Decoding the Coxswain/ Rower Relationship – Coxswains’ Crew Expectations!

As coxswains, we’re often caught in a tug-of-war between the expectations and desires of our rowers, sometimes with limited insight into our role’s intricacies. It’s a common scenario: rowers offering advice without a full grasp of what it means to be a coxswain.

Well I thought it might be time to have a “Casual Convo” with a very experienced Coxswain to discuss this topic; Jennifer Pollock, from ⁠North Shore Rowing Club⁠ was all too happy to help out and I was fortunate enough to glean her take on this tricky question. Drawing from her wealth of experience, Jen described the expectations she holds for her crews, emphasising the importance of trust and mutual respect as her cornerstones. As Jen said, isn’t often lost for words, but this question did stump her a little, but we certainly got through it.

I’ve had many conversations with Jen about coxing and shared experiences and this episode delves into the differences of our experiences and highlights our “wants” and “needs” from our crews. Jen refers to a lot of these thoughts as what she “expects” from her crews.