SPACE COAST CREW

Space Coast Crew is the sport team of Space Coast Crew Boosters, Incorporated, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, established in 1996 to promote the sport of rowing among Brevard County scholastic students in rising grades 5-12. The team was initially formed in 1989 with 22 young women as a club under the direction of John Harbaugh and head coach Pops Atkinson. 

Space Coast Crew started when multiple High School rowing teams in Brevard County came together to share resources and equipment. What started as a collection of multiple teams quickly grew to become one club team. From there, the club grew to add more and more student athletes and competitive programs and divisions. Today, over 25 years from our founding, our club serves Elementary, Middle, and High School student athletes from all over Brevard and we run programs for roughly 150 Youth student athlete members between all our programs. We are committed to teaching rowing while simultaneously using the natural lessons that come with our sport to teach youth how to work hard, be patient, and set goals.

We are a parent run, volunteer organization with a professional coaching staff. We depend on parents, community volunteers, and community donors to operate, manage, and maintain our wonderful programs.

 

 

SCC Rowers

 

SCC Rowing

ROWING TERMINOLOGY

Here is some information from our coaches to help you become familiar with rowing terminology and techniques.

Parts of the Boat

  • Shell – the technical name of any boat built for competitive rowing
  • Bow – the front end of the boat
  • Stern – back end of the boat
  • Port – facing the bow, the left side (as a rower, this will be your right)
  • Starboard – facing the bow, the right side (as a rower, this will be your left)
  • Hull – the rounded bottom of the boat
  • Deck – the covered tops of the bow and stern
  • Gunwhale – the sides of the boat
  • Ribs – supportive structures vertical along the gunwhale
  • Tracks – parallel grooves in which the seat rolls
  • Foot stretchers – plates with shoes attached
  • Footplate – the plate to which the shoes are attached
  • Rigger – the metal bars on the sides of the boat that provide a pivot point for the oar
  • Pin / Top Bolt – the long bolt in the outboard corner of the rigger
  • Stays – each bar of the rigger; there is usually a front, middle, and back stay, though some boats have only front and middle.
  • Oar Lock – the plastic U with a locking gate through which the oar rests, and is allowed to rotate

Parts of the Oar

  • Blade – painted part at the end of the oar, should be the only part in the water during the drive
  • Shaft – black length between the blade and handle
  • Sleeve – black or green plastic sleeve around the shaft, sits in the oar lock
  • Collar – protruding ring around the sleeve that rests on the inboard side of the oarlock
  • Handle – end of the oar that is held on to

Parts of the Stroke

  • Catch – Back straight, knees bent, arms extended, shins perpendicular to the hull of the boat
  • Drive – with back straight and arms extended, legs extend to flat, the body lays back, then arms pull in
  • Release/Finish – Hands tap down to lift the blade from the water
  • Recovery – arms extend, body leans forward, legs side up with control: finish ARMS – BODY – LEGS catch LEGS – BODY – ARMS

Common Coxswain’s Commands

  • Commands will be given in a standard pattern, creating a rhythm to help the crew move together. This keeps everyone on the same page and safe.Ex: “Up off the rack… ready… up”
  • “Hands on / lay hold” – get to the boat, with hands on the gunwhale, prepared to pick it up
  • “Show heads” – Called before shifting from holding the boat over heads, to shoulders. Each rower, starting from the front will tilt their head to either the left or the right to show where they will go. Those toward the back must watch to go to the right side to keep even numbers on each side of the boat.
  • “Let it run” – stop rowing, let the boat glide forward on the water
  • “Weigh enough” – stop rowing/walking
  • “Hold water” – Square the blade and place it in the water, using the oar as a brakeRowers in the boat will generally be addressed by their seat number (bow, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8/stroke)
  • If your oar is out to your right side, you are port. Left side, you are starboard.