CoxPod

"Get your point" is a common refrain, especially (but not exclusively) at sprint or side-by-side races. We detail specific techniques for adjusting our point, which is a key coxswain skill. We also emphasize the importance of practicing—not just for us, but for our crews. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Discord server, or on social media. In this episode: 00:00  I...

Safety is our #1 job, and being safety conscious is an effective way for coxswains to earn the trust of our teammates and coaches. Constructing safety requires training, active attention to detail, and constant situational awareness. We unpack various safety scenarios, from the everyday to emergencies. Be wary of magical thinking! Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our D...

Indoor rowing tanks are an unusual setting—offering different opportunities and challenges from what we experience on the water or with ergs. We can assess an individual's rowing stroke when unaffected by any other variables, such as the environment or other rowers, and make improvements that transfer to the water. Here are practical suggestions on how to make the most of tank sessions, including...

From the moment we get into the coxswain seat, we build our steering skills by testing and trying different tactics. As we advance these skills, maneuvers become easier at both practices and races. This frees up mental bandwidth for the other things we do as coxswains, and it's more fun! Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Discord server, or on social media. In this e...

Our first offering of a blend of practical tips and assorted topics that don't have their own episode (yet). This fast-paced, more causal episode includes topics such as coxing a 7, and asking if you've named your cox box. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Discord server, or on social media. In this episode: 00:00  Introduction to a new format 01:04  Checking the sk...

Cam shares the details of his incredible win (from behind!) at the 2023 Henley Royal Regatta and how he developed the skills necessary to achieve this pinnacle of coxing success. He articulates the importance of resilience, overcoming isolation and adversity, building relationships, believing in his rowers' abilities, and trusting the crew's race plan. Connect with us on our website at https://www...

No one (but us) thinks to prepare you to cox the practice day at HOCR. We talk about how to be safe and efficient in the setting of hundreds of boats of varied classifications and skill levels squashed into a compressed timeframe on a river with complicated geography. This guidance will help you avoid penalties that could get applied to your race, set appropriate expectations, and leave you and yo...

Our teams can be caught in one or both of these common cycles: the downward spiral of recruiting coxswains who quit the team, or the virtuous cycle of recruiting engaged coxswains who become enthusiastic recruiters of others. We emphasize the importance of intentional recruitment and retention strategies. When these go well, the result is a happy and engaged coxswain. Connect with us on our websit...

Does anyone have a spacer? There's water in the foot wells! Do you have any tape? My top nut is loose! I need a bandaid! This whole episode builds on the popular credit card ad: What's in YOUR wallet? For a full blog post version of this episode including links to all the resources we mention, visit https://www.coxpod.com/036. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Disco...

Learn about Katie's mindset as she coxed through her path from high school to collegiate/masters rowing, and her involvement with co-creating Coxswain Resources. Katie chooses to learn from every experience: mistakes as well as successes. She also stresses the importance of finding an environment that will support our individual development as coxswains. Connect with us on our website at https://w...

This is unlike an ordinary day in our coxing experience, because participants don’t know anything yet. And our job on this day is not to teach them: it's for them to experience the sport and decide if they want to pursue it further. In short, we're ambassadors for the sport. Common language is essential for a safe and welcoming experience, and we provide examples of phrases you can substitute for...

Coxswains use visual information from bladework to inform our understanding of what a rower is doing with their body, which in turn can inform the calls we make to improve and synchronize the bladework. By working our way from the blade towards the handle, we discuss an approach for using all the visible parts of the oar to your advantage. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com,...

A key relationship in a crew boat is that between stroke seat and coxswain—every boat contains this partnership. Whether you are face-to-face in a sternloader or separated by other rowers in a bowloader, this partnership between the two of you has a powerful effect on the crew’s performance. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Discord server, or on social media. Suppo...

If we're distracted by what we’re wearing (or not wearing), we can't effectively do our jobs as coxswains. The hosts talk about how to dress for the conditions we encounter in an outdoor water sport, and we own up to some of our past (and current) mistakes. For a full blog post version of this episode including links to all the resources we mention, visit https://www.coxpod.com/031. Connect with u...

No coxswain has the luxury of being in a boat that’s always set. We talk through how to diagnose and correct set issues, no matter your skill level. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media. Support us on Patreon !

Coaches often give little or no instruction about how to steer properly. We debunk and explain common advice like "steer as little as possible." The stronger our grasp of the fundamentals, the better we can adapt to changing equipment, lineups, and weather conditions—all variables that impact how we steer. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on socia...

Applying to schools or preparing for a job interview? Leverage your coxing experience when responding to common application and interview questions. We talk about the diverse skills we bring to the coxswain seat, and also emphasize how the skills we learn there can transfer beyond. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media. Support us on Pa...

We focus on the fundamentals that coxswains should incorporate into every drill: consistency, precision, clarity, and tone. Using these elements helps actualize a more purposeful drill. We illustrate these points by talking through a sample of three common drills, including how we call them. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media. Suppor...

You’ve heard from us, and now we hear from you. Topics include: correcting set issues, stroke seat relationships, confidence, defining what a coxswain is, and the results of three audience polls on Instagram. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media. Support us on Patreon !

We discuss starting sequences, mid-race calls, sprinting to the finish, and what happens after crossing the finish line. We also explore approaches for when our boats are ahead, “in the pack” of competitors, or behind. This is the third of three related episodes, including: 022 | Stakeboats and 024 | Sprint Racing: Prep to Marshaling Area. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com,...

Dealing with the compressed time frame of sprint races introduces complexities before and on race day. Because there are so many intricacies, we gave this its own episode. We touch on how this compressed timeline affects preparation, warmups, and managing the marshaling area. There are two related episodes: 022 | Stakeboats and 025 | Sprint Racing: Start to Finish Line. Please note that this episo...

Erg races give coxswains the opportunity to interact 1-on-1 with rowers. We cover this type of event from preparation, through the race itself, to how to deal with the outcome. You can apply these same concepts to helping your rowers through an erg test. Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media. Support us on Patreon !

Many sprint races start by attaching boats to a fixed object that we call a stakeboat. These stakeboats often require coxswains to deploy all of our maneuvering skills. We discuss the different types of stakeboats and how each of us approaches them, including considerations for the marshaling area and the moments right before the start. There are two related episodes: 024 | Sprint Racing: Prep to...

We celebrate the podcast's one-year anniversary by challenging each other in a game of Would You Rather. This candid episode contains coxswain-related conundrums and constant camaraderie from your CoxPod co-hosts. We include two scenarios provided by our listeners! Connect with us on our website at https://www. CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media. Support us on Patreon !

Coxswains are in a unique leadership role. We delve into the complexities of the coxswain’s relationship with rowers, coaches, captains, race officials, and other coxswains. The tools needed to successfully manage these relationships evolve as we mature, develop skills, and operate in different team environments. Our goal is to build a set of strategies we can opt to take to navigate these situati...