Category: Q&A

College Q&A Recruiting

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Can you go over NCAA recruiting rules? Like when they can call, email and talk to you, and how often, and whats the difference when you are a senior and a junior.

With written correspondence (letters, emails, brochures, etc.), D1 coaches can start sending you info after September 1st of your junior year. So, if you’re a junior right now, since it’s September 4th, you’re “eligible”, for lack of a better term, to start receiving stuff from coaches. For D2 programs I think it’s sometime early in June, maybe the second week of the month or so. You can send as many emails, etc. as you want throughout the time you’re in school but coaches can’t initiate them until after September 1st. They also aren’t allowed to talk to you about recruiting-specific stuff but they can answer general questions or direct you to people in the athletic or admissions department who can also help you out.

D1 coaches can start calling athletes on July 1st after you’ve finished your junior year, so during the summer before senior year begins. D2 is a little different in that they can start calling athletes on June 15th before the start of their junior year, which is an entire year earlier than D1. After those dates coaches can call you once a week for any length of time. You can only get one call per university, meaning if Callahan calls you from Washington on Wednesday, his assistant can’t call you on Friday. It’s one or the other but not both. You can call the coach as many times as you want throughout the time you’re in school though. If the coach answers you can talk for any length of time but unless it’s after July 1st or June 15th after/before your junior year, they can’t call you back if you’ve left a voicemail, so you’d have to just keep trying and calling them until you get them if you have a pressing question. If it’s after those dates and they haven’t used their one allotted phone call for the week, they can call you back.

The other big difference between junior year and senior year is that you can start going on official visits following the first day of school your senior year. Before that you can only go on unofficial visits.

Related: Official vs. unofficial visits

Coaches can also observe you at practice up to seven times during the year. Contact also becomes a bit more limited as they aren’t allowed to contact you or your parents more than three times while you’re a senior. In D2 there are no limits. The contact referred to is in-person, face to face contact at your house, at practice, at a regatta, etc. If you meet up at a regatta, there are a lot of rules that go into effect. Basically the coach can’t contact or call you from the time the races start until they end and you’ve been released by your coach. They can talk to your parents or family at any time though. So, if you just finished racing and the coach was standing with your family and they see you coming off the water, your parents can say “good job!” but the coach can’t, otherwise that would be considered contact. It’s all a little confusing so it’s best to read and learn the rules so you know what is and isn’t permissible.

College Coxing Q&A Recruiting Rowing Teammates & Coaches

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So I’ve noticed that most recruiting questionnaires ask for your coach’s phone/email. What do college coaches who are talking to your high school coach ask about? I’m not nervous about it cause my coach and I have always had a good relationship, I was just curious.

If you’re a rower: erg scores, boatings, attitude, personality, personal qualities, work ethic, grades, coachability, etc.

If you’re a coxswain: everything I said about rowers (minus erg scores) plus leadership ability, practice management, communication skills, possibly audio, etc.

Basically they’re trying to figure out if you’re a good fit based on your overall attitude, level of commitment, and desire to push yourself. The biggest thing for them is finding people who are ready and willing to go to that next level and really throw themselves into a team environment and doing what is necessary for the good of the team. Having a good work ethic and the ability to be coached is crucial, as is being someone who will put the team and university in the best possible light. All of that stuff they assume your coach knows, so they’ll typically ask them for input and use that as part of their decision as to whether or not to move forward with you.

College Q&A Recruiting

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If you didn’t know too much about a school but they sent you a generic “email us back, we saw your recruitment profile (even though mine is super ambiguous)” type email, what would you suggest doing? I’m really scared to respond.

There’s literally no reason to be scared to respond, let alone really scared.

Does the school have the major you want to pursue? Is it a school you’re interested in? Is it in a good location that you wouldn’t mind living in for the next four years? Does their team look like one you would be interested in being a part of? Do some research on them first and if you can say, with reasonable confidence, yes to all those questions after learning more about the school and rowing program, I’d send them a quick email. You don’t have to say much or be super detailed, just say something along the lines of “I received an email from (whoever it came from) after they’d viewed my recruitment profile and I wanted to follow up by seeing if you could tell me more about the team.” Finish it off by saying something like you’re looking forward to hearing more about the team, say thank you, sign it, and send it.

If you’re not interested in the school or that particular program, you don’t have to respond. I remember getting a thing from a school that I wasn’t really interested in because of the location and I didn’t know how to respond and essentially say “yea … no” in a polite way so I think I ended up saying I appreciated them reaching out but the university didn’t have the major I was planning on pursuing (which to my credit they didn’t) so it wasn’t currently one I was considering. They replied, said no problem, good luck, and that was that. But like I said though, don’t feel obligated to reply if it’s not a school you’re interested in. They’re not going to care. It’s better to establish that ahead of time instead of going through the whole process and then finally saying a few months down the road “yea, I’m not interested”. That just wastes everyone’s time, yours included.

You might want to update your profile or add in some more details. Coaches do look at them and the more info you give them, the better of an idea they can get as to whether or not you might be a good fit for their program.

Q&A Rowing Technique

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Hi! I am starting my 3rd year rowing and for the past 2 days I have been stroke of an 8 (first time stroking ever, as well as rowing port!). I have no clue if there is a future for me as stroke but it has really made me think. Specifically when bringing up the SR I know that much of the up in pace should come from moving quicker on the drive versus sacrificing control on the recovery but I was wondering just how much? Sorry if that makes no sense but any tips?

I think I understand what you’re asking. The increase in stroke rate should come from two things: faster hands away (matching them with the speed of the boat) and a stronger drive through the water. Both of those have to happen equally instead of one more than the other, which I think might be what you’re saying. The ratio also has to be there if you want the strokes to be effective which means the recovery has to stay controlled, like you said.

Coxing Q&A Teammates & Coaches

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This previous summer I had an ex-cox in the boat and she would tend to take my place and cox the boat … from two seat … every practice. It got really annoying sometimes and the stroke also got really pissed when it contradicted my calls. Albeit she has coxed much longer than me and her way of coxing is different then mine. Now flash forward to today when I found out another ex-cox is in my boat for this fall. How do I stop that from happening again and not having it get in the way of practice or regattas?

Here’s a foolproof test to determine who the coxswain in the boat is (this goes for rowers and coxswains-turned-rowers): if you’re staring at the back of someone’s head instead of looking right at their face … it’s not you. I don’t care if you’re more experienced and/or disagree with what the actual coxswain is doing, you don’t backseat cox. It’s just as annoying as backseat driving.

Do you know the new ex-coxswain well? If you do, I’d suggest talking to her before practice one day and just saying that last year you had a former coxswain in your boat and things didn’t go so well because of XYZ. If they have feedback or advice then obviously you want to hear it but, for the sake of not messing with the chemistry of the boat or undermining your authority, can they wait to share it with you after practice. Just keep it casual and let them know that if they’re willing to help, you’re willing to listen, but that it needs to happen off the water rather than on.

You’re the coxswain which means you need to, for lack of a better term, assert your dominance right off the bat. You have to make it clear that you’re in charge of the boat and that you’re the only person who should be giving instructions and feedback when you’re out. If you give anyone, coxswain or rower, the slightest inkling that you aren’t confident, don’t know what you’re doing, etc. you’re giving them the opportunity to potentially be a backseat coxswain and since you already know how that turns out, it’s something you’ll want to avoid. Be a team player, get feedback from everyone and then incorporate that into your coxing, communicate effectively, carry out the coach’s instructions correctly so you can avoid wasting time, know what you’re asking for when you ask someone to do something, know what to be looking for as far as technique goes, and above all, if there’s something you don’t know…ASK. If you do all of this then hopefully you can avoid being in the same situation you were in before.

College Coxing Q&A Recruiting

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I heard that coxswains can’t sign letters of intent because they don’t get scholarships or anything so as a coxswain, how do I know if the school is serious about recruiting me and helping my admissions process? I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket and apply to like the one school I think is really recruiting me and not get in…

Wait … what? Whoever told you that is wrong. Coxswains can/do sign letters of intent – if you Google “coxswain letter of intent” you’ll see numerous newspaper articles talking about recruiting classes and coxswains who are part of them. It doesn’t have anything to do with getting or not getting scholarships.

The only way to know how serious a school is about recruiting you is to ask. Coaches expect you to be an adult and communicate with them so if you’re interested in coxing there I would indicate your interest in the school, the major you plan on choosing, and where this school ranks on your list. If you really want to be a part of the program, tell them that and then ask out of the people they’re talking with where you rank amongst them and how interested they are in you. Be straightforward and honest with them – don’t tell them they’re your number one if they’re actually your number three.

Coxing Q&A

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I feel like this is kind of a stupid question but, have you ever coxed a stern loader 4+? My new school has them and I’ve never been in one. Is is similar to an 8+?

Definitely not a stupid question! When I was in high school (’02-’06) we had two brand new Vespoli fours and a couple older stern-loaded fours. I liked the stern loaded fours because there was no learning curve with them like there is with a bowloader.  They’re the exact same as an eight except four seats shorter. Steering’s the same (strings) and you can actually see your rowers, which is the biggest “pro” for me. The only “con” is that unless you’re racing against other crews in stern loaders you can’t look over and see the other coxswains, which is half the fun of racing, unless you’re a length up on them.

Coxing Q&A

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Hi! Quick question for a coach’s viewpoint. I just finished coxing my novice year and had to quit for the upcoming school year but if I want to cox in the future just for the summers at the local club, do you think a coach would be willing to let me cox a boat? Because I’d be like 8 months out of practice/out of the water so I’d be rusty. Is coxing one of those “muscle memory” type of things? Also, what do you think about the term, once a cox always a cox? Thanks!

I doubt you’d have a problem if you wanted to cox during the summer. Unless you’re coxing for a really competitive team that’s training for Club Nationals, Henley, etc., the summer is usually fairly laid back. With competitive teams it’s basically a continuation of the spring season except you’re typically practicing more than once a day. Masters crews are always looking for coxswains and sometimes they’ll even pay you as well, so if the junior crews aren’t looking for anyone definitely ask around and see if there are any masters eights who need help.

It is a muscle memory thing. I’ve compared it to riding a bike before. If you know the basics, you won’t forget how to do them if you’re out of a boat for awhile.

As far as “once a coxswain/rower, always a coxswain/rower” I agree with it to an extent. I kinda touched on it in this post. My opinion on it is this has always been that if you rowed for few years in high school or college and never got in a boat or stayed involved with the sport after that, then no, you’re not a rower/coxswain for life. If you rowed for four years in high school and/or four years in college, moved on to elite rowing, or stayed with it by casually rowing at your local club, then yes, you’re a rower for life. That’s just me though. Everyone has their own interpretation and opinion on it though.

Coxing Q&A

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Hi Kayleigh! So a few days ago, we took some fours out on the water to get a good cool down after summer season, but also to get in a good warm-up for the upcoming fall season. I’ve always been used to fours with the handle on the right side, pointing the handle forward to go to starboard, and pointing the handle backward to go to port. That day, I was put into a four with a completely different steering system that I was not used to at all. There was a handle directly in front of me that jutted out from the top, and I would have to move the handle to port or starboard. I was guessing that you would point the handle in the direction that we wanted to go but we did a lot of straight-course rowing so I didn’t get to experiment as often as I would’ve liked to. My question is, what are the different types of steering in fours? And do the same principles apply (small adjustments, not going too hard on the rudder) to all types of steering? Thanks!

For the most part, yes, the same principles apply to all them. Small adjustments are key except in cases where you’re going around a big turn and need that extra “oomph” to get you around. The only real difference between steering a four vs. an eight is that the four is going to respond faster than the eight will since it’s smaller.

Basically there are three types of steering for the fours, all of which we’ve mentioned.

The strings, which work the same way they do in the eights

The lever that is directly in front of you

The handle (or “steering palm control unit”, as Vespoli calls it) that is beside you

The handle steering isn’t one I’ve used but I think it’s fairly straightforward – to steer to starboard you push it forward and to steer to port you pull it back towards you.

Something I learned after coxing a couple of bow loaders with the lever steering is that occasionally they are set up where the cables are crossed, which is frustrating if you aren’t used to it or, in my case, didn’t know that was even a thing. I coxed a Filippi when I was in Philadelphia and could not figure out why the boat kept going to port when I was clearly steering to starboard. Eventually the coach realized that I had no idea what was going on and he told me that yea, the cables in Filippis are crossed which means the steering is backwards to what I’m used to. I don’t know why some boats are like this but the best way to determine how the steering in your shell works is to play with the rudder a bit before you go out so you can see which direction it moves when you move the lever one way or the other, as well as how big your adjustments need to be.

If the steering cables are too loose you’ll find that when you’re on the water and move the rudder an inch or so you might not actually be doing anything to the rudder even though you think you’re making an adjustment. If you find that the rudder isn’t responding much to you moving the lever, let your coach know so they can tighten the cables.

Q&A Teammates & Coaches

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I feel like I can’t really relate to any of the other girls on my team. I know that crew itself is really close-knit, but I can’t help but feel like there’s a huge separation from me and the rest of the rest of the team where I don’t really know how to associate with them and they don’t really know how to associate with me just because I’m friends with an entirely different group of people than they are. Any advice?

That’s how I felt in college (which was the exact opposite of how it was in high school). Syracuse had a program called SummerStart where you could start taking classes as a freshman in July, so by the time the actual school year started I’d already built a solid group of friends over the past month and a half. There were a couple people on the team who I became good friends with because we were in the same major and took classes together but for the most part I wasn’t friends with the majority of them. It didn’t really bother me that much but it did play a small part in why I quit. One of my friends on the team told me several times how my roommate would tell the other girls not to invite any of the girls who had non-crew friends to anything (breakfast, parties, etc.) because we didn’t exclusively associate with the other rowers and coxswains, which, if I’d cared to hang out with them in the first place probably would have annoyed me, but at the time the effort they put into excluding us was nothing more than a source of amusement.

Related: I guess this is more a social life outside of rowing kind of question, but I’m in university rowing and there are a lot of socials which a lot of people attend. But, being in the UK, it’s all about getting drunk and partying etc, and I don’t particularly enjoy that so most of the time I feel left out and only go to the bigger ones (like Christmas ball) and have one glass. But I’m also a novice and want to meet people/seniors which is hard if you just go to practice. Do you have any advice?

Looking back, sure, I’ll take partial responsibility for not making as much of an effort on my end to get to know them, regardless of whether I planned to occasionally hang out with them or invite them to every major life event over the years or not. As teammates who are theoretically going to row together for four years, you should at least know each other on a basic level. Part of the reason why I think the two groups never really approached each other is because our majors were all totally different (which is dumb because in college everyone’s major is most likely totally different from the next person…) so we didn’t know each other that well outside of crew and because no one really knew how to initiate the conversation. It’s actually a little funny and a little sad how different it is trying to “make friends” when you’re 18+ compared to when you’re 5. When you’re little you just want to be friends with whoever has the 64 pack of Crayola crayons.

Knowing what I know now I’d just talk to them like you’d talk to anyone else – ask them about their major (if you’re in college), why they chose it, what they want to do, what colleges they’re looking at (if you’re in HS), what they’re thinking about majoring in, how classes are so far, how was practice, how was their boat, did they go to the game last night, what’d they think of the latest episode of Dexter/Breaking Bad/Top Gear/whatever TV show is applicable, are they going to see Macklemore/Jay Z & JT/Maroon 5/whatever artist is applicable when they come to town, what’d they do over the summer, did they travel anywhere, did they go to Club Nationals, Henley,  etc., etc. Unintentional eavesdropping is also a great conversation starter. If you walk by and hear them talking about sloths, ask them if they’ve seen Kristen Bell’s epic meltdown on Ellen (of course they have but who cares, ask anyways) and then proceed to talk about all the sloth videos on YouTube.

Another thing you could do that helped my friends and I in high school get closer was the boat dinners we had every week. Sometimes I’d be coxing a boat with people from two or three different grades in it, meaning we most likely didn’t know each other that well, but through boat dinners the night before a regatta we all became really good friends and really close as a crew. We’d also make t-shirts to wear when we traveled that usually had our nicknames or some inside joke on them, which was also a great way to spend time together. You have no idea the bonding that occurs when you put a group of girls in a car together and send them to Wal-Mart to get puffy paint and plain white t-shirts.

Don’t wait for them to start the conversation and then blame them in the end for not making an effort to get to know you if they don’t. They’re probably thinking the same thing about you. Nobody likes being the awkward person who thinks they come off as trying too hard but sometimes you’ve gotta suck it up and put yourself out there. It very rarely turns out as poorly as people think it will. I think we all think we’re a lot more awkward and weird than we actually are, which is what tends to hold people back from starting conversations because we don’t want other people to notice and judge us on our awkwardness, regardless of whether it’s real or perceived. I’m definitely guilty of that depending on the group of people I’m with. You might not lose anything by not speaking up but you certainly don’t gain anything either.

To answer your question, my advice would be to just strike up a casual conversation, try to keep it going without forcing anything, and just see where things go from there. See if you can find something in common with your teammates (other than crew) and use that as your building block(s).