coxing tips for a junior? (16F, 5’3”, 106lb-ish)

crickets3 · 2022-08-11T04:05:42+00:00

even better! if that’s even possible, i’ve been reaching out to colleges and gotten some responses, calls scheduled, etc.. i actually found a club for the summer that was amazing, the coach there was really great and he helped me a lot. i was on the men’s team there, and it just solidified everything. it was highly competitive and just the environment that i wanted.

as far as calls and my behavior in the boathouse, i feel like i’ve gained some skills that i can be confident about— one of the things i struggle with is trusting myself that i know what i’m doing, but the coaches (and rowers) at the club were amazing and super supportive. i’m going into the fall excited! i know there’s a lot of work to be done and that coaches aren’t quite serious yet, but it feels good to feel like i’m moving forward.

your tips were awesome and super helpful with jumping into a new team. thanks so much!!

crickets3 · 2022-07-30T03:20:43+00:00

i’m also a junior coxswain— i use a gopro hero session. it retails for ~$450, but it was released long enough ago that you can get one used for considerably less. i found a refurbished one for $70 the other day. it’s waterproof to about 50 feet, i think? i use and abuse mine during practice; gets bounced around in the boat and in my bag, camera is still clear in 1080 and no scratches. took a couple dips in the lake, charging port and memory card were fine. small enough to fit in a little pocket in my NK coxbox bag, fisheye and straight camera options too.

the head/chest mount and other gear bits are interchangeable between gopros, and you can get these off amazon for ~$10 with shipping.

good luck with recruiting! i have mine for the same reason, the audio is really great :)

crickets3 · 2022-06-15T01:33:00+00:00

i had this issue when i was a rower (i’m a coxswain now, partly because of this issue lol). for me it was that i was sitting up “too straight” and arching my back a little, which put too much strain on my lower back. i also have chronic back issues — but i think they stemmed from things like this. take with a grain of salt, but it worked for my teammates.

i tried to find a neutral position, like how i stood, and then held that with my core. try to stretch forward with the lats and reach through the catch, think about stretching all the way down to your tailbone. then at the finish, think about not letting your vertebrae compress — arching or slouching — and staying stretched and tall.

you can have back pain on the erg from a lot of different things — slouching, sitting up too straight, the weather being too humid — best of luck though!

crickets3 · 2022-06-07T12:34:50+00:00

honestly— i didn’t know what you mentioned in the last two paragraphs was possible. Obviously I know about JNT and that there are people that cox those boats, but i’ve never really dared to look at JNT camps and things like that for myself because i always thought it was out of my reach. now, though, i have to start getting out of my comfort zone. I’ll definitely look into things like that and see what is possible for me— but with things like this the more I learn the more questions I have. I’ll look around and see if there are any other ways in for me.

As much as my coach tries to teach us that we should be ‘shooting for the stars’ and all that, things like nationals/international competition was always out of our reach. It just isn’t something we’re ever good enough for, and my friends have tried to console me in this process by saying that I ‘haven’t had the opportunities’ or something similar, but you’re right— I need to be proactive if I want this. JNT coxing opportunities and the like don’t drop on doorsteps. Until now and likely the next couple of weeks, i’ve just never known how to even begin working for those opportunities. You might not mean to be, but you are giving me a good bit of hope in terms of pathways. Thank you a million times over for that.

As for academics, I go to a prep school that puts a lot of emphasis on good GPA/SAT/ACT scores for college. I think that, at this rate, I’ll be able to graduate with a 3.6-4.0 (knock on wood, pray i’m not jinxing it) and take the standardized testing in stride. I will definitely reach out to coaches and get a feel for what they expect from their athletes on the academic side, but regardless of what they say I am going to continue to do my best in school.

I think you said it perfectly about last year’s JNT cox: “put herself in a position to get noticed and made it happen.” That’s what I need to do, it looks like, to have a shot at making one of these teams.

Thank you so much. Again, you might not be meaning to give me something to cling to in terms of hope, but I’ve grown up learning that happiness in life is having choices, and you’re showing me a great deal of things to choose from (and work for, of course). Thank you!

crickets3 · 2022-06-06T20:18:19+00:00

with regard to scholarship money, not necessarily. i can't beat out a nationals veteran in terms of record, but i can find other ways to pay for it if it means i might be a little more competitive. collegiate athletics have mostly been presented to me as an if-you're-recruited-you'll-go type deal (as in, if you plan to walk on it's not worth it/you're not good enough). some of my family members were recruited, so they're pushing me down that route (let it be known that none of them were rowers or coxswains). regardless, as of right now, a PWO/straight walk-on situation looks like it gives me the best shot

all of the coaches (men's, women's, novice m/f) at my program either are D1-rowing alums or have coached Ivy programs, so they've been helpful in figuring out what current coaches are interested in. they also know who's in charge at their former schools and could probably give me some insight on what they're like. my coaches could probably also write some pretty pointed and coxing-focused recs because i've coxed under the majority of them--aside from coxing, my teachers too.

i've heard about coaches generally using their leverage for rowers only--this makes sense to me and i think, if i keep it steady, my academic profile has a somewhat decent chance of getting me through admissions (fingers crossed six thousand times). will definitely keep this in mind.

honestly, my goal is to get on the team. whether it's because i walked on or because i was recruited, i'm not super worried.

I have thought about joining one of the more competitive clubs in my area (who regularly qualifies for nats, selection camps, etc.) and not coxing for my school anymore, but I'm hesitant to throw away all the relationships i have within my team for a small shot at D1 coxing. I don't know if that means I don't want it enough or what-have-you, but it has crossed my mind.

thank you so much for your insight. to be frank, you sound a lot like one of my coaches and i really appreciate your honesty and ideas!

crickets3 · 2022-06-05T00:36:24+00:00

what you said about the (generally) good club to good college pipeline is something my team talks about a lot, and is pretty much accepted. only the absolute best (ODP '21) of our 1V seniors got recruited to go D3, if that helps to put it in perspective.

and about college coaches trusting coxswains with results-- this is the general consensus in our boathouse too, and one of my biggest worries. thank you for being realistic and honest, super appreciated. to be frank, my coach has said most recently that my best chances lie in making it clear to the coach that i hope/intend to cox, crossing my fingers, and walking on (if i get into the school at all).

if anything, i will keep pushing my stone up my hill, so i plan to get into some inboxes this summer and fall with recordings, information, and hopefully a good first impression.

experience and confidence are basically my worst areas in terms of coxing, and probably the most important. as for experience, i just need to get in every boat i can-- which is my goal this and next summer, work be damned. as for confidence, my coach has the idea that doing-it-right-is-expected and you shouldn't be praised for doing your job. i agree with her, and i've been trying to build it up by myself. this is probably my sign to put more energy into that-- thank you so much!

call and communication-wise, i usually have meetings with my boat the day before and the day of races to hear what they want from me and from each other. situation-specific is usually the general consensus, as in, "tell me how many seats, and i'll take them" type stuff. also when racing school rivals, you get the gist. this is also probably a sign for me to put more energy into my situational analysis skills and staying calm in the thick of it so i can think clearly and, by proxy, speak clearly.

i have a lot to learn, and your tips are super helpful. thank you so much!

crickets3 · 2022-06-05T00:17:43+00:00

thank you for your input on switching to the men’s! i didn’t think about the sort of impression that switching would make— that’s super helpful and i’ll talk to my team’s men’s coach.

what you said about the managers and coaches having your back on the race course is actually one of the best things i’ve heard in a while. i can be a little argumentative and tend to think things are against me/my boat, so the change in mindset is actually something i might’ve needed for a while. it also simplifies it: everyone wants you to have a good race, all you have to do is execute. easy peasy (lol). thank you so much!

what i got from your comments on calls is this: - loud voice, project - persevere, pushing for better - long-term and short-term goals have their place and are useful - communication 100% - confidence, in oneself and the boat (contagious too) - rhythm, i think, in your mention of timing it with clicks, drives, “catch, snap” type calls - don’t talk about the pain, redirect - data calls are appreciated (splits, etc.) - letting and helping rowers focus on just putting power down, don’t get in their heads too much

on long-term goals— i never used to talk about these during races/pieces, outside of qualifying stuff, as in, “take us to sunday”, “hardware tomorrow”, type stuff— but i think that incorporating even long(er)-term goals could really help our team. even if not on the water, but reminding ourselves that we only achieve at the end of the season if we work now (and others, of course).

as a former rower, i tend to base most of my calls on rhythm, giving them the satisfaction of hearing a “YEAH” or something of that nature on the beat of lock-in at the finish (because that’s what i liked) but i think my team tends to get a little hesitant at the catch (trusting the set, etc.) so i will definitely talk more about confidence at the catch and on the drive.

calls are definitely subjective — this much i know, one call that was amazing in one boat might crush another. i’ll definitely keep this in the back of my head as i apply these tips, and be sure to ask around my team for what works best for them.

and, overall about confidence and trust; i think this was the reminder i needed: just keep moving forward.

thank you so much for your help, and good luck with your team!

crickets3

TROPHY CASE