Taking regular strokes, have the rowers close their eyes. This will force them to focusing on feeling for and hearing the cues needed to row together, and may also allow them to relax, especially in the upper body. Note In blind boats, either ensure a coach is watching and giving any required steering commands, or […]
Catch Placement
Start at the finish, with the boat stationary and blades squared and buried. Then take one full recovery, ending with the blades buried at the catch. Do not take a stroke, but reset to the finish. Watch for correct posture, timing and handle heights. Repeat as needed. Note To ensure the boat is set during […]
Finish Pauses
Taking full feather strokes, add a pause at the finish before the tap down. Blades should be rolled flat onto the water at the pause. Then rowers should tap down and bring their blades off the water as they begin the recovery, with enough clearance to square before the catch. Progression Move the pause to […]
Square/Feather
Taking regular strokes, switch between being square blades and feathered blades on the recovery. The switch could be every stroke, or every two strokes, three strokes, etc. Note Keeping the rate high enough and consistent between the feathered and squared boats helps keep the speed higher, helping the balance. Ensure the handle heights are not […]
Square Blades
Take regular strokes, but keep the blade fully squared on the recovery. In larger boats, rowers can sit out with their blades flat on the water to help set the boat. This drill will be more challenging in smaller boats where that is not an option. Progression In larger boats, you can decrease the number […]
Quarter Feather
Take regular strokes, but instead of being fully feathered on the recovery, hold the blades only slightly inclined from square. Note Ensure the blade angle isn’t changing through the recovery (except when squaring ready for the catch). Rowers are allowed to slightly drag the bottom edge, especially in smaller boats or bad conditions, but must […]
Rusties
Take a full stroke, but pause at bodies over on the recovery. From here reverse direction back to the finish, then complete the recovery all the way to the catch and repeat. The blades should be off the water throughout all of the extended recovery, challenging the rowers to stay balanced. This also emphasizes rhythm […]
Cut the Cake
Take a full stroke, but at bodies over on the recovery, reverse direction back to the finish, then complete the recovery all the way to the catch and repeat. The blades should be off the water throughout all of the extended recovery, challenging the rowers to stay balanced. This also emphasizes rhythm and moving together.
Zen Rowing
Long pause drills, giving rowers enough time to take deep breaths from the bottom part of their lungs at each pause. Breathing is intended as a way to reaffirm/correct posture. Location of pauses can be adjusted to work on posture at specific points of the recovery. One option is a pause at bodies over and […]