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.
