SquareThe oar blade is perpendicular to the water. | FeatherThe oar blade is parallel to the water. Handles should be at the same height as when rowing on the square.
| SetWhen the boat is set, it is fully balanced with the gunwales level and equidistant from the water surface.
| RunThe distance the boat moves after a stroke. It is measured by the distance between sets of oar puddles. The greater the distance between the puddle sets, the more efficiently the boat is rowing.
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Catching a CrabA rower’s oar getting unexpectedly caught or stuck in the water resulting in a loss of grip on the handle. Can be due to poor technique or rough water.
| CheckWhen a boat’s momentum is interrupted or stopped during rowing. There should only be smooth acceleration of speed without any hard stops. This can be due to reaching the front stop on a slide or poor leg control on the recovery.
| DiggingWhen the oar blade is too deep in the water. The oar should be just barely under the water surface or ~1” sticking out of the water on the drive. This can be due to a rower’s hands being too high or due to the set being down to your side.
| Backing the Blade InA rower’s oar should be entering the water just before they reach the catch in order to be the most efficient. There is a slight resistance or tug to the oar that can be felt in the handle, but this allows for a strong and solid catch.
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Pressing EvenlyKeeping even pressure on your feet and in your seat during the Drive and Recovery. If it is uneven, it can affect the set.
| RushComing up the slide too quickly during the recovery and can be one of the leading causes of Check. The legs on the recovery should facilitate a smooth transition instead of a hard one up to the catch. This can be due to poor leg control.
| Tea-BaggingWhen the oar blade is too shallow in the water. The oar should be just barely under the water surface or ~1” sticking out of the water on the drive. This can be due to a rower’s hands being too low or due to the set being up to your side.
| Missing WaterWhen a rower places their oar into the water too late. The oar blade should be entering the water just before the rower reaches the catch. This can be caused by not having good body and arm control on the recovery.
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Even Handle HeightsHandle heights should be even throughout the every stroke; even in/out from the sternum. “Rainbow Rowing” is where hands are lifted midway through the stroke then brought back to center and “Canyon Rowing” is where hands are lowered midway through the stroke then brought back to center. Both affect the set of the boat.
| Shooting the SlideDuring the Drive, moving the seat faster than the shoulders so it leads. The whole body should move together during the leg Drive. This can be due to changing the angle of the back instead of keeping it consistent throughout the Drive.
| SkyingWhen the oar blade is too high off of the water. This can be due to a rower’s hands being too low or due to the set being up to your side.
| Hanging at the CatchPausing right before placing the oar in the water at the catch. This can be due to Rush and arriving at the Catch before everyone else and thusly having to wait to place the oar into the water at the same time.
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