STYLE IN ROWING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 46, 22 February 1946, Page 2

STYLE IN ROWING

A BASIS FOR COACHING (By “Whippitin”) It is well known that coaches can —and do!—argue until they are blue in the face on various styles in rowing but the following points adapted from a uniform style formulated by the New South Wales Rowing Association a good few years back can be considered a pretty fair basis for coaching. To Reach Out: Bring the slide right forward against the chocks. With arms straight, reach well out, but without screwing the body towards the oar. When right forward the knees should be just outside the upper part of the arms.

To Coach: With arms straight, swing, the shoulders over smartly from the hips, throwing the whole weight of the body on to the oar. At the same time, press the feet firmly against the stretcher and do not move the slide until the body has swung back just beyond the perpendicular. Grip the water exactly where the blade is when you are right forward. You thus bring into action simultaneously, the full power of the back, loins and legs. To Finish: Just before you finish the Swing back, begin to bend the arms and rip tfte hands home to the £>ody as fast as you can without tugging. Keep the abdominal muscles firm to prevent the body from swinging away or rolling.

To Recover: The instant the roots of the thumbs touch the ribs, drop the hands sufficiently to lift the blade from the water, turning the blade on the feather. Drive the hands outwards until the arms are straight. Bring the shoulders up after the hands until just past the perpendicular and start the slide forward simultaneously. Swing the body forward from the hips while coming forward, with hands kept on the same level throughout, w T ith the blade of the oar just clear of the water. Towards the end of the swing forward, turn off the feather gradually, and the instant that the slide touches the forward chocks, swing the shoulders over smartly and be-

gin the next, stroke. There’s a lot more could be said on the subject, of course, but if a Regatta crew can be made to absorb and carry out these principles, it will be well on the way to being a real crew.

One very common fault which can be noticed everywhere >£• Tne “dipping” or lowering of the hands just prior to the "catch.” This raises the blade of the oar like a banner on high and by the time the “catch” is made a good 12 inches of the stroke and the (first initial power is lost causing loss of speed, rolling o\f the boat, poor timing, rotten rowing and a vile temper on the part of the coach! So there you are—argue over that lot —if you can!

(Next week: “Our Own Shed.” Plans for the future).