ROWING DICTIONARY

About the Stroke

Catch – the beginning of the stroke where the oar enters the water; legs are fully bent
Drive – the part of the stroke right after the catch where power is applied with the legs as they straighten
Finish (Release) – the end of the stroke where the oar exits the water and the oar handle is close to the body
Recovery – the part of the stroke when you are moving from the finish to the catch with the blade out of the water.
Hand prep – the first part of the recovery when your arms move away from the body
Body prep – the amount of body preparation for the catch (back, arms and shoulders)
Leg prep – After your arms and body have moved, lift your knees to get to the catch
Square Blades – when the blade of the oar is perpendicular to the water
Feathered Blades – when the blade of the oar is parallel to the water, achieved by turning the oar with the inboard hand
Inboard/inside hand– the hand closest to the blade
Outboard/outside hand – the hand closest to the end of the oar handle

Rowing Language

“Weigh-enough” – coaches or coxswain’s command to signal stop
“Ready all row” – Coaches or coxswain’s command to start rowing
Power-10 – 10 hard strokes a coach or coxswain can call where all rowers apply 110% pressure at the same time
Stroke Rate (Rating) – the number of strokes rowers take in one minute
Split Time – the amount of time it takes a boat to row 500 meters
Crab – when the blade of the oar gets stuck in the water at the release, causing the rower to lose control of the oar handle
Head Race – typical fall race where each boat starts 10 seconds apart and race against the clock to the finish; winner is the boat with the fastest time
Dual Race – typical spring race where boats line up even, start at the same time, and the first boat to the finish line wins
Erg (ergometer)– indoor rowing machines
Coxswain ("cox") – the person who sits in the stern of the boat who is responsible for steering and giving on the water commands through a microphone (a.k.a. cox-box).
Novice – A rower in their first year, no matter how old they are

About the Boats

Shell – the “skinny” crew boats
Eight – a shell with eight rowers, each with one oar, and a coxswain
Four – a shell with four rowers, each with one oar, and a coxswain
Starboard – the right side of the boat; from a rower’s perspective, the oar going out to her left
Port – left side of the boat; from a rower’s perspective, the oar going out to her right
Bow – the front of the boat
Stern – the back of the boat
Rigger – the black metal triangle extending from the boat at each seat which attach the oars to the boat
Oar Lock / Gate – the black square piece of plastic at the end of the rigger that holds the oar in place
Oar – The long paddle
Blade – the end of the oar (generally the place where the oar is painted) we use to move the boat
Collar – the white plastic piece on the oar that prevents it from sliding through the oar lock
Slide – the two tracks underneath each rower's seat that allows the seat to roll back and forth
Foot stretcher – the place where a rower’s feet tie into the boat so that they can't move
Cox Box – The amplification system in the boat so the rowers can hear the Coxswain