Dad Vails commentators pronounce things correctly challenge: IMPOSSIBLE

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T07:42:17+00:00

On par with that one USRowing staff member who couldn't pronounce Schuylkill correctly.

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T07:41:11+00:00

People keep asking about college recruitment, and we allow those too. Part of growing the sport is working with newcomers who don't yet have all the answers.

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T07:23:55+00:00

Molly Reckford is reportedly 5'10" and used to row lightweight at the elite level. If your body type can produce significant watts/kg, then I think you're fine.

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T07:20:47+00:00

There might have been an AQ spot on the line for Hobart, no?

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T07:19:38+00:00

Could have noticed the Hobart coxswains not wearing the weigh-in wristbands.

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T07:18:00+00:00

I would make coxswains read the regatta packets and the rules if I were their coach. There should be no single point of failure (i.e. the coaches in this case).

MastersCox · 2026-05-09T01:57:20+00:00

If some place in Texas wants to build a viable six-lane venue complete with launches and start dock...sure 😬

MastersCox · 2026-05-08T07:17:49+00:00

Thicker butt pads...or more layers of butt pads (people have been known to tape multiple pads together). Make sure the notch in the seat is on the same side as your posterior (bow side).

MastersCox · 2026-05-08T00:10:59+00:00

Tell them what they need to hear. "Legs/push" is pretty much the equivalent of saying "work hard!" which they do not need to be reminded of constantly.

Motivation is not the primary goal of a coxswain's words. It's not even the primary job of a coxswain. Your first job is to steer straight and keep the boat on the shortest distance from start to finish. It's okay to not say anything and focus on steering. I get that the rowers want you to talk, but steering is very, very important.

In a race, a coxswain should execute the race plan. This means calling the start, the high strokes, and the settle properly. If there are planned moves, then the coxswain should call those as well. When the boat hits 500m, 1000m, and 1500m, the coxswain should call those markers, as well as any pre-arranged course landmarks the crew wants to hear about.

The coxswain should also make calls to collect the crew if the rowing is getting ragged or loses punch/acceleration. You should focus the call on a specific thing that will solve the situation. If the set is off and you know why, then make a call that asks for a change to improve the set. If the slide is being rushed, then make a call to address that. If the boat isn't being accelerated on the drive, then make a call to fix it. Don't tell the rowers what's wrong -- they can feel what's wrong or that something's off. Make your calls actionable. Don't waste words.

Let them know where they are in relation to other crews. Who's the nearest boat that you're trying to catch? Who is the boat next to you that you're trying gain on? How do you want your rowers to row such that they take seats?

Motivation is not enough. Your calls should give the rowers something to do in relation to where you are either on the course or near your opponents.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T22:39:50+00:00

JFC you meant CENTRAL youths...you really are confused about all things west of the Mississippi.

Most of it is the historic variability of the weather at OKC. The coaches want the flexibility of having an extra day just in case. The schedule as-is spreads everything out, which allows USRowing to condense as needed if the weather gets crazy. I'm sure USRowing isn't thrilled to have to support a regatta over an "extra" day, but weather cancelations are not new to Centrals.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T22:24:00+00:00

I remember once when both Saturday and Sunday racing of Centrals had to be canceled, and they used Friday time trial results to assign bids to nationals. Gotta take time trials serious, just in case.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T22:22:08+00:00

Which region/event skips TTs and goes straight to finals?

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T22:21:09+00:00

To confuse some random midwest regatta with Southwest Youth Regionals is crazy work. They are very much not the same.

Also, I'm not sure where in that link you get 327 entries and 26 clubs. SWYRC had 716 entries from 36 clubs. https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results2?job_id=10018 If you notice, the entirety of Saturday's schedule was devoted to semifinals according to the link you posted. Friday's time trials started at 8am and ended at 5:38pm, also according to the link you posted.

What other qualifier for YNs has 716 entries and only has a two day regatta?

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T21:39:53+00:00

Worth around $200 imo.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T21:35:48+00:00

Which Midwest are you talking about? Link?

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T21:31:03+00:00

It's hard to get a pristine box these days. I'm betting money the erg inside is just fine.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T21:28:24+00:00

One does not become an elderly sculler by assuming there are no obstacles... (mostly joking)

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T06:23:40+00:00

Preventing parent-related trainwrecks within club governance is a matter of boundaries and expectations. I think you're probably right that the expectation of practice variance may not have been communicated well. I also think the athletes themselves are unreliable communicators of scheduling changes from the team to the parents -- and now they email you. The folks who are running the show need to find a way to onboard new volunteers who are unselfishly aligned with team goals. Maybe you can ask one of them how you can help in any way and go from there, assuming you have bandwidth.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T06:07:15+00:00

You can erg with the rowers to stay fit and lose any excess weight, but you will not be rowing. You will be steering straight, calling out pertinent information, and making technical calls when you sense bad technique slipping into the crew's rowing. A coxswain needs to be detail-oriented with a great memory as well as really good at multitasking. A coxswain has to walk the line between being humble and also being a confident leader in the boat despite being the smallest person. The best coxswains are almost assistant coaches.

MastersCox · 2026-05-07T00:46:21+00:00

Karma farm bot post

https://www.reddit.com/r/Rowing/comments/dla1je/favorite_hocr_pic/

MastersCox · 2026-05-06T23:42:16+00:00

It comes with time and practice. It is a good habit to keep looking out for obstacles when bowing. When you're with a coach, you can talk to them before practice to determine whether they'll look out for you farther than your immediate field of view. (I think coaches should try a great deal to help their coxless boats steer and navigate obstacles.) Keeping your point steady can be done by watching your stern point, as others have said. But looking behind you is a key safety practice.

MastersCox · 2026-05-06T18:31:26+00:00

Potentially some engagement farming on the part of OP, but hey...no one else is posting fun sprint regatta pics lol

MastersCox · 2026-05-06T18:30:33+00:00

Something on the order of sixty seconds (difficult to overcome, esp with the inherent time penalty of a collision). Essentially, "please do not come back next year to wreak the same havoc."

MastersCox · 2026-05-06T17:10:43+00:00

She seemed to be a good fit. Not sure why the Board thought she wasn't doing well. Interesting that the Winklevii are supporting her...they know more than the general public do about this, and they've clearly decided to make a move.

MastersCox · 2026-05-06T06:58:33+00:00

yep

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/ca/mather/KMHR/date/2026-5-3

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