How to Discipline a Nov Cox

[AND]

So one problem that my team runs into quite frequently is that it is difficult to discipline our coxswains, both varsity and novice. Being a collegiate club program we often find ourselves scrambling to find enough coxswains who want to dedicate the time to the sport. When we have enough of them its easy enough to just say your not going to be boated, and go with a different cox, but we find ourselves needing them all to row.

I get the feeling that they will quit after any serious disagreement with the coaches, and if we tried to bring down some discipline they would just walk, and spend their time somewhere else.

Missing practices, disrespectful to teammates, and lateness are the main problems. Part of the problem I feel it has to do with them being freshmen women coxswains on a men's novice team. Lots of awkward team dynamics that myself and the other coach would really like to not know about.

Any suggestions or experience would be great.

[lt.wolf]

Simple - take them off the water for a bit.

[MChase]

It may have no bearing but in earlier days, we needed coxswains so badly that we did not have them pay dues and when the coxes had no investment in the club, they acted that way. So I made a rule-- coxswains pay. With their investment, things improved tremendously. It may have no bearing on you, but the lesson is, be sure that they have sufficient investment that they want to see that investment do well.

[AND]

We do require dues, which is something I made sure of a couple years ago when I was the president for two years.

With the water time I wish we could, with so little time till Vails, we need every practice we can get, so its a wash for this year.

Just need to devise a scheme for next year to get them committed for life, that way we can treat them like the dedicated rowers on the team.

[bodyangle]

There has to be buy in by the coxswains to get them to stick around which was what Mchase was getting at. More than just financial, you need to make them understand from the beginning that they are just as important to winning as every rower in the boat. You want kids that are competitive anyways, so challenge them early and make them understand that joining the team is a commitment to work/excellence/effort. I think all too often their jobs are framed as providing a service so that the "athletes" can row.

Maybe it is something simple like finding a video/audio recording of a high caliber coxswain doing their thing and showing that to prospective coxswains on day one and tell them, "this is what you are here to do."

[skinny]

Coxswains should be disciplined the same way rowers are. If the message gets through to the team that different disciplinary rules apply to coxies over rowers, the rowers will be upset and the coxies will take advantage. Any coxswain that quits after being appropriately disciplined is probably a coxswain you don't want involved in the team in the first place.

If there aren't enough coxswains, use the heirarchy as a point of discipline. This coxswain doesn't make the same mistakes, so he/she gets bumped up to your boat while you get bumped down to his/her boat. If it gets bad enough, and you dont have enough coxies, a crew may have to come off the water. That can be a punishment in itself, as the rowers will be understandably upset that the coxswain's lack of discipline has forced them off the water.

[bloomp]

If a coxswain screws up, give them jumpies. Many coxswains feel they are above the 'menial' hard work that rowers do. Jumpies are a great way to remind them that CAN and SHOULD suffer as much as rowers for their mistakes. But don't mistake a coxswain that is a little independent for someone that needs discipline. I'd much prefer (as a stroke) to have someone that aggressively tries to follow a workout plan instead of someone that needs poking by the coach.

For example - a coxswain that never seems to listen may either not hear you (very easy), not care (JUMPIES) or have in mind a checklist that you gave them to complete (good). Reinforce the latter, fix the first two. Unless it comes to lining up boats then any sort of insubordination deserves punishment.

Then when the coxswain refuses the 100 straight jumpies, make the entire crew do it - that's just plain sick!

[Coxswain3]

Coxswains on my collegiate club pay "member dues" which is essentially enough to cover travel and cox boxes (so it exlcudes shell, oar and coaching payments). It's enough to get that investment effect but not too much as to deter good but financially strapped coxswains.

Also, I think that if they truly deserve a punishment, then give it to them. It holds them just as responsible as the rowers for what goes on in the boat. An 8+ includes all 9 people focusing and working together to make the boat go fast. Take any one of those people away and that boat would not only look ridiculous in a race but would not have a fighting chance against the greenest novice crew. I do think that with punishment must also come reward. Some coaches tend to speak only to their rowers during the pre/post practice talk, leaving the coxswain feeling forgotten. While the whole speech shouldn't be about coxing, a nice mention never hurts (just acknowledging that there were 9 people in the boat helps, trust me).

[Long'n Strong]

In the old days we would strip them naked, duct tape them to the trailer, then flog them with old beading strips to within an inch of their miserable little lives. I guess that behavior would be frowned upon nowadays, but times were different than. It was definitely effective.. Just had to do it to them once and we were never bothered by that cox again.

[Stewie Griffin Should Cox]

In the old days we would strip them naked, duct tape them to the trailer, then flog them with old beading strips to within an inch of their miserable little lives. I guess that behavior would be frowned upon nowadays, but times were different than. It was definitely effective.. Just had to do it to them once and we were never bothered by that cox again.

Haha .....

"So, *********, Henley is in 5 days and currently you are 9 stone. Here are 200 Malboro Lights and some porn. Enjoy, because nothing else liquid or solid will pass your lips before race day and outside of training you arn't coming out of your room"

[lt.wolf]

Stewie - that is the bowball diet "200 Malboro Lights and some porn"