Knowing Rowing

ORRA HOME - PROGRAMS - CONTACTS - ORRA NEWS - LINKS - MEMBERSHIP - SPRING-BREAK - REGATTAS - DIRECTIONS - WEATHER - OAK RIDGE

Top 10 Thing to Know About Rowing

1. Rowers are probably the world's best athletes.
   The sport demands endurance, strength and an ability to tolerate the pain that their muscles experience in the last 500 meters of the race.
   
2. It's the legs.
   Rowing only looks like an upper body sport.  Although upper body strength is important, the drive which moves the boat comes from the strong legs.  Rowing is one of the few athletic activities that involves all of the body's major muscle groups.
   
3. Meters not miles.
   The standard length of a rowing race is 2000 meters -- about a mile and a quarter.  Rowers refer to the parts of the race in 500 meter sections.
   
4. Sweep (like a broom) and sculling (with a "c").
   There are two basic types of rowing: sweep rowing , where the athlete holds one oar with both hands, and sculling, where the athlete has two oars -- one in each hand.
   
5. Think even numbers.
   Sweep rowers come in 2s (pairs), 4s ( fours) and 8s (eights).  Scullers can row alone (in a single), with somebody else (in a double), or with three other people (in a quad).  Scullers steer their own boat, using a rudder that they move with their foot.  Sweep rowers may or may not have a coxswain -- the on-the-water coach and person who steers.  For example, all eights have a coxwain, but pairs and fours may or may not.
   
6. It only looks easy.
   Great rowing looks graceful and fluid, but don't be fooled.  Pulling oarblades smoothly and effectively through the water while balancing a boat that may be as narrow as 11" across with 10'-12' oars is very difficult work.  Watch how quickly that graceful motion before the finish line turns into pain and gasping for air afterwards.
   
7. High tech versions of age-old equipment.
   Although wooden boats were the norm for may years, most of today's rowing boats - called shells -- are strong, lightweight carbon fiber.  The smallest boat on the water is the single scull, only 27'-30' long, a foot wide and approximately 30 pounds.  The largest is the eight at 60'.  Today's oars -- not paddles -- are also incredibly lightweight.  Sweep oars somewhat longer than sculling oars and have longer handles that are made of wood, instead of rubber grips on sculling oars.
   
8. SPM not MPH.
   Rowers speak in terms of strokes per minute (SPM); literally the number of strokes the boat competes in a minute's time.  The stroke rate at the start is high -- 38-45 -- and then "settles" to a race cadence typically in the 30s.  The boats spring to the finish, taking the rate up once again.  The coxswain or stroke of the boat may call a Power 10 -- a demand for the crew's best, strongest 10 strokes.  Although the number of strokes a boat is capable of rowing per minute is indicative of speed and talent, the boat getting the most distance out of every stroke may win the race.
   
9. Timing is everything.
   Rowing competitions are typically conducted on six lanes on the water.  They follow a double-elimination format in a system designed to identify the fastest six crews for the final race in each category.  Heats are first, followed by repechage (French for second-chance) races.  There are no style points for rowing - the boat whose bow crosses the finish line first is the winner.
   
10. Teamwork is number one.
    Rowing isn't a great choice for athletes looking for MVP status.  It is, however, teamwork's best teacher.  The athlete trying to stand out in the eight will only make the boat slower.  It is the crew made up of individuals willing to sacrifice their goals for the goals of the team; the athletes determined to match their desire, their talent and their oarblade with the rower in front of them, that will be on the medals stand.

From USRowing
USRowing is recognized the the United States Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport.  USRowing is responsible for the selection, training and management of the USRowing National Team that represents the United States in international competition.  Including the Olympic and Pan American Games.

USRowing is the oldest national governing body for amateur sport in the United States, established in 1872.  Rowers across the country are members of USRowing.

Olympic hopefuls are members of USRowing, but so are men and women of all ages who row for fitness, competition and fun.  As a membership organization, USRowing provides leadership and opportunities for all people to experience rowing from recreation to Olympic victory.  USRowing's  toll-free number is 1-800-314-4-ROW.

GENERAL ROWING INFORMATION

Rowers are divided as juniors (high school), collegiate, masters (age 27 and up), and open (no age restrictions. During Dogwood and sometimes at the Oak Ridge Sprints Regatta, ORRA has been known to mix high school and masters participants. This practice is unconventional but does produce "fun" races and helps to promote competition among Association members. Our goal is to promote the love of rowing.

The type of boat rowed and the participants ages, level of ability, sex, and weight, determines categories.

Ability

Novice: A high school athlete in their first year of competitive rowing. If an athlete has coxied in previous years, their status as a novice is retained their first year of competitive rowing.

Varsity: An athlete with over one year of competitive rowing experience.

Sex

There are men's events and there are women's events.

Weight* There are two weight categories: lightweight and open weight.

- Lightweight juniors cannot exceed 155 pounds. Lightweight Men cannot exceed 160 pounds.

- Lightweight women cannot exceed 130 pounds.

Lightweights can row in open weight events, but open weight athletes may not drop down to lightweight events unless they meet the required weight. Lightweights have to weigh in before their events.

Age

Junior - A high school athlete who has not reached their 18th birthday prior to January 1st of that calendar year or unless stated otherwise in individual regatta rules.

Masters - An adult rower 27 years of age or older. Master rowers recieve handicaped times and only row 1000m.

The whole body is involved in moving a shell through the water. Basically, the stroke is made up of four parts: catch, drive, release, and recovery.

Catch - As the stroke begins, the rower is somewhat coiled forward on the sliding seat, with knees bent, arms outstretched. At the catch, the rower raises the hands to place the oar blade vertically into the water.

Drive - At the beginning of the drive, the body position remains the same-the legs do all the work. Then as the upper boy begins to uncoil, the arms begin their work drawing the oar blades through the water. Continuing the drive, the rower moves his hands quickly into his body, which by this time is in a layback position-about the same angle as sitting in a comfortable living room chair.

Finish - During the finish the oar handle is lowered, drawing the oar blade out of the water. At the same time, the rower feathers the oar-turns the oar handle-so that the oar blade changes from a vertical position to a horizontal one.

Recovery - The oar remains out of the water as the rower begins recovery by moving his hands away from the body and past his knees. The body follows the hands and the sliding seat moves forward, with help from the feet and hips, until the knees are fully bent; the rower is ready to raise his hands for the next catch.

Boat categories

Shells Rowing boats with each person having two oars are called sculls. The act of rowing one of these sculls is known as sculling. All sculls are shells, but not all shells are sculls. All boats can safely be called shells. Originally made of wood, the newer boats-especially those used in competition-are made of carbon fiber or honeycombed fiberglass. Singles are 27 feet long and eights are 58 feet long. The width varies-competitive singles are as narrow as 10 inches; recreational boats are considerably less tippy at 20-to 25-inches wide.

Sculling People who have two oars in the water are called scullers. You can row by yourself with two oars in a single, with someone else who also has two oars in the double, or with three others in a quad.

Single Scull (1X): one person with two oars. The boat is also called a single. Double Sculls (2X): two people with two oars each. The boat is also called a double. Quadruple Sculls (4X): four people with two oars each. The boat is also called a quad.

Sweep People using one oar only sweep. Sweep rowers operate pairs, fours, and eights, and may or may not carry along a coxswain (pronounced cox-n), who is the on-the-water coach and steer-person. The normal configuration in a sweep boat has oars alternating from right to left, or starboard to port.

Pair without coxswain (2-): two people with one oar each. Since there is no one to steer, the person in bow seat (the first seat from the bow) works the rudder with the foot while rowing-not an easy task. The boat is also called aStraight pair, a pair without, or a coxless pair.

A pair with coxswain (2+): two people with one oar each plus a coxswain to steer and advise. The boat is also called a pair with or a coxed pair.

A four without coxswain (4-): four people with one oar each. The person in bow seat steers with their foot. The boat is also called a straight four, a coxless four, and a four without.

A four with coxswain (4+): four people with one oar each and a coxswain. The boat is also called a coxed four or a four with.

An eight (8+): eight people with one oar each and a coxswain. Eights absolutely require a coxswain. The eights are the fastest boats on the water.

Oars Oars not only move the boat through the water; they also act as balancers. The shaft section of the blade varies in length somewhat, but sweep rowers' oars are longer (12 to 13 feet) than scullers oars (9 1/2 to 10 feet).

Sweep oar blades are larger than sculling blades, but the curved blade shape is common to both. Various styles of blades are now used.

The hatchet, which is presently used. The hatchet also comes in a slight variation the smoothie-that is smoother and has a slight lip on the top edge. Also used is the macon or symmetrical blade, also called the spoon.

Terms

Back - To move the shell backward by turning the concave side of the blade toward the bow of the shell and pushing the handle toward the stern.

Blade - The flattened or spoon-shaped outboard end of a scull or sweep, which is used to propel the boat. Various styles are now used, with the present hatchet shape, which also comes in a slight variation-the smoothie, as it is smoother and has a slight lip on the top edge. Also used is the macon, or symmetrical blade, called the spoon.

Blade work - The action of the blade during a stroke.

Body Angle - At the catch or release, amount of forward lean of the oarsperson's body from the hips.

Bow - The forward section or nose of the shell.

Bowman - The oarsperson who sits nearest the bow of the shell.

Catch - That part of the stroke when the oar is placed in the water; followed by the pull-through.

Check - An abrupt change in the rate of deceleration caused by too much pressure on the stretcher without a simultaneous pressure on the pin.

Collar - A plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar to keep the oar from slipping through the oarlock.

Coxswain - Nicknamed 'cox'. Steers the shell, usually from a seat in the stern or the bow. Aids in carrying out the strategy of race, including gauging positions of competing crews

Crab - Occurs when an oarsman finds it difficult or impossible to get the oar out of the water at the end of the pull-through. He/she may have gone too deep or become hung up on a wave or another's puddle. Some crabs could result in an oarsman being thrown out of the shell.

Deck - The areas of a shell at the bow and stem that are covered with varnished fiberglass cloth or more recently with a thin plastic material

Drive - The part of the stroke cycle between the catch and the release; also called the pull-through.

Feather - To turn the blade over parallel to the surface of the water at the end of the pull-through and the start of the recovery, in order to lessen the wind resistance of the blade and facilitae the release.

Fin - A small flat piece of metal or wood attached perpendicular to the bottom of the shell to help keep the shell on a true course.

Finish - That part of the pull-through or stroke just before the oar is taken from the water.are adjustable toward the stem or bow of on the height of the oarsman.

Gate - A bar across the oarlock to retain the oar.

Gunwale - The horizontal strips of wood running the length of the shell on both sides, to which the ribs, knees and skin are attached.

Handle - The part of the oar that is grasped by the oarsman.

Heads up - DUCK! Watch out

Hold water - The command given by the coxswain to have the oarspersons place their blades horizontally in the water to stop the shell quickly.

Inside hand - The rower's hand nearest the oarlock.

Keel - The long wood member running the length of the boat along the centerline of the shell, to which all other parts are attached.

Knifing in - The fault often caused by under squaring the blade at the catch so that the oar goes too deep when power is applied; may also be caused by poor rigging and can result in a crab.

Layback - The amount of backward lean of the oarsman's body (toward the bow) at the finish of the stroke.

Missing water - The fault of not anchorin the blade at full reach.

Oar - Sweep oar approximately 12 feet Song, and sculling oar or scuil approximately 9.6 feet long, usually made of composite materials. Three main parts are the blade (or spoon), shaft, and handle.

Oarlock - A plastic or meta! U-shaped apparatus that swivels and holds the oar and is mounted

Outside hand - The rower's hand furthest away from the oarlock.

Pin - The vertical, metal shaft around which the oarlock swivels.

Port - The left side of the shell as one faces the bow. (coxswain's left)

Puddles -Whirls left in the water from the blade slipping as the rower pulls.

Racing start - The first 20 to 40 strokes of a race, which are usually quicker than those used throughout the race. The first few strokes of the start are usually shorter in order to getjthe shell moving.

Recovery - The part of the stroke cycle between the release and the catch in which the oar is made ready for the catch and the seat returned to the stern end of the slide.

Release - The part of the stroke cycle when the oar is taken from the water and feathered.

Ribs - Small pieces of wood that support the hull by fitting inside the shell between the keel and gunwale.

Rigger - A metal frame extending outward from the side of a racing shell to support an oarlock and oar.

Rudder - The steering device on the stem of the shell or under the shell. Rudder lines connect the rudder through pulleys either to the coxswain or in a pair, 4+, 4- or quad, to the stretcher of the oarsman who is steering.

Run - Of a shell, the distance it travels during one stroke. In the water, run is shown by the distance between successive puddles from the same oar and is a good guide to the pace of a shell.

Scull - Rowing using 2 smaller oars or sculls, with sculling boats being singles, doubles, or quads. Also the word for the sculling oar. A sculler is one who sculls.

Shell - A boat built for racing; with eight's usually 60 feet long and 24-26 inches wide at the widest point and weighing approximately 240 Ibs.

Skin - The thin sheet of cedar or plastic covering the framework of a shell.

Skying the blade - Diving at the catch; handle too low, causing the blade to be too high on the return and catch.

Slide - A seat moves on wheels up and down two parallel runners. There are stops at the front (stern) and back (bow) of the tracks to prevent the seat from sliding off.

Starboard - The right side of the boat as one faces the bow. Coxswains right.

Stroke - The rower nearest the stern who sets the rhythm and cadence for a crew. Also the complete cycle of the rowing motion consisting of catch, pull-through (drive), finish, release and feather, and recovery.

Swing - A harmony of movement between oarspersons and boat.

Tracks - The metal or plastic strips in the shell upon which the sliding seat moves backward and forward. Also 'runners'.

Washing out - Occurs when the blade comes out of the water during the drive before the finish, with a consequent loss of power.