mushroom i.e. the left hand bend by Boyle Farm Island, the stream goes wide - but go too wide and you may be pushed onto moored boats.
• Stay just to the right of centre down to the marina.
• The river turns left (late) at the marina into the straight walled reach and speeds up. Despite the straightness of this reach there are some variations in the position of the "eye" caused by initial "bounce", the moored barges on the Surrey bank (and the dead water downstream of them), and the "last minute" split of the stream at Ravens Ait.
• Aim to pass Ravens Ait as close as possible to the Ait. This is where the fastest water is but beware as there is dead water immediately downstream of Ravens Ait. Come away from the Ait slightly closer to the left bank of the river than the right.
• On the stretch coming down to Kingston Bridge stay in the centre and aim for the middle arch of Kingston Bridge followed by the middle arch of the railway bridge.
• On the Kingston stretch, aim to pass Steven's Ait as close as possible then take the bend quite wide.

Getting into the bank in difficult circumstances

• A technique for moving a boat sideways which can be useful on occasions is when a member of the crew reaches round and takes the handle behind her/him. By paddling on with this blade you can make the boat go sideways. In the creek you will need to use someone on strokeside, say, 6 to paddle on with 5's blade.

The cox needs to be calm and in control throughout and can make the difference between victory and defeat.

During the race, the first priority is still to steer effectively but the cox can also contribute hugely in managing and motivating the crew. Give encouragement and make comments in the same way that you do during outings and discuss with the crew beforehand any special pushes or tactics you plan to use.

Before boating

• Weigh in, pick up numbers and check which station you are on.
• If possible walk to the start of the race and watch crews getting on to the stake boats to see if any particular techniques work better than others.
• Look at the course to see where the best stream is and any bays or wide bends to avoid.
• Walk to the finish and try to identify where the last ten or twenty strokes start by counting strokes for crews in other races.
• Ensure the crew is ready (mentally prepared, equipped and appropriately warmed up) and is present at the boating area at the appropriate time (normally 30 mins prior to race time). Do not wait to be called over the public address system.

Going up to the start

• Move out in the normal way taking special care to watch for races in progress or other boats.
• Remember that normal navigation rules apply within a restricted navigation channel - i.e. keep to the right.
• Take special care in a restricted navigation channel not to stray onto the course and show special consideration to other river users.
• Discuss with the crew the warm-up they wish to do on the way to the start. It is best if it is as close as possible to what they normally do they it may need to be shortened.
• One or two practice starts help to settle the "butterflies" and reduce the risk of over-enthusiasm resulting in errors during the start.
• Talk to the crew to keep them motivated - "calm but coiled".
• Focus the crew on their boat only - the cox looks after outside influences.
• Move to the stake boats as directed by the start Marshall and show courtesy to the other competitors. Avoid being so quick as to have an over-long wait, or so slow as to hold up the start and have insufficient time to settle.
• You should normally turn beyond the end of the course and paddle gently past and close to the stake-boat then back down slowly to get the stern onto the stake-boat.
• Be sure that your crew are ready, any warm clothing stripped off and last checks for tight rigger nuts etc. completed.
• The umpire will check crews and stations and confirm the start procedure.
• Keep your hand up until you are ready
• Ask the crew to : "Come forward and get ready."
• You should ensure that the boat is pointing correctly down the middle of your station, allowing if necessary for any wind or cross current. Call for corrections (usually minor - e.g. "Touch it Bow") from bow or 2.
• Make sure there is no run on the boat by asking the crew to "Take the run off".
• When you are satisfied that you are straight and ready - drop your hand.
• If your hand is down, the umpire will assume that you are ready - so let your crew know: "hand down".
• The umpire will raise a Red Flag and command "Attention, Go" On the command "go", the umpire will also drop the flag.