The stroke on land
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
The order of the rowing stroke before ever sitting in a boat. On the drive the legs push first, then the body swings back, then the arms pull; on the recovery it runs the other way: arms, body, legs. Holding the oar lightly with the fingers keeps the stroke smooth.
Words on this card Oar, Catch, Single, Run
- Oar
- The long pole that pushes the water; the blade is the flat end in the water, the handle the end you hold.
- Catch
- The four parts of a stroke: blade in, push, blade out, slide back forward.
- Single
- The boats, named by how many rowers sit in them.
- Run
- How far the boat glides between strokes.
Set up
A broom handle as the oar; a stool; a clear floor.
Weather: any weather indoors
Show it first for the one teaching
- Sit on the stool and hold the broom handle lightly with the fingers, arms straight in front.
- Catch: shins upright, back straight, leaning a little forward, hands reaching forward.
- Drive: push with the legs, then swing the body back, then pull the handle to the chest. That is the finish.
- Recovery: arms out, then body forward, then legs bend, back to the catch.
Your part while they practise
Name the four parts aloud as the child moves.
Step by step
- Catch: shins upright, back set, hands forward.
- Drive: legs first, then body, then arms.
- Finish: handle to the chest.
- Recovery: arms, then body, then legs.
How much: 10 slow strokes, 3 rounds 6 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Call the part
You call "catch", "drive", "finish" or "recovery", and the child moves to that position and holds it.
Who plays: the child against their own best; you call. A second child can play in turn.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The child starts at the catch
- Call a part; the child moves into it smoothly and holds for a count of 2
- Mix the order sometimes
- 12 calls
- Fair play
- A grown-up plays with eyes closed while the child calls.
- Points
- 1 point for each right position held still; 1 more point if the child names which part of the body moved first.
- Fouls
- No points for that call
- The arms pull before the legs push
- A tight fist on the handle
- Jumping between positions instead of moving smoothly
- Winning
- Beat your best from 12 calls.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 20 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Legs only.
Add the rhythm "legs, body, arms" said aloud.
What you will see, and what to say
- the arms pull first
Legs first
Arms wait till the end. - the grip is tight
Light fingers
Hook the handle, don't squeeze.
Self-check
10 slow strokes with the right order named aloud each time.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the back; stop.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains stroke order, grip.
awiseathlete.com/sports/rowing/rowing-b1