Test Your Knowledge of Rowing Lingo!
A plastic or metal fitting tightened to the oar to keep the oar from slipping through the oarlock.
A stroke that goes bad. The oar blade slices into the water at an angle and gets caught under the surface. A bad crab can catapult you out of the boat.
A rowing machine designed to simulate the actual rowing motion; used for training and testing.
Turning the oar blade flat during the recovery to lessen wind resistance.
A small flat appendage located along the stern section of the hull which helps stabilize the shell in holding a straight course.
That part of a shell which runs along the sides of the crew compartment through which the riggers are bolted.
The name given to that part of the boat to which the skin of the hull is attached. They are typically made of wood, aluminum or composite materials and provide structural integrity. The riggers bolt to the ribs.
The arrangement of the oars or sculls, the mechanical “set-up” – which can vary according to size, strength, experience and technique of a given crew.
The assembly of tubes which are tightly bolted to the hull to which are attached an oarlock.
The adjustment and alteration of accessories (riggers, foot stretchers, oar,etc.) in and on the shell to maximize a particular rowers efficiency, based on their size and capabilities.
this term is used interchangeably: to the oars used in sculling, the sculling shell itself; or the act of rowing in a sculling shell.
A plastic or leather wrap placed around the shaft at the location of the collar to protect the shaft from the tightening of the collar.
Apart from the rowing action, this can also mean the person who sets the pace for the rest of the crew. The stroke sits nearest the stern.
Not fully recovering the blade during the whole stroke.
This term is in reference to the water thrown back toward the bow direction by the blade as it enters the water. Less is best. This indicates that the blade has been properly planted before the rower initiates the drive.
Submerge the blade totally in the water.
Occurring at the end of the recovery phase, the catch is the point of the rowing cycle where the squared blade is inserted into the water. It is accomplished by an upward movement of the arms only.
where the blade enters the water.
the part of the rowing stroke where you take the blade out of the water, and your head and shoulders are leaning to the bow-side of the hips.
At the close of the drive phase, the hands move away from the body.
The blade is hesitating at the catch point, before entering the water
When two crews share the same shell, during a regatta, sometimes it is necessary for the crews to switch at the finish line without taking the boat from the water.
A problem where the seat becomes derailed from the track while rowing
A technical fault where the rower begins the drive before the catch is complete
The ratio of time taken on the recovery to time spent on the drive. Recovery time should always be longer than time taken on the drive.
A sharp downward and away (from the body) hand movement which serves to remove the oar from the water to a position horizontally parallel to the water.
A technical fault where the butt travels towards the bow without the commensurate movement of the shoulders.
The fault of carrying the hands too low during the recovery, causing the blade to be too high off the surface of the water.
Term describing the turning of the oar from a horizontal (feathered) to a vertical (squared) blade position.
Command shouted by a crew about to be overtaken by another crew, telling the overtaking crew of their presence.
Command given telling the athletes to go to their stations and grab a hold of the boat.
Before proceeding, the athletes acknowledge that they are ready by calling out their position number out loud.
While carrying the shell, the athletes are commanded to hold the shell in a diagonal position, the high side as stated.
Begin Rowing.
Make the shell move backwards by reversing the rowing stroke.
Keep the boat level (on keel). Items that affect set are: athletes posture, hand levels, rigging, timing, wind & current.
Stop rowing!
Stop rowing and let the boat glide with the blades off the water.
Stop the forward momentum of a moving boat by holding water.
A command usually heard in the boathouse or on the dock. Pay attention as a shell is being moved and you are about to be run over.
Method of stopping the boat. The blades are squared and buried in the water, athlete sitting in the finish position.
The command for exiting a team boat. Procedure: The outside hand holds the oar(s) away from the body. The inside hand holds the gunwale to the dock. The inside foot is removed from the foot stretchers and placed on the step-in board, the body weight is shifted forward as the athlete stands supporting himself on their inside leg. The outside foot is placed on the dock and you get out of the shell.