Hey! How do you deal with loads of self-doubt and just self-deprecation as a coxswain? I know that’s my worst habit and it really is detrimental to my performance on the water. I go out there ready to go, and then I do one thing wrong (like this weekend I took a turn wide and that was def not helpful) and I feel like it’s the end of the world because I do a ton of little stupid things a lot, and I feel like I should know better after 8 years. Help?
This was one of my worst habits too but the mistakes I made when I started coxing I learned from and forcibly committed myself to not making again. That’s really all you can do – commit to not making them again. If you make a mistake and it’s the first time it’s happened, whatever. Note it, learn from it, and forget it. If it’s something you repeatedly do, sit your ass down, figure out why you keep making that mistake, and tell yourself to stop doing it. If you feel like you know better, act like you do. Don’t let over-thinking what you do ruin things for you though – one mistake is not the end of the world. You can’t doubt yourself otherwise your rowers will start to doubt you too. Confidence is key!
