What often separates them has very little to do with the physical abilities of the athletes involved.

We obsess over the measurable things in rowing. Technique, split times, fitness, stroke rate. All of it matters. But group psychology research consistently finds that something else matters just as much as physical ability, and almost nobody talks about it. Something that does not show up on the erg printout or the cox box.

It is what happens inside the crew.

Cohesion is everything. But not in the way you think.

Researchers who study group performance define cohesion as the degree to which members engage positively with each other and stay committed to the group. Research has found that cohesive groups often function better. Cohesion matters. The evidence for this is strong. But the relationship is not linear and not guaranteed.

Here is the part that surprised me. Too much cohesion can actually hurt performance.

When a group becomes so focused on harmony that it stops thinking critically, members start withholding concerns, agreeing too easily, and stop challenging each other. Studies suggest the solution is to build cohesion around a shared commitment to the goal rather than personal relationships alone. A crew that likes each other can underperform. A crew committed to a common goal, even one with some friction in it, tends to make better decisions when it counts.

There are two types of conflict, and only one is a problem.

Research identifies two fundamentally different types of conflict in groups. Disagreements about ideas, strategy, and method can actually strengthen a group, but only when they are handled well. Personal tension between individuals is a different matter entirely. That needs to be dealt with quickly, quietly, and directly.

The fastest crews I have sat in were not conflict-free. They were just having the right kind of conflict.

As a coxswain, when a rower challenges your race plan or questions a call, your response matters more than you might think. If they are right and you shut it down, you have made the boat slower and told everyone else that speaking up is not worth the effort.

Can your crew actually speak up?

Group psychology researchers call it psychological safety: the shared belief that members can raise concerns and flag problems without fear of being dismissed or embarrassed. When it exists, you get honest, constructive challenge. When it is absent, people go quiet.

And quiet is not the same as agreement.

The coxswain is the primary architect of this environment. The way you respond when someone raises a concern, whether you make it safe to be honest or whether you make people feel foolish for trying, all of it either builds psychological safety or erodes it. I have coxed crews where rowers would rather struggle through a problem than tell me about it. That is on the coxswain, not the rower.

Shared mission is the most powerful tool you have.

Research consistently finds that when a team maintains a clear, mutually understood goal that everyone is genuinely committed to, internal differences matter less. Shared purpose suppresses friction. When everyone knows exactly what they are trying to achieve together, they stop looking at each other and start looking at the goal.

This is why your race plan is more than a tactical document. A crew that knows exactly what they are trying to execute together is a crew that stays together under pressure. The plan gives everyone the same north star. And you are the one holding it.

A final thought.

The fastest crew is not always the most talented. It is often the most cohesive, the most psychologically safe, the most committed to a common goal. These things are not accidents. They are built, session by session, through the environment the coxswain (and coaches) creates.

That is a significant responsibility. It is also a significant opportunity.

Most of your competitors are thinking about their technique and their fitness. Very few of them are thinking about this.

I cover this topic in depth in Volume 2 of The Coxswain’s Journey, alongside a range of other conversations about the psychology, technique, and hard realities of competitive rowing. You can find the book on Amazon. If you prefer to listen, we discuss topics like this regularly on The Coxswain’s Journey podcast, available on Spotify.

The post What Makes a Crew Fast? It’s Not What You Think. appeared first on The Coxswains Journey.

In this episode, I’m joined again by Alan Crute from ⁠Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat⁠, along with expert rowing parent Kat Dunel, to preview the upcoming 2026 Victorian Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta taking place this weekend.

Around 2100 athletes will take to the Barwon River in Geelong for the biggest event on the Australian schoolgirl rowing calendar. We run through the Seniors, Inters and Juniors, breaking down the key crews and storylines to keep an eye out for.

Alan also gives us his tips for who might take home the wins. Over the past few seasons, he’s had a very high success rate picking the winners — although this year he might have a tougher job ahead of him with several divisions looking extremely tight.

If you’re heading down for the regatta, be sure to have a listen on the drive down the highway to Geelong this week and get across the crews to watch before racing begins.

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Episode 5: Beyond the Finish — Celebrating, Learning & Recovering

Crossing the finish line isn’t the end of the Head of the Yarra — it’s the start of reflection, recovery, and celebration. In this final episode of Inside the Coxswain’s Mind, we look at what happens after the race and how to carry those lessons forward.

We cover:

• What to do immediately after the finish line
• How to debrief results constructively — win or lose
• Making notes and insights for next year’s race
• Recovery tips for both rowers and coxswains
• The social side of HOY — community, stories, and shared memories

A thoughtful wrap-up to the series, this episode celebrates the endurance, teamwork, and camaraderie that make Head of the Yarra one of rowing’s most memorable events.

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Episode 4: Regatta Day — Strategy, Timing, and Crew Mindset

Race day — the moment everything comes together. In this episode, we talk about how to manage the pressure, logistics, and mindset of Head of the Yarra day so your crew can perform at their best.

We cover:

• Arrival timing, rigging, and warm-up routines

• The coxswain’s role in setting the tone — calm leadership vs. fired-up motivation
• Managing the marshalling zone and maintaining composure
• Race tactics

This episode is packed with practical insights for both rowers and coxswains to stay composed, confident, and connected when it matters most.

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Episode 2: Reading the River — The Course, Conditions & Steering

The Head of the Yarra course is unlike any other in Australia — 8 kilometres of winding bends, bridges, and heavy river traffic. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the course itself and what it takes to steer it well.

Again, join me and Jennifer Pollock from ⁠⁠Toowong Rowing Club⁠⁠, where in this episode we cover:

• The major bends and landmarks — and where races are often won or lost
• Steering strategies: training line vs. race line, and overtaking etiquette
• Environmental factors such as wind, current, and narrow sections
• Practical tips for crews who can’t train on the Yarra beforehand

Whether you’re racing HotY for the first time or returning to it again, this episode will help you visualise the course and prepare for the unique challenges of Melbourne’s iconic river race.

Also be sure to check out my Podcast episode: Head of the Yarra – The Coxswains Race.

The post Head of the Yarra: Inside the Coxswain’s Mind! – Ep 2 appeared first on The Coxswains Journey.

Episode 1: Training for the Challenge — Building Your Crew for HotY

The Head of the Yarra isn’t just another regatta — it’s 8 kilometres of rhythm, teamwork, and endurance. In this episode, we break down how to prepare your crew for the challenge of Australia’s biggest head race.

Join me and Jennifer Pollock from Toowong Rowing Club, where we cover:

• Why HOTY demands a different training approach
• Crew selection and the importance of technical compatibility over raw power
• Key training sessions: steady-state, rate control, and long race pieces
• The coxswain’s role in building rhythm, trust, and confidence
• Balancing different experience levels within a crew

Whether you’re a rower, coach, or coxswain, this episode will give you practical strategies to get the most out of your HOY preparation.

Like my Podcast? Maybe buy me a coffee?

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A recent study, “What do elite rowing coxswains say during races?” (link here), sheds some light on this. With the help of AI, I’ve summarised the key findings below.*

A few important caveats before diving in:

• The study looked specifically at elite-level coxswains, competing at the very top of the sport.
• The vast majority of us aren’t racing at that level; we’re club and masters rowers. That’s important context when thinking about how these findings might (or might not) apply.
• Also, when the article talks about “technical calls,” it doesn’t mean in-race coaching or correction. These are cues that keep athletes moving well and staying focused, not trying to fix faults mid-race — which can backfire if rowers start overthinking.

It’s also worth remembering that elite crews follow race plans down to the letter, which means there’s limited space for a cox to sprinkle in their own “magic.” But sometimes, great coxing demands breaking the script. As one Henley commentator brilliantly put it the other night:

“It’s time for the coxswain to ditch the race plan and find something else.”

That’s where the true artistry — and risk — lies. Just like the best “off-script” actors (think Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Marlon Brando), coxes sometimes have to improvise. When it works, it’s unforgettable.

Take Jasper Parish’s legendary move in the Boat Race a few years ago: he steered Cambridge into dead water to escape chop and wind — an audacious, off-plan gamble that not only gave his crew smoother water, but forced Oxford to respond. The result? They went from a third of a length down to a full length up, winning outright because of that single, fearless decision. Had it failed, he’d have been under serious scrutiny. But that’s the price of magic.

It’s a reminder that those truly special moments happen in the tactical calls — the gutsy, in-the-moment decisions that turn a race on its head. And for us in club or masters racing, it starts with knowing why you’re there. Are you racing to truly compete for the win? Then you have to learn how to race, and that only comes with — you guessed it — racing.

*Summary: Thematic Analysis of Elite Coxswain Race Communication

Researchers analysed eight elite coxswain race recordings from major international rowing events (2011–2022), all featuring coxed eights. The recordings averaged 6:11 minutes in length and included coxes from the UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA (5 male, 3 female). Of the 16 recordings initially found, eight were excluded due to duplication, poor audio, or incompleteness.

Types of Calls

Coxswains made an average of 32 calls per minute, with 94% directed at the entire crew, though some were targeted at individuals or sections of the boat.

• Technical Calls (40.4%)
  These focused mainly on internal body movements (e.g., “legs down”, “hands up”), with some holistic cues (e.g., “stay loose”, “rhythm”) and limited external focus cues (e.g., “blades in”). Most calls centred on the drive and catch phases of the stroke.
• Motivational Calls (38.6%)
  Included praise (e.g., “good rhythm”) and encouragement (e.g., “we’re walking”), often intensifying in the final minute. Some invoked shared history or emotional appeals (“last race”, “every erg for this moment”).
• Tactical Calls (21%)
  Used to initiate crew changes (“in two, in one… go”) and update on race position and boat metrics (e.g., “on 1:18”, “500m to go”, “still sitting on that bow ball”).

Delivery Style

Coxes delivered calls in sync with rowing stroke phases (catch, drive, finish, recovery). They often used:

• Tone variation (quiet to loud, increasing pitch),
• Repetition and elongation for emphasis,
• Dynamic phrasing to motivate or coordinate timing (e.g., “legs… loose”).

While most communication was positive, some coxes also chided rowers for technical corrections or motivational jolts.

Discussion Summary: Communication Patterns of Elite Coxswains

This exploratory study analysed what elite coxswains say during rowing races and how their communication aligns with existing research. The study identified three key content themes—technical, motivational, and tactical calls—and four delivery themes—direction, timing, tone, and chiding.

High Rate of Communication

Coxes made about 32 calls per minute, far exceeding the commentary rates seen in other sports like boxing or basketball. The constant stream of communication is likely due to rowing-specific factors such as long race duration, rowers facing away from the finish line, and the need to maintain rhythm and coordination.

Use of Technical Calls and Focus of Attention

• Most technical calls used internal focus (IF) cues (e.g., “legs down”), despite research suggesting external focus (EF) cues (e.g., “blades in”) generally lead to better performance, efficiency, and automaticity.
• However, rowing is a cyclic endurance sport, unlike many EF-based research contexts, which often study short, acyclic movements (e.g., golf, jumping).
• Holistic focus (HF) cues (e.g., “stay loose”) were also common and may help reduce conscious control, improving coordination under pressure.
• Calls mainly focused on the drive and catch phases, where most power is generated, though one cox emphasised the often-overlooked finish and recovery phases.

Motivational and Tactical Communication

• Motivational calls were frequent and vital, given rowers cannot see the course and rely on coxes for psychological and directional input.
• Tactical calls were used to prepare the crew for changes (e.g., “in two, in one… go”) and communicate race position or metrics, ensuring precise timing and synchronisation to avoid disruption to boat speed.

Delivery Techniques

• Coxes used timing-aligned cues, tailoring calls to specific phases of the stroke.
• Repetition of key words (e.g., “legs, legs, legs”) was common and supported by brain research as a learning aid.
• Tone modulation (quiet, loud, increasing, or elongated) served multiple purposes:
  • Quiet tones conveyed strategic info without alerting competitors.
  • Loud tones cut through noise and emphasised effort or changes.
  • Elongated or rising tones were used to increase stroke length or power.

This style of delivery has parallels with performance arts; the authors suggest drawing on dramatic training (e.g., pace, pitch control) in cox education, citing a case where a coach used techniques from RADA to enhance athlete communication.

Limitations and Future Directions

• The sample was limited to publicly available YouTube videos, potentially skewed towards winning races and high-quality performances.
• All races were from the coxed eight class, which may limit generalisability.
• Future research should examine:
  • Communication variations over race segments (e.g., 500m splits)
  • Differences between elite and novice coxes
  • Cox behaviour during training and pre/post-race scenarios
  • How cox and coach roles overlap or differ
  • Rowers’ perspectives on effective cox communication
• Retrospective interviews with coxes could also clarify the meaning of abbreviated or coded language used mid-race.

Conclusion Summary

This exploratory study offers valuable insight into the in-race communication of elite rowing coxswains. It found that elite coxes consistently deliver technical, motivational, and tactical calls, using deliberate direction, timing, tone, and occasionally chiding to influence crew performance. The research serves as a foundational step toward better understanding coxing communication and encourages reflection among coaches and coxswains. The findings also provide a useful basis for cox education programs and future research into this specialised and under-explored role in rowing.

So, what really makes a coxswain special? It’s not just the steady stream of technical cues or the well-timed words of encouragement. It’s the ability to read the race, trust their gut, and make bold, calculated calls when it matters most — even if that means tearing up the race plan. Because at the end of the day, anyone can steer a boat down the course, but it takes something more — instinct, courage, a spark of genius — to turn a good crew into a winning one. That’s the magic.

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The Big Dance is Here!

It’s that time of year again—the 2025 Victorian Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta is upon us! The Barwon River is set to host thousands of rowers, coaches and parents, all coming together for a massive weekend of racing and excitement.

Join myslef, Alan Crute from ⁠Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat⁠, and Jo Hayman-McNally as we break down everything you need to know about HOSG. We’ll talk racing, rivalries, and much more.

We’re also joined by the master of boat repairs, Rob Manning from ⁠RowMann Repairs⁠, and the voice of rowing himself, Richard Dorrstein, who shares his expert insights on what to expect as crews take on the mighty Barwon.

Whether you’re a rower, a coach, or just here for the Champers and gossip, this is the episode for you. Tune in, get prepped, and we’ll see you at the river!

The post Head of the Schoolgirls – 2025 Regatta PREview! Live show appeared first on The Coxswains Journey.

Welcome to the first podcast review of the 2025 Victorian Schoolgirls rowing season!

We’re kicking off the 2025 season with two massive regattas—the RV Junior & Inter Schoolgirls Morongo Regatta on the Barwon River and the JG King Homes Wendouree Ballarat Regatta on Lake Wendouree. This is our first real look at what the schools are bringing to the water this season.

Joining us to break down all the action are Alan from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat, along with Jo Hayman-McNally. Stay tuned for all the insights, race highlights, and standout performances from both events!

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In todays “casual convo” I was lucky enough to be joined by Chris Brown, President of Hawthorn Rowing Club; a huge thanks to Chris as he not only has a newborn at home but he is also managing the enormous role as President at Hawthorn Rowing Club (time is limited….), for joining me, as we dive deep into the challenges of running a modern day rowing club.

Key highlights:
– Chris shares his journey from rugby and athletics to discovering rowing at university into the rowing space
– A discussion on managing different types of rowers – from social paddlers to competitive athletes, the main area of my interest really; the personalities of sport.
– The unique challenge of balancing team dynamics in a sport that demands both individual efforts, group dynamics and a “team” attitude
– The critical role of coxswains in training and racing, and why they’re essential for club success
– Some perspective on volunteer management and club sustainability

Whether you’re a rowing club administrator, athlete, or coxswain, this episode offers valuable insights into the complexities of club rowing and how successful clubs navigate these challenges.

Side Notes:

From the interview I’ve gleaned some strategies to balance the needs of social and competitive rowers, they could include:

1. Clearly communicating the club’s vision and goals, ensuring both social and competitive rowers understand and buy into the shared mission.

2. Offer a variety of training programs and boat classes to cater to different skill and commitment levels. This could include social/recreational sessions, competitive training groups, and opportunities for cross-over.

3. Implement a fair and transparent selection process for competitive boats, with clear criteria that all rowers understand. This helps manage expectations.

4. Encourage social rowers to get involved in the club in other ways, such as volunteering, social events, or supporting competitive crews. This helps build a sense of community.

5. Recognise and celebrate achievements of both social and competitive rowers, fostering a culture of inclusivity.

6. Solicit regular feedback from all rowers to understand their needs and adjust programming accordingly.

The key is creating an environment where both social and competitive rowers feel valued and have opportunities to engage in the sport in a way that aligns with their goals and abilities.

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