Crew: Trust at the helm key to rowers’ success in water

“The role of the coxswain is often one of the most difficult aspects of our sport to convey to someone who is unfamiliar with it,” said Justin Teti, a senior and co-captain for the men’s lightweight squad. “It may sound funny, but [the coxswain] is one part coach, one part jockey and one part cheerleader.”

During practice, the coxswain must display abilities as the coach’s spokesperson. The coxswain runs drills and assists the coach in carrying out the plan for that particular day.

Senior Dave Cleveland, a coxswain for the men’s lightweight crew, added that the coxswain is also tasked with keeping the boat and its occupants safe.

“The biggest responsibility is to ensure the safety of the crew,” Cleveland said. “It is always [the coxswain’s] job to make sure the boat doesn’t run into anything.”

There is a great deal of trust in the relationship between the coach and the coxswain. If the coxswain is especially experienced and has the trust of the coach, he may have the opportunity to develop his own race plan for the boat.

For any crew, the transition from a practice mentality to race mode is crucial. The coxswain must keep the crew motivated and have it ready to go on race day. This is where the role of the coxswain as cheerleader factors in most.

During races, the coxswain has several key responsibilities. He yells commands to the rowers from the stern of the boat, sets the pace of races and navigates the boat through the demarcated course.

Senior Eric Nalbone, a coxswain for the heavyweight crew team, noted that the conditions on the water for some races are particularly rough and choppy. In this case, the coxswain plays the role of jockey, using his knowledge of the course to steer the boat in the right direction.

“The primary role of the coxswain during a race is simply to go straight, even in the face of currents, crosswinds and whatever … random things happen in the boat,” Nalbone said. “Assuming we go straight, our job is to make sure that the boat executes our race plan as a single unit.”

There is no doubt that, on race day, a coxswain can make or break the success of a team. This has been especially true for the men’s lightweight crew, which is having a season for the ages.

After going undefeated during its regular slate of races, the squad is gearing up for the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) Sprints, which will take place in Worcester, Mass., on May 10.

Teti believes that Cleveland, who has been coxing since the freshman year of high school, is responsible for a large part of the success that the varsity lightweights are enjoying this season.

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“Dave is one of the best coxswains I’ve ever encountered, and he has definitely contributed to our success this season,” Teti said. “Our last three races have been on away courses that all have some kind of turn or current that one could expect the home crew to use to their advantage. However, because of Dave’s knowledge of the courses … we have been able to nullify those home course advantages.”

Cleveland noted that, in tight races, the coxswain’s steering might mean the difference between a win and a loss for the boat.

“Because these races can be decided by pretty small margins, a straight course can be really crucial,” Cleveland said.

Nalbone, who has been coxing since the senior year of high school, also knows what it takes to succeed in pressure situations.

“If we aren’t taking the shortest course from the starting line to the finish, we’re 125 pounds of dead weight,” Nalbone said. “I’m the one that keeps the crew aware of where we are in the race relative to other boats and how far we’ve gone from a distance and time perspective.”

While there certainly is an element of trust between the coxswain and the head coach of the crew team, the trust between the coxswain and his teammates is perhaps even more important.

Teti noted that the rowers in the varsity lightweight boat have faith in Cleveland and his ability to guide the rest of the team on and off the water.

“The implicit trust between Dave and the guys in our boat — especially the seniors — has been a major factor in our success thus far,” Teti said. “We know that Dave is making the right call at the right time, and all eight of us are prepared to deliver instantaneously.”

Next weekend, at the EARC Sprints, both Cleveland and Nalbone will guide the lightweights and heavyweights, respectively, like Brett Favre on the gridiron. And you can bet that these two coxswains will use their experience and skill to put their boats in the best position for victory.