Boat Positions (sport Rowing) - Coxswain (cox)

Coxswain (cox)

The role of a coxswain is to:

• Steer the boat
• Provide motivation and encouragement to the crew
• Inform the crew of where they are in relation to other crews and the finish line
• Make any necessary race tactic calls

A boat without a cox is known as a coxless or 'straight' boat. While coxless pairs and fours are commonplace, because of the speed and lack of maneuverability eights always have a cox.

Some boats are bow-coxed or 'bowloaders' with the coxswain lying in the bow behind the bowman rather than stern-coxed or 'sternloader', with the coxswain sitting in the stern opposite the Stroke. Bowloader eights are rare due to the length of the boat, this would make it difficult for the cox to know where the stern is.

Coxswains used to communicate to the crew by shouting or through a megaphone that was strapped to their head. However, since the late 1970s a "cox box" or speaker and microphone system has enabled even the bowman to hear the coxswain's commands. Such a system is particularly important in bowloaders as the coxswain is facing away from the crew, making it hard for the crew to hear the coxwain’s commands unaided.