Goals and Skills of Rowing Strokes

Rowing is a sport that requires power, rhythm, and technique. The entire body is used to create the perfect rowing stroke. Leg strength is essential, as the arms maneuver the oars in and out of the water. When the legs move forward, and the arms dive the oars into the water, the back and stomach muscles are employed to give more power to the stroke.

Goals of Rowing

There are 3 main goals to consider when rowing a boat. The first thing a rower needs to determine is how fast he wants the boat to travel. In a race, the legs will push harder, giving more power to the stroke. On a leisurely outing, speed will probably not be a factor, unless danger lurks on the horizon.

The second thing a rower will contemplate is how far he wants the boat to travel. Every stroke will help achieve this goal, by the length the boat goes each time the oars enter the water. Smooth consistent strokes allow for the rower to go further with each stroke.

The third thing a rower decides is how hard he wants to work at rowing his boat. Most people don't want to work really hard, only to end up a few feet from where they started. Rowers think about how many strokes they want to make to get to where they are headed. This is also known as the rate of travel.

Stroke Basics

When a rower begins making a stroke, the oar is out of the water and horizontal over its surface. The rower is sitting upright, with his arms extended, holding onto the oars. The oars are parallel to the water. Legs are outstretched. The stomach is tucked in tightly, ready to begin the stroke.

The body then slightly bends forward over the legs in a stretching position. The legs pull up, as the arms move back, maneuvering the oar so that its blade hits the water. This is called catching because the oars hit, and catch the water in the process of pushing through it. As the blade lands in the water, the arms continue making an arm circle, pushing the oar through the current, until the paddle comes full circle and is out of the water again.

The strength of the legs powers the stroke. When the arms push the oar into the water, they should relax so that the legs can pull it back out again. This is known as leg drive, and it is essential when competing in a race. As the legs straighten again, concluding the leg drive portion of the stroke, the arms achieve momentum.

Momentum determines the rate of strokes, by drawing the oar toward the body. This is called the draw. The release takes place when the blade comes back out of the water, and is once again in the starting position.

Common Stroke Problems

The art of rowing a boat takes practice. Technique and consistency are required. When the entire body works together, a perfect stroke can be mastered. Sometimes there are problems with the stroke. There are a few very common mistakes that affect the power, length, and rate of a rowing stroke.

1. Bum shoving: During the leg drive, the shoulders do not move evenly with the legs. Even if the legs are working hard, the energy they produce will not be as effective.

2. Diving deep: If the arms arch too much during the draw, the oar will dive too deeply into the water, decreasing momentum.

3. Washing out: The blade needs to travel along the water. If it dives down into the water, it will lift before the stroke can be completed.

4. Shortening the stroke: A rower that is sitting up too tall, or leans back too far will impact the effectiveness of the stroke.

5. Body angle: The knees should work with the arms, and not get in their way. The body needs to bend forward, helping to increase momentum. The arms need to reach and stretch while moving the oar through the water, keeping the legs vertical when they are outstretched.

Rowing strokes require skill and athleticism. While many people enjoy the thrill of being out on the water, few enjoy the work involved in actually rowing the boat. With a little practice, a perfect rowing stroke can be mastered, and the joy of boating will be more worthwhile.