Union Bay Rowing Club - Problems to Watch For

Problems to watch for

At the catch..... At the release ..... On the recovery ..... Things to listen for

Timing All blades should be entering (catching) and leaving (releasing) the water together. If not, call out "timing", or specify who is early or late.
Pausing The stroke should be one continuous motion - sometimes rowers hesitate, or pause, at the catch or release. The catch should be smooth and quick and the release should be quick out of bow. If a rower is going too fast up the slide and is then pausing at the catch, you will feel a 'stern check' - your body will get thrown forward at the catch. Call out "no pausing at the catch", "get rid of this stern check", or try and work out by looking at the blades who is pausing.
Skying When the oar climbs in height during the recovery rather than remaining a constant couple of inches above the water. This occurs because the rower is dropping his hands towards his ankles at the catch (diving towards the catch), often to get more reach.
Deep The hands are lifted too high causing the oars to go too deep usually at the catch. Only the blades should be under water, not the oar shaft. Can be because rower is pulling with the inside arm.
Rowing in (Also known as catching on the drive or shooting the slide) The blade moves back towards the stern before it has been put in the water - the legs drive before the blade is securely locked into the water.

Hesitation Oar stops for a moment as it comes out before moving away. Remind rowers "arms and backs quickly out of bow"
Messy water White water being scooped up at finish. Rower is feathering before the oar has cleared the water. Remind rowers about clean finishes, tapping down before they feather and push the blade away.
Washing out The oar starts out of the water before the drive has finished - you can see white water. Tell rowers to pull their oars into their chests
Short Releasing early - usually not enough layback. See this by looking at and comparing the distances between oars.

Set The boat is not sitting level in the water. Can be due to many causes: body weight leaning out of the boat; hand heights uneven; release not clean and so on.
Fast hands over the knees This is when the recovery is being rushed. Hands should be quick out of bow and slowed over the knees
Fast slide This is when the slide accelerates towards the catch - this slows down the boat. You can detect this when the oar speeds up towards the catch.

Slides hitting frontstops You will hear a "thud" at the catch when the seat wheels hit the front of the slide, which causes a stern check. The foot stretchers may need altering
Excessive oarlock noise The most common cause is the oar being pulled out of the oarlock at the release and pushed back against the button at the catch. Remind rowers to keep oar pushed out and lean into their riggers.