Coaches Contact Information
Katie Baylor
baylor.katie@gmail.com (home)
kbaylor@afcpe.org (work)
Dublin Crew
Fall 2008 – Varsity Women Expectations
Monday – Thursday 4:45 – 7:00 p.m., Saturday 7:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Guidelines, rules and expectations:
o It will be advantageous for you to read the newsletters and check the web page.
Practice Time
• Oars and launches must be down and set up by 4:45 p.m. We begin stretching at 4:45 p.m., with hands on the boats at 5 p.m.
• Oars – assume, unless otherwise told, we will be taking out two eights worth of rowers … so 2 set’s of oars need
to be down (usually the new and double red blades).
• Launches – Life jackets, butt pads, paddle, and gas … in the appropriate launches (#1-2). Coxswains, you are
responsible for this.
• Each of you can see whether or not all of the above items are down … the coaches shouldn’t have to remind you
(varsity rowers) to take items down.
Weather
• We will practice in the rain, sleet, snow, cold, heat, sun and even wind. Only lightning and severe wind will
preclude us from the water, and then we will have land practice.
• If I ever have to cancel practice, you will be notified via email.
• Dress for the weather! You can always take clothing off.
• Make sure you are staying hydrated! You wouldn’t believe the amount of water you burn during practice.
Hydration starts well before practice, not during!
Behavioral Expectations
• You are young adults; make sure you are acting like it. This expectation extends to our travel and hotel stays.
You are “there” to race, not to stay up all hours running around the hotel. If we have issues at a hotel, you find
yourself watching the racing from the “sideline.”
• If we are having issues with anyone (outside of DC) on the water or any other time, I will be responsible for
responding, not you.
• Please understand that you are apart of something bigger than just you as an individual. Not only are you
accountable to yourself, you are also accountable to your teammates and coaches.
o Respect each other’s individuality, opinions, concerns and property. This includes other teams while
away at regattas.
o You are varsity rowers, by now you should know what things need to get done in the course of a practice,
loading, or at regattas. These items include, but are not limited too: pre-practice setup, rigging and
loading, starting on time, being where you’re suppose to be, etc. Make sure you are taking the initiative
to get these things done. This is one of my biggest pet peeves, and can really add too, or strain our
relationship.
o You are expected to be at practice… bottom line! If you need to miss practice, let me know. Being a “noshow”
is very disrespectful to your teammates and will be dealt with.
Boat Selection Criteria
o Two fundamental criteria are involved in boat selection (If you don’t understand why you end up in one boat v.
another, ask and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you).
1. Objective – Weight adjusted erg scores, raw erg score, seat racing results
2. Subjective – Technique conducive to moving the boat, work ethic, attitude, ability to row “with” the
boat, attendance, etc.
Katie’s requirements for making the “A” boat, and subsequent boats, while
rowing with the Varsity Women.
1. Technique:
a. Are you exhibiting proper technical skills that move the boat?
b. Do you “flow” with the boat, thereby not disrupting the swing and
speed of the boat?
2. Erg Scores:
a. Raw scores – how hard can you pull and with what consistency.
b. Weight adjusted – are you pulling your weight?
3. Attendance, attitude, desire, work ethic, and discipline:
a. Proper attitude with high levels of attendance, desire, and
discipline.
b. Do you have the heart and emotional stamina to push yourself to
levels you thought unattainable?
c. Are you all about yourself, or are you a team-oriented person?
Standard number two is completely objective, while number one and three are
largely subjective on Katie’s part.
How I choose what events my squad will row in:
• Simple – work from the top boats/lineups down. Top boats are entered first and
then other boats follow. Often lineups/boats are subject to the schedule at each
regatta. Limits include what the schedule dictates, as well as potential equipment
conflicts with other Dublin boats.
Coxswain Expectations
Dublin Crew Varsity Women
Philosophy Regarding Coxswain Expectations
Coxswains are held to a higher standard than others are on the team, as they have a
number of responsibilities that are not held by the general population of the team. Your
three main goals are safety, steering straight, and being a “mini-coach.”
Off The Water Responsibilities
I. Pre-Practice
A. Coxswains are responsible for setting up the coach’s launch. Materials should
include sufficient gas, the appropriate number of life jackets, megaphones,
“butt” pad, and paddle.
B. Pre-practice meeting with the coach. We will discuss what’s going on that
day. This will include the goals for practice, both physical and technical.
C. Boat Handling and Such
1. At the varsity level, you should be more than proficient at basic boat
handling calls. Become confident and quick with your calls (via
repetition).
2. When your rowers place their hands on their boats, the only talking
should come from you (and not in a conversational manner with your
rowers). Enforce this policy with your rowers! A large amount of
damage seems to occur when rowers are not paying attention to their
boat and surroundings.
3. Docks – You set the tone with focused execution on the docks. A
varsity coxswain should focus more on the center (widest part) of the
boat, rather than the skeg.
On The Water Responsibilities
Your main responsibility is safety first. Always be aware of your surroundings. The
safety of your rowers and equipment is based in your focus and quick reactions.
II. Practice
A. Warm-ups set the tone for practice. Keep warm-ups focused. If you are
chatting about non-rowing items with your rowers, you set a tone of non-focus
for the rest of practice. Once we are on the water, we are all about the
business of rowing.
B. Positioning
1. Unless told otherwise, please stop all boats even with one another.
2. Unless told otherwise, all boats (coxswains) should make an effort to
start (row up) together.
3. Keep the boats spaced about 5 feet apart (from blade tip to blade tip).
C. Steering
1. Your first goal is to steer a straight coarse. This will come picking a
point in front of the boat, continuous practice, and from actually
thinking about it during your pieces.
2. Cross reference forward point with lateral point.
D. Inside The Boat
1. Be pro-active. It’s O.K. to get ones point while the coach is talking.
It’s O.K. to get boats even while the coach is talking.
2. Acknowledge directions. Coxswains should always acknowledge that
they’ve heard and understand the coach’s directions by raising their
hand.
3. While the coach is talking, don’t talk. You should be like sponges
trying to soak up what the coach is saying. Your ability to learn the
issues that your rowers are struggling with comes from listening to the
coach instructing the rower(s). The need for the rower to hear the
coach is another reason not to talk over the coach during pieces.
4. Per #3 – Listen for specifics regarding rowers in your boat. Watch
their blade(s) to see if you can identify the issue(s) that the coach is
talking about.
5. Be as specific as possible when dealing with technique issues (both in
terms of the issue and the person(s) causing the issue). Rowers tune
out generalization such as “set the boat up.” The more specific you
can be with identifying the problem, the more likely you are to get an
appropriate correction.
III. Racing (seat racing and regatta’s)
A. During seat racing, I want all coxswains to remain silent (except the
occasional rate notification).
B. During racing, state all situations in a positive way. Try to develop filtering
skills so that you are presenting information/situations in a “glass half full”
manner.
C. Never exaggerate (be honest in your perspective).
D. Get to know your crew to facilitate better calls and moves in the race. Ask
your crew prior to the race what works for them.
After Practice/Race (Land)
IV. After practice meeting
A. A quick meeting with the coach to provide closure
B. Discuss problems from practice.
C. This will be done to make sure you know and understand key elements of
practice.
V. Race Reports
A. After every race, you will be required to write out a race report for your race
(one page or less). It should include:
1. Regatta name, date, boat line-up, conditions, and the other boats in
your race.
2. A paragraph or so on general thoughts about the race. What was good,
what needs to be improved on?
3. Only include the warm-up if something distracting, or fantastic,
occurred.
4. I will expect these on the Monday following the race(s).
General
VI. Tools
A. All coxswains are required to have a tool bag with the following:
1. Wrenches – 7/16th and a small adjustable for top nuts.
2. Screw drivers (one regular, one Phillips)
3. Tape (athletic or electric)
4. Simple parts – a few nuts, bolts, washers and height spacers
5. Watch (for races and when we are on the water or if box dies)
VII. Remember the hierarchy of rowing
1. Coach
2. Coxswain
3. Rower
If you have issues with rowers not responding to your directions, I need to know! Be
aware, however, you have to earn their respect.
You are mini-coaches. If you don’t understand something, ask! Be proactive!
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