Coxing

Welcome 

The coxswain (cox) is a crucial member of the crew. At its core, a cox steers the boat, and instructs the crew over the course of an outing or race. A cox is often the difference between a winning or losing crew, as the cox can put their crew in the best position with the correct 'line' through the river, and giving constructive calls and pacing strategies. 

To cox on the River Isis in Oxford you need to attend a 'coxing briefing' run by OURCs. These happen a couple of times a week at the start of each term and our captain of coxes usually takes any new coxes down to it. 

The briefing explains the rules of the river such as what side to stick to and where you can spin on the river. It also contains coxing tips and general advice on steering and coxing. You will also need to be swim tested to take part. 

If you are interested please do contact our Captain of Coxes Elisabeth. 

elisabeth.edwards@ccc.ox.ac.uk

First Outings 

Your first outings will be with senior rowers, many of whom are coxes themselves and have lots of experience. You will also be accompanied by a coach on the bank so they are keeping an eye out for potential hazards too. Seniors are there to help you get used to steering and what kind of calls to make and when to make them. Coxes often progress quickly and some end up coxing at the major regattas, such as Eights, at the end of the year. We don't run a particular time for novice cox training instead we encourage people to learn to cox throughout the year so do get in touch if you are interested. 

Coxing Responsibilities 

Safety 

The cox is primarily responsible for the safety of those in the boat and the other river users. OURCs outlines the minimum coxing safety as being able to make a risk assessment before an outing, dressing appropriately, knowing what to do in the event of a capsize or collision, and knowing how to report an incident. All this is covered in the briefing and is available as a guide to refer back to afterwards as well. 

Steering

Steering is an important job for the cox, knowing when to steer and how much can make a huge difference to boat speed and balance. Steering is most effective when done gradually yet sometimes it is best to steer harshly to avoid a potential collision. There are particular steering rules for the River Isis such as the spinning areas and not overtaking in the Gut. All this is covered in the start of term coxing briefings. 

Calls

When you develop as a cox you also improve in your ability to coach and take control of a crew. You will be in charge of calling drills, exercises and race pieces and you will build a strong rapport with the coach to get the most out of your crew.