Ok, so we got a new coxswain. I’m in jr varsity (I’m a rower) and she moved here 2weeks ago. She just isn’t very good. Maybe she is nervous or isn’t used to this course but I have lightly hinted that maybe she start taking notes or go on the launch to maybe watch etc. but she hasn’t and she is super sweet but it’s really hard to have to cox a boat nears her. It’s like she is a novice. I don’t know how to politely tell her or the coaches without starting drama.
Hmm. What do the other coxswains think? Have you tried talking to the coxswain of your boat? I guarantee that if you, a rower, has noticed she’s not very good, the coxswains have DEFINITELY noticed it. I think that as long as you’re polite about it and not gossipy or rude, no one will look at it as starting drama. I would talk to the coxswains first and see what they say and suggest to them that they talk to her and fill her in before going to your coach. If you end up in a boat she’s in and her coxing effects your practice, then I might talk to your coach and explain what you’re thinking. No coach wants their practices to be a waste of time and if the coxswain is causing valuable time to be wasted, he/she will probably want to talk to her.
I’d try talking to her yourself too, maybe get to know her and see what her background in rowing is. How long has she coxed for, why’d she get into rowing, what was her old team like, etc. Take that information and use that to help convince her that maybe taking a step back and seeing how you guys do things would be helpful to her. She should want to get better and adapt to her new team’s way of doing things, so hopefully she’ll be receptive to your, your coach’s, and the other coxswain’s suggestions.
