Mic'd Up: Navigating the Coxswain's Role in Relation to Language, Tone, and Gender by Madeline Gross

Rowing Glossary

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-07 18:54:00 UTC

A list of rowing terminology that will be used throughout the project (there's a lot)!

What is a Coxswain?

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-07 18:57:25 UTC

Common Coxswain Commands

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-07 19:01:55 UTC

These are common commands that are used by all coxswains in the sport of rowing

Coxing Language and Tone: Steady State Work

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-07 19:07:16 UTC

Steady State is lower rate and slower pace than sprint work. It is important that the coxswain's tone and calls are reflective of that. The rowers react to the coxes' voice. Calls should be in more of a conversational tone matching the rhythm of the boat.

Cox Boxes: Connecting Coxswains to the Crew

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-07 19:12:48 UTC

Cox Boxes are devices that give coxswains data on the speed of the boat. They have a microphone that connects to speakers in the boat to allow rowers to hear their coxswain. Fun Fact: some rowing boats are over 60ft long!

Language and Tone: Steady State Coxswain Recording Analysis

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-09 17:48:50 UTC

This is a recording from a collegiate steady state workout. The coxswain's tone of voice is relaxed and conversational. The language she is using rhythmically in time with the boat. She increases the intensity of her voice when she wants her crew to add more power during what are called Power 10s (10 strokes of hard pressure).

Coxing Language and Tone: Sprints

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-09 22:46:02 UTC

Sprint pieces are high-rate shorter pieces where the main focus is power. The coxswain's tone of voice is aggressive and assertive, but not frantic. If rowers begin to get out of control during the race, the coxswain will often slow down and soften their voice.

Language and Tone: Sprint Coxswain Recording Analysis

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-09 22:53:08 UTC

This is a recording from the US National Team coxswain that set a world record during this race. The coxswain's tone of voice is aggressive and strong. The language used is mainly focused on power. He is letting his crew know where they are in relation to the other boats and constantly pushing them for more. There are times where he controls and slows down his speech in order to calm his rowers. The tone of voice directly matches the power and speed of the rowers.

Coxswains Explained pt. 2

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-09 23:05:57 UTC

A short tik tok video explaining the role of a coxswain (GB National Team)

Steady State Practice

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-09 23:07:16 UTC

Going from Coxing a Women's Rowing Team to a Men's Rowing Team

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-09 23:13:28 UTC

The author of this blog post discusses her experience going from coxing a women's team in high school to a men's team in college. The men's team responded best to more aggressive calls that demanded her respect.

What Gets Them Rowing?: A study of gender-specific motivational tendencies in rowing

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-11 15:01:18 UTC

This scientific study found that male rowers tended to be motivated more by what is called ego-centric motivation (outperforming their competitors and personal best), while female rowers tended to be more motivated through social orientation (group support and the team dynamic).

So What Does This Mean for Coxswains?

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-14 17:55:34 UTC

When a coxswain creates their race plan, studies like this one is extremely important. As a coxswain who has coxed both men's and women's teams the way I motivate a boat changes. On a women's team they typically respond more when I make a call like "we're all pulling for x person" or "let's take ten for x all together". On a men's team they typically respond more when I make a call like "let's take a seat from x team" or "let's drop the split by x amount".

What Do Rowers Like to Hear?: World Rowing

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-14 18:00:02 UTC

These are calls that coxswains would typically use to get the rowers motivated during a sprint race!

What do Rowers Like to Hear?: Fairfield Men's Rowing Interview Quote

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-14 18:02:08 UTC

"I typically respond best to hearing numbers: my split and rate. I like to know my location, where I'm at in relation to other crews, and what I can do to take a seat"

What do Rowers Like to Hear?: Fairfield Women's Rowing Interview Quote

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-14 18:03:00 UTC

"Something our coxswains do that we respond to is pinning us against each other. She calls us out by name and makes us compete as a pair in a boat to see who can go the fastest. It gets the split down and gets us working together"

Importance of Consistent Language: Technique

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-14 18:27:15 UTC

During steady state rowing, coxswains and coaches will often correct their rower's technique in the boat. It is important that they use the same language and vocabulary, but also that the tone of what they are saying coincides with the result they want

How to Give Feedback

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-16 13:30:54 UTC

During steady state rowing coxswains are constantly giving rowers feedback on their rowing. This podcast episode talks about the importance of tailoring your communication style for the people for the audience, using vocabulary that everyone understands, mirroring the coach, but also the importance of silence.

Sprint Racing Start to Finish Line

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-16 13:33:26 UTC

This is a podcast episode that goes into detail with tips and tricks about how coxswains should be coxing their sprint races. From before the race starts until after it finishes with multiple different race day scenarios.

Coxswains Explained

madelinegross1 — 2025-04-16 13:54:25 UTC

This video from Wisconsin does a great job of explaining what a coxswain does while incorporating the importance of language.