My guy friends on Crew lost there cockswain (Coxin) on there crew teams boat. They want me to do it? How do I?

Question

My friends just lost there cockswain "Coxin" on there boat for crew and they told me just to show up at a practice and someone would teach me. They have been having to use other big guys. They said i'm perfect cause i'm tiny and I Cheerlead so i have a loud voice and know beats.

I heard I just yell at them and steer the boat

is it hard to steer a boat, and what do i have to yell at what beat?

Could I like entirely mess up the race for them this is a pretty good University Team.

Are there any videos that you know of where i could watch a cockswain in action?

Please help any information you have would be greatly appricated.

Answer 1

I think there is a coxswain handbook somewhere and if you've never coxed before steering the boat can be tricky. The cox is pretty much the brains of the boat because the rowers are all facing backwards so they don't know whats going on we depend on the cox to give us commands and information about what is happening in the boat like how far to the finish line, stroke rate, balance. It is very important that a coxswain has the trust of the boat that means that you have to be confident in controlling your crew. It'll be alot of learning at first and the rowers will probably expect alot out of you but the cox is the one person that a boat can't be missing. I think you should just give it a try. Try going to www.coxswaination.com