What are some things I can say to get my crew fired up?
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fatgrosshog
- Paddler
- Posts: 12
- Joined: March 16th, 2009, 7:09 pm
What are some things I can say to get my crew fired up?
I row and cox, what are some cool things I can say when I'm coxing to get my crew fired up to row hard, to get them to keep rowing hard through the set, and to congratulate them after a good set?
Google "coxswain recordings" or something to that effect and you will find examples. Check rowcoachmedia to get recordings of the NT coxswains. Look into coxie.com or coxswaincafe.com for more recordings (many are gone, but one or two may be left). Google "Pete Cipollone Head of Charles" or "Seth Bauer Head or Charles" for recordings of previous NT coxswains. Check out thecoxguide.com for cd recording of NT and UVA coxswains.
When all that is said and done you will have a large vocabulary of calls and sayings. You will then be able to test them and start to figure out your crew's personality and what it takes to spur them on. Knowing your crew is the single biggest thing you can do in terms of calls (and steering straight is the single most important thing you can do period). There are no magical calls as every boat is different.
When all that is said and done you will have a large vocabulary of calls and sayings. You will then be able to test them and start to figure out your crew's personality and what it takes to spur them on. Knowing your crew is the single biggest thing you can do in terms of calls (and steering straight is the single most important thing you can do period). There are no magical calls as every boat is different.
Agreed 100%, every crew needs different motivation.
Some things that help in general would be using a variety of voices. If you use short calls for like power 10's, a really short ONE-TWO-THREE etc. that normally works better, and you can work other motivational commands in between the count. Monotones are the worst thing to row for.
If you try to use more aggressive words, so instead of "PUSH HARD" yell "STOMP ON THOSE FOOTPLATES". And as sheehc said, variety is incredible, it is terrible to hear the same commands ten times in a race - UNLESS it's meaningful or motivational to the crew.
Once you are racing, you should always let them know the position of boats around them, remind them that the other boats aren't good at all, that they've worked so hard and they are so much better.
Besides that, just listen to recordings. Having focus 10's for length, or slide control or rigger rotation are great as well, as towards the midsection of a race, there may be problems in those areas.
Good luck! What team do you cox for?
Some things that help in general would be using a variety of voices. If you use short calls for like power 10's, a really short ONE-TWO-THREE etc. that normally works better, and you can work other motivational commands in between the count. Monotones are the worst thing to row for.
If you try to use more aggressive words, so instead of "PUSH HARD" yell "STOMP ON THOSE FOOTPLATES". And as sheehc said, variety is incredible, it is terrible to hear the same commands ten times in a race - UNLESS it's meaningful or motivational to the crew.
Once you are racing, you should always let them know the position of boats around them, remind them that the other boats aren't good at all, that they've worked so hard and they are so much better.
Besides that, just listen to recordings. Having focus 10's for length, or slide control or rigger rotation are great as well, as towards the midsection of a race, there may be problems in those areas.
Good luck! What team do you cox for?
24, 166lbs, 5'9
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robinfisichella
- Paddler
- Posts: 10
- Joined: March 25th, 2009, 5:52 am
yeah 10's are always good for a simple motivator, cox makes a massive difference.
I had a foreign international cox in my 8 the other day he was fucking awesome, i think one of the most important things is just building a reputation and respect. I liken the experience to having a headmaster subing in for a teacher in a class at school, everyone just shut up and did exactly what they were told, was bloddy awesome!
Its not about being mean or nice, ive had cox's who tried to be mean and i ended up getting pissed of and not listening, its about respect.
(sorry this prob doesnt help, more of a long term thing)
I had a foreign international cox in my 8 the other day he was fucking awesome, i think one of the most important things is just building a reputation and respect. I liken the experience to having a headmaster subing in for a teacher in a class at school, everyone just shut up and did exactly what they were told, was bloddy awesome!
Its not about being mean or nice, ive had cox's who tried to be mean and i ended up getting pissed of and not listening, its about respect.
(sorry this prob doesnt help, more of a long term thing)
Whatever it takes!
Something I find important is to be positive, not negative, particularly if your crew are doing it more for fun than medals 
Any time they're doing something right compliment them on it. If they're doing something wrong use positive action like "Let's work on those catches for the next 10..." rather than "Catches are looking sloppy" (we had a cox that said that all the time - we didn't ask him back).
Another thing is to empathize with them - "I know this hurts, but we're almost home" etc. That lets them get mad in their heads about the cox sitting on his/her plush comfy seat, not working at all, and then they can channel that rage into the stretchers
Any time they're doing something right compliment them on it. If they're doing something wrong use positive action like "Let's work on those catches for the next 10..." rather than "Catches are looking sloppy" (we had a cox that said that all the time - we didn't ask him back).Another thing is to empathize with them - "I know this hurts, but we're almost home" etc. That lets them get mad in their heads about the cox sitting on his/her plush comfy seat, not working at all, and then they can channel that rage into the stretchers
I'm reading Moby Dick and came across this:
Pull, pull, my fine hearts-alive; pull, my children; pull, my little ones. Why don't you break your backbones, my boys? What is it you stare at? Those chaps in yonder boat? Pull, then, do pull; never mind the brimstone--devils are good fellows enough. So, so; there you are now; that's the stroke for a thousand pounds; that's the stroke to sweep the stakes! Hurrah for the gold cup of sperm oil, my heroes! Three cheers, men--all hearts alive! Easy, easy; don't be in a hurry--don't be in a hurry. Why don't you snap your oars, you rascals? Bite something, you dogs! So, so, so, then:--softly, softly! That's it--that's it! long and strong. Give way there, give way! The devil fetch ye, ye ragamuffin rapscallions; ye are all asleep. Stop snoring, ye sleepers, and pull. Pull, will ye? pull, can't ye? pull, won't ye? Why in the name of gudgeons and ginger-cakes don't ye pull?--pull and break something! pull, and start your eyes out! Here! Every mother's son of ye draw his knife, and pull with the blade between his teeth. That's it--that's it. Now ye do something; that looks like it, my steel-bits. Start her--start her, my silver-spoons! Start her, marling-spikes!
Herman Melville, slightly edited. Might need a bit more work.
Pull, pull, my fine hearts-alive; pull, my children; pull, my little ones. Why don't you break your backbones, my boys? What is it you stare at? Those chaps in yonder boat? Pull, then, do pull; never mind the brimstone--devils are good fellows enough. So, so; there you are now; that's the stroke for a thousand pounds; that's the stroke to sweep the stakes! Hurrah for the gold cup of sperm oil, my heroes! Three cheers, men--all hearts alive! Easy, easy; don't be in a hurry--don't be in a hurry. Why don't you snap your oars, you rascals? Bite something, you dogs! So, so, so, then:--softly, softly! That's it--that's it! long and strong. Give way there, give way! The devil fetch ye, ye ragamuffin rapscallions; ye are all asleep. Stop snoring, ye sleepers, and pull. Pull, will ye? pull, can't ye? pull, won't ye? Why in the name of gudgeons and ginger-cakes don't ye pull?--pull and break something! pull, and start your eyes out! Here! Every mother's son of ye draw his knife, and pull with the blade between his teeth. That's it--that's it. Now ye do something; that looks like it, my steel-bits. Start her--start her, my silver-spoons! Start her, marling-spikes!
Herman Melville, slightly edited. Might need a bit more work.
Doug
64 yrs/176 cm/74⅞ kg/8400 km
Lifetime:
64 yrs/176 cm/74⅞ kg/8400 km
Lifetime:
From a rower's perspective: if possible, instill confidence since this will help people relax while pulling hard and that's key to higher speed. Phrases like: "You're walking", "You can do this alll day" (in Head pieces), "You can do more than you think" or just "Oh, yeah" (on a particularly nice stroke) have always helped me the most.
Focus 10's can help correct things even during a piece. Keep it simple: ratio, catching or finishing together or acceleration are probably the most elarborate you should use. When asking for more power, give the rowers a reason. Best reason is other people: "10 for the bow pair" or even "Give me 10" are more motivating than just a "Power 10". If you have a particularly inspiring figure, such as a coach, to your team, do 10 for him / her. Finally: don't overuse the power 10's, since it will just get the crew to pull less hard on the rest. Good luck!
Focus 10's can help correct things even during a piece. Keep it simple: ratio, catching or finishing together or acceleration are probably the most elarborate you should use. When asking for more power, give the rowers a reason. Best reason is other people: "10 for the bow pair" or even "Give me 10" are more motivating than just a "Power 10". If you have a particularly inspiring figure, such as a coach, to your team, do 10 for him / her. Finally: don't overuse the power 10's, since it will just get the crew to pull less hard on the rest. Good luck!
I was just imagining that and I got my mid-race chills I get when we pass a boat or something, I full agree on this. Variety is the best.bloomp wrote:Agreed 100%, every crew needs different motivation.
Some things that help in general would be using a variety of voices. If you use short calls for like power 10's, a really short ONE-TWO-THREE etc. that normally works better, and you can work other motivational commands in between the count. Monotones are the worst thing to row for.
If you try to use more aggressive words, so instead of "PUSH HARD" yell "STOMP ON THOSE FOOTPLATES". And as sheehc said, variety is incredible, it is terrible to hear the same commands ten times in a race - UNLESS it's meaningful or motivational to the crew.
Once you are racing, you should always let them know the position of boats around them, remind them that the other boats aren't good at all, that they've worked so hard and they are so much better.
Besides that, just listen to recordings. Having focus 10's for length, or slide control or rigger rotation are great as well, as towards the midsection of a race, there may be problems in those areas.
Good luck! What team do you cox for?
In general, I'd rather hear technical calls from a cox, as it should be a given that a crew is racing as close to their maximum as possible. So, look at how the crew can get more from what they're doing.
When they've hit that point, that's when you throw the *** DELETE - SPAM *** sink in. A bloke I rowed with a few years ago had the philosophy that, "if all else fails, then pull the handle as hard as you can". When Mick's call came through the boat "do you want to win this f"£$ing thing or what?" from 6 seat, the boat went even harder than we thought possible.
If you think that the crew can give more and go better, think about the motivation of the crew. Why AREN'T they pulling as well as you know that they can?
Another good call, from Mike Teti, "pull like you're the biggest, baddest MF in the bar, and everyone in the bar knows it".
There's plenty you can use, but tailor it to the boat and the people in it. No point in guessing. Know who you're dealing with, how to wind them up, how to get them to go. You're part psychologist in that seat too.
But most important, STEER STRAIGHT. A good course is as important as what you say.
But take it all with a grain of salt. My favourite boats are coxless...
When they've hit that point, that's when you throw the *** DELETE - SPAM *** sink in. A bloke I rowed with a few years ago had the philosophy that, "if all else fails, then pull the handle as hard as you can". When Mick's call came through the boat "do you want to win this f"£$ing thing or what?" from 6 seat, the boat went even harder than we thought possible.
If you think that the crew can give more and go better, think about the motivation of the crew. Why AREN'T they pulling as well as you know that they can?
Another good call, from Mike Teti, "pull like you're the biggest, baddest MF in the bar, and everyone in the bar knows it".
There's plenty you can use, but tailor it to the boat and the people in it. No point in guessing. Know who you're dealing with, how to wind them up, how to get them to go. You're part psychologist in that seat too.
But most important, STEER STRAIGHT. A good course is as important as what you say.
But take it all with a grain of salt. My favourite boats are coxless...
Now, this can only be used a few times with one crew, but it's a command that will scare the boats around you and get them fired up.
Call a power 10 in 2.
One... DESTROY!
Two... DESTROY!
Three... DESTROY!
Four... DESTROY!
etc etc. Screaming it as loud as possible and in your deepest voice. I heard a coxswain doing it midrace (thankfully I was watching), and the other boats all looked at her like oh dear lord what are we still fighting for.
Also, read and listen to this (Pete Cipollone):
http://www.row2k.com/stories/cip.shtml
and there is one more of another coxing great, but i can't find it.
Call a power 10 in 2.
One... DESTROY!
Two... DESTROY!
Three... DESTROY!
Four... DESTROY!
etc etc. Screaming it as loud as possible and in your deepest voice. I heard a coxswain doing it midrace (thankfully I was watching), and the other boats all looked at her like oh dear lord what are we still fighting for.
Also, read and listen to this (Pete Cipollone):
http://www.row2k.com/stories/cip.shtml
and there is one more of another coxing great, but i can't find it.
24, 166lbs, 5'9
what i have used
Im a rower while coxing our teenage novice boys i asked them to row like men not boys which worked well.