Glossary of Rowing Terms - The Stroke

The Stroke

Air stroke

To take a stroke without the blade having been placed in the water, resulting in a complete lack of power.

Backsplash

Water thrown back toward the bow direction by the blade as it enters the water. Less is best. This indicates that the blade has been properly planted before the rower initiates the drive.

Backwater

To propel the shell backwards.

Body Angle

Amount of forward lean of rower’s body from hips at the catch.

Bury the blade

Submerge the blade totally in the water.

Catch

The part of the stroke at which the oar blade enters the water and the drive begins. Rowers conceptualize the oar blade as 'catching' or grabbing hold of the water.

Catch point

Where the blade enters the water.

Check

The amount of interruption of the forward movement—usually occurs at the catch and sometimes at the release.

Cover

The distance between one set of puddles and the next set of puddles.

Crab, or Catch a Crab

A rowing error where the rower is unable to timely remove or release the oar blade from the water and the oar blade acts as a brake on the boat until it is removed from the water. This results in slowing the boat down. A severe crab can even eject a rower out of the shell or make the boat capsize (unlikely except in small boats). Occasionally, in a severe crab, the oar handle will knock the rower flat and end up behind him/her, in which case it is referred to as an 'over-the-head crab.'

Drive

The propulsive portion of the stroke from the time the oar blade enters the water ('catch') until it is removed from the water ('release').

Drunken octopus / drunken spider

The poor technique evident when an Eight (8+) is rowed with no two oars moving in the same time or position in the stroke.

Feather

To turn the oar so that its blade is parallel with the water (opposite of square).

Finish

That portion of the pull-through just as the oar is taken from the water.

Hands away

At the close of the drive phase, the hands move away from the body.

Hanging at the catch

The blade is hesitating at the catch point, before entering the water.

Hot seating

When two crews share the same shell, during a regatta, sometimes it is necessary for the crews to switch at the finish line without taking the boat from the water.

Inside hand

The oarsmen’s hand nearest the oar lock. This is the feathering hand.

Jumping the slide

A problem where the seat becomes derailed from the track while rowing.

Keel

The balance of the boat. Good keel means that the stability of the boat is good. "keep keel" is a command often heard from the coxswain when the boat starts to sway. (US)

Lay-back

What the rowers have when they sit with their legs flat and lean towards the bow of the boat with their body.

Leg Drive

Power applied to the stroke, at the catch, by the force of driving the legs down. Often heard being yelled from the coach boat.

Missing water

A technical fault where the rower begins the drive before the catch is complete.

Outside hand

The hand of a rower that is placed on the end of the oar handle.

Over reach

Fault done by an oarsman when he comes to his full reach forward and then attempts to obtain even greater length by releasing his grasp on the handle with his outside hand or by bringing his outside shoulder further forward.

Pause paddling

Rowing with a pause between each stroke. The coxswain or rower giving commands will indicate where in the stroke this pause should be taken.

Pitch

The angle between a "squared" blade and a line perpendicular to the water’s surface.

Puddles

Disturbances made by an oar blade pulled through the water. The farther the puddles are pushed past the stern of the boat before each catch, the more “run” the boat is getting.

Pull through

The portion of the stroke from the catch to the finish (when the oar is in the water). This is the propulsive part of the stroke.

Rating

The number of strokes executed per minute by a crew. (also Stroke rate)

Ratio

The relationship between the time taken during the propulsive and recovery phases of a rowing or sculling action.

Recovery

The non-work phase of the stroke where the rower returns the oar from the release to the catch.

Release

At the end of the drive portion of the stroke. It is when the oar blade(s) is removed (or released) from the water.

Run

Distance a shell travels during each stroke.

Rushing

When rowers move too quickly along their tracks into the catch. The boat will lose the feeling that it is gliding or "running out."

Set

The balance of the boat. Affected by handle heights, rowers leaning, and timing, all of which affect the boat's balance, after which the coxswain tells rowers to "set the boat". (see keel).

Shooting your slide

When an oarsman's seat moves toward the bow faster than his shoulders.

Skying

A blade that is too high off the surface of the water during the recovery. The rower's hands are too low causing an upset to the balance of the boat (the "set").

Spacing

Distance between bowman’s puddle on one stroke and the point at which the No. 7 rower catches water on the next stroke.

Split time (split)

Amount of time it takes to row 500 meters. Displayed on all ergs and on coxboxes installed on boats with speed coaches (see above).

Square

To turn the oar so that its blade is perpendicular to the water (opposite of feather).

Stroke

1. One complete cycle through the process above.
2. The rower in the stern of a multi-person shell, whose timing is followed by the other rowers.

Stroke rate

The number of strokes executed per minute by a crew. (also rating)

Swing

A feeling in the boat when the rowers are driving and finishing their strokes strongly and getting good layback.

Three-quarter/Half/Quarter slide

Shortened strokes, often used during the start of a race or in a warm-up.

Walking

When passing a boat, the coxswain announces each seat as it is passed.

Washing out

When an oar blade comes out of the water during drive and creates surface wash that causes the shell to lose power and become unsteady.