What is Rowing?
Rowing is the act of using oars to propel a boat through water, or as a sport where people or teams race each other in boats. The two main forms of the sport are sweep rowing and sculling:
Sweep rowing: Each rower uses a single oar held in both hands.
Sculling: Each rower uses two oars, or sculls, one in each hand.
Rowing competitions are usually held on inland rivers and lakes, and the watercraft used are called shells (usually propelled by eight oars) and sculls (two or four oars). The standard distance for elite rowing events is 2,000 meters.
Sweep Rowing
Sweep rowing is a type of rowing where each rower uses one oar with both hands to propel the boat through the water. It's one of two disciplines of rowing, the other being sculling, where each rower uses two oars, one in each hand. Sweep rowers can use either the port or starboard oar.
Sweep rowing events can include a coxswain, who steers the boat and acts as an on-the-water coach. Sweep boat events at regattas include: Pair with a coxswain (2+), Pair without a coxswain (2-), Four with a coxswain (4+), Four without a coxswain (4-), and Eight (8+).
Sculling
Sculling is a form of rowing where each rower uses two oars, one in each hand. This is different from "sweep rowing," where each rower uses only one oar. Sculling can be performed in different types of boats, including:
Single Scull (1x): One person in the boat using two oars.
Double Scull (2x): Two people in the boat, each using two oars.
Quad Scull (4x): Four people in the boat, each using two oars.
Coxswains
Pronounced "Cox-son." The coxswain sits in the designated coxswain seat. In an 8+ boat the coxswain seat will always be in the stern (back) of the boat, in a 4+ boat the coswain seat can either be in the stern or the bow (front) of the boat. The coxswain's job is to steer the boat and motivate the rowers. Steering is an integral part of all races and, in close races, can be a deciding factor. In order to communicate with the rowers, the coxswain wears a headset which is hooked up to speakers in the boat. A coxswain's motivation technique is largely dependent on the preferences of the rowers within their boat.
Rower
A rower's job is to power the boat. The rower closest to the stern (back) is called stroke because they set the pace for the rest of the boat to follow. The rower closest to the bow (front) of the boat is referred to as bow seat. The most important task of a rower is mastering the intricate technique designed to move the boat forward and maximizing their power.
General Rowing Information
In a sweep rowing shell, each rower has one oar and rows on just one side of the boat. Usually an athlete is designated as either a starboard or a port rower.
The positions of the boat are also assigned numbers, according to what seat you are sitting in that day.
Numbers begin at the bow of a boat, and count up to the stern.
