CoxPod

You’ve heard from us, and now we hear from you. Topics include: vocabulary and tone, rowers in the coxswain seat, fostering a collaborative atmosphere, improving when you get no feedback, lining up for a race, judging distances, motivation when you’re the underdog, and reflecting on what we’d tell our novice selves.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

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Our guest brings a perspective as a coach, Olympic-level rower, and occasional cox. Why does Abby coach coxswains? She values what they can bring to the boat. She also shared what she appreciates in a coxswain, from her perspective as a rower. We’ve been honored to benefit from Abby’s coaching and mentorship.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

Docking is a fear-inducing process for many coxswains, including us! As Chuck Yeager (renowned pilot) said: “If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.” We share information about the many details that can affect how we land: wind, current, rowers, etc.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

No dock? No problem! In this episode we discuss the unique considerations that apply when launching and landing without a dock. While beach/wet launching can present challenges, it also comes with benefits. We hope you’ll find this episode particularly beneficial if wet launching isn’t your typical experience.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

Everyone talks about landing/docking, but coxswains rarely get guidance on launching. We discuss how to safely get a boat from the rack to the dock, including: how to deal with rowers of varying heights and physical abilities, where should you be positioned as a coxswain during the launching process, what to do at venues with very long walks to the launching area, and how to do a standing shove!

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We walk through a water practice from start to finish, drawing back the sometimes-opaque curtain and discussing how even a perceived simple act like “get to the dock” is more nuanced and complex than people appreciate. 

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

When you look at a rowing shell, coxswains appear to be sitting motionless, not contributing to the movement of the boat. But anyone who’s been in the seat knows that what we do is physically demanding as well. In this episode, we hear the perspective of a physical therapist (who is also a rower and coach) on the athletic aspects of the coxswain seat.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

The common perception is that coxswains give feedback, but the other side of that coin is just as important. Coxswains aren’t only sources of output. To excel, we have to be receptive to input. In this episode, we talk about how to receive and integrate feedback from coaches, rowers, and race officials.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

How can we wield our words most effectively? Like James Bond (the original 007), a laconic man known for pithy phrases, a great coxswain can learn to use words like Q’s sophisticated gadgets. We also talk about how you can leverage your feedback to support the team’s goals.

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!

If your first instinct upon hearing that you’re going to be coxing a bowloader is “#?@$!,” this episode is here to help. We talk about what makes communication in this boat type different from in a stern-loaded boat, and discuss how to develop the almighty “boat feel.”

Connect with us on our website at https://www.CoxPod.com, on our Slack channel, or on social media.

Support us on Patreon!