Rowing Terms

  1. ”Adjust

    Used to correct either a rush or sluggishness on the recovery. The ratio compares the time used by the hands away from the body motion to the slide speed. Three man to adjust the ratio.

  2. ”Back

    Row backwards. The blades do not need to be turned around in the oarlocks although they can be. Bow four, back it down.

  3. ”Check

    Drag the blades on the water to slow and/or stop the boat from moving forward or backward. Having only one side check their blades results in a turn to that side. Port to check it down, starboard to row.

  4. ”Down

    Push the hands down fully at the finish to give the blade more height off the water. Three-man, down and away.

  5. ”Drag

    See check (it down). All eight to drag it.

  6. ”Early”

    A part of a stroke is early. By itself, the word usually refers to the catch timing. Six-man, you’re early.

  7. ”Finish

    A reminder to the crew to align their finish times. Five-man, watch your finish timing.

  8. ”Feather”

    Roll the blades to the feather position. All eight to feather.

  9. ”Hands

    Grab onto the boat and prepare to move it. Interchangeable with lay hold. Hands on.

  10. ”Hold

    Stick your blade in the water to stop any motion of the shell.

  11. ”Heads

    Pay attention, something to watch out for is near you. This should always be used when someone may not see your shell coming at them such as when leaving the boathouse. Heads up, shell coming out.

  12. ”Late”

    A part of the stroke is late. By itself, the term usually refers to the catch timing. Do not use this over and over without explaining which part of the stroke is late and how to correct it. Three, you’re late.

  13. ”Layback”

    Go to the layback position. All eight to layback.

  14. ”Lay

    See hands on. All eight, lay hold.

  15. ”Let

    See let it run. Bow four, let it glide.

  16. ”Let

    Oarsmen to stop rowing at the finish, hands away, or on the gunwale and allow the boat to glide (run) across the water’s surface without the blades touching it. This command is used in some programs interchangeably with weigh enough. All eight, let it run.

  17. ”Over

    To lift the boat to the over the heads position. Over the heads, ready, up.

  18. ”Paddle”

    Row at no pressure or to stop the drill/ piece. All eight, paddle.

  19. ”Roll”

    Two meanings: 1. When out of the water, roll the boat from the waist position to the over the heads position or vice versa. To the waists, ready, roll. 2. When on the water, roll the blade.

  20. ”Shoulders”

    To lift the boat so that the gunwales of the boat rest on or near the shoulder. Shoulders, ready, up.

  21. ”Square”

    Make the blade perpendicular to the water. Square it up.

  22. ”Touch

    Someone to row gently to align or position the boat better. Bowman to touch it up.

  23. ”Weigh

    Stop whatever you are doing such as rowing, a drill, etc… Used interchangeably with let it run. All eight, weigh enough.

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