My first season on varsity

My first season on the varsity crew team is over … Wow! Never would’ve thought I’d make it this far. Let me tell you, competing at the varsity level is a whole new world. As a novice coxswain, you don’t know much of the technical part of the sport. The transition from novice to varsity was not easy but I learned a lot. 

 

Technical Side of Things

As a varsity coxswain you are expected to understand so much more of the sport specially all the technical details. For me, it was also great to see how the rowers started to see the cox as a resource to fix or improve their technique.

Most of the time you can point out a technical aspect of their rowing that could be worked on or improved. You also now understand better how a boat moves and what are the key elements for a boat to move efficiently.

 

More Responsibility

Once you are on a varsity team, you are expected to make little to zero mistakes because now more than ever, your team depends on you to win those head races.

The rowers rely on you to relay important information to and from the coach. The coaches rely on you to tell them important things you observed during training and races. On varsity the coaches take into account your opinion more and hear more closely what you are saying (ex. boat spread, oar length).

 

Senior Varsity Coxswains

PLEASE, I beg you,  take advantage of the opportunity at your hands. The senior coxswains have so much knowledge that they have accumulated over the years. Ask them questions about anything you are unsure of.

Ask them to listen to your tapes and get their feedback. Because the senior coxswains at my club have already gone through the process of applying (and getting admitted) to row in college, they know what it takes to make a tape good.

It is likely that they will be happy to help because they have been in your situation before.

Thats all for now, see you next time!

 

 

 

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