Study guides · Stuff Every Rowing Scout Should Know
Practice facts for the Rowing merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Rowing Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
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Short answer: Two oars, one in each hand
Sculling means each rower holds two oars, one in each hand, unlike sweeping.
Groan of the day: Sculling keeps both hands full of oar-some work.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: One oar held with both hands
Sweep rowers each hold a single oar with both hands, and crews have an even number of rowers.
Groan of the day: Sweep rowers put both hands on one job.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: When the oar spoon enters the water
The catch is the moment the oar spoon is placed in the water to begin the drive.
Groan of the day: A good catch is worth catching on to.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Removing the oar spoon from the water
Extraction, or finish, is when the rower lifts the oar spoon out of the water after the drive.
Groan of the day: Finish strong and extract the oar with a smile.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The rower applies pressure to lever the boat forward
After the catch, the rower pushes against the oar to lever the boat forward, which is the drive.
Groan of the day: The drive phase drives the boat ahead.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Moving the oar back to the catch position
Recovery follows extraction and coordinates the body to return the oar to the catch.
Groan of the day: Recovery is how the stroke recovers its start.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Rotating the oar so the spoon is parallel to the water
Feathering rotates the oar so the spoon lies parallel to the water, reducing wind resistance during recovery.
Groan of the day: Feathering is a light touch with a big effect.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The gliding of the boat through the water during recovery
Run is the boat gliding through the water during recovery, helped by a controlled slide.
Groan of the day: Good run means the boat runs away with the race.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Composite material like carbon fiber
Modern shells are almost always composite, often carbon fiber with a honeycomb sandwich, for strength and low weight.
Groan of the day: Shells are composite, so they compose themselves well on water.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: To help prevent roll and yaw
The fin helps prevent roll and yaw and increases rudder effectiveness.
Groan of the day: The fin finishes off unwanted wobble.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The flat end that pushes the water
The spoon is the flat end of the oar, about 50 cm long and 25 cm wide, that pushes water.
Groan of the day: The spoon stirs the water, not the soup.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: To simplify identifying boats at a distance
Club-colored blades make it easy to identify boats from far away, like team jerseys.
Groan of the day: Club colors give the crew a colorful identity.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Training technique and strength off the water
A rowing tank mimics open-water conditions for off-season conditioning and technique training.
Groan of the day: A rowing tank is a tank full of rowing practice.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: It does not simulate lateral balance challenges
Ergometers do not simulate lateral balance or exact water resistance, so technique training is limited.
Groan of the day: Ergs build fitness but not balance, so ergs don't float.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: To show distance, time, and split and amplify the coxswain's voice
A cox box lets the coxswain see distance, time, meters, and split and amplify their voice.
Groan of the day: The cox box speaks volumes for the crew.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: 2 kilometers
Elite and championship racing is usually on calm 2 kilometer courses with marked lanes.
Groan of the day: Two kilometers is a long way to row, meter by meter.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Boats start together and the first to the finish wins
In side-by-side racing, all boats start at the same time from a stationary position and race to the line.
Groan of the day: Side by side, the crews go stride for stride.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: A time trial with boats starting at intervals
Head races are processional time trials where boats begin at intervals of 10 to 20 seconds.
Groan of the day: Head races are headed for the clock, not the crowd.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: A second chance for losing boats to qualify
Losing boats from heats may get a second chance to qualify through a repechage.
Groan of the day: A repechage is a re-chance to advance.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Crews chase the boat ahead and a bump is awarded on contact
In bumps racing, crews start together and pursue the boat ahead; overtaking or contact earns a bump.
Groan of the day: Bumps racing is a bumpy road to the top.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Race to a stake or buoy and return
In the stake format, competitors race to a stake, moored boat, or buoy and return, requiring a 180 degree turn.
Groan of the day: The stake format stakes everything on the turn.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Sequentially from the bow aft
Rowers are numbered from the bow aft, with the number one rower called bow and the stern-most called stroke.
Groan of the day: Bow comes first, so bow is number one.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Steer the boat and coordinate the rowers' rhythm
The coxswain steers with rudder strings and coordinates power and rhythm by communicating with the crew.
Groan of the day: The cox steers the course and steers the crew.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Less weight means less effort for the crew to propel the boat
A lighter coxswain requires less effort from the crew, so rules set a minimum weight to keep it fair.
Groan of the day: A light cox is a lightweight advantage.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: They may carry weights such as sandbags
Underweight coxswains may carry weights like sandbags to meet the minimum and keep competition fair.
Groan of the day: Sandbags help the cox weigh in fairly.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Setting up the balance of the boat
The bow pair are generally the more technical rowers and have most influence on the boat's balance and line.
Groan of the day: The bow pair keeps the boat balanced and on the ball.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The engine room or powerhouse
The middle four are often the less technical but more powerful rowers, called the engine room or powerhouse.
Groan of the day: The engine room powers the boat forward.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Age 27
Under World Rowing rules, athletes may compete in Masters categories when they reach age 27.
Groan of the day: Masters rowers master the art of aging well.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Athletes age 18 or less by the end of the calendar year
The under 19 category is for athletes who are age 18 or less by the end of the calendar year for a given event.
Groan of the day: Under 19 rowers are under age but over effort.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The rowers' weight
Lightweight boat classes are restricted by rowers' weight to encourage universality in the sport.
Groan of the day: Lightweight rowing keeps the scales in the race.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Adaptive rowing
Adaptive rowing is a special category of races for those with physical disabilities, with several boat classes.
Groan of the day: Adaptive rowing adapts the sport for every athlete.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: World Rowing Federation
The World Rowing Federation, known as FISA until recently, governs the sport internationally and runs the World Championships.
Groan of the day: World Rowing rules the rowing world.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Fourteen
Fourteen boat classes race at the Olympics, while the World Championships include twenty two.
Groan of the day: Fourteen classes make the Olympics a class act.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: 1976
Women's rowing was added to the Olympic programme in 1976, growing the sport worldwide.
Groan of the day: 1976 was a winning year for women on the water.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Leander Club
Founded in 1818, Leander Club is the world's oldest public rowing club.
Groan of the day: Leander leads the league of old rowing clubs.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Paddling sports
Rowing differs from paddling because rowing oars are attached to the boat with rowlocks, while paddles are not.
Groan of the day: Rowing is attached to tradition, paddling is free.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The recovery phase
After the drive, the rower extracts the oar and the recovery phase begins, setting up the next stroke.
Groan of the day: Drive first, then recover your rhythm.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Turning the spoon perpendicular to the water
Near the end of recovery, the rower squares the spoon perpendicular to the water before the next catch.
Groan of the day: Square the blade and you are set for the catch.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Improving boat balance, swing, and recovery timing
The cut-the-cake drill uses coordinated swinging to improve boat balance, swing, and recovery timing.
Groan of the day: Cut the cake and the crew slices through the water.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Continuous pressure on the footboard
Feet-out rowing reinforces continuous pressure on the footboard, especially during oar release.
Groan of the day: Feet out keeps the pressure on the footboard.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: The balance of the shell
Rowing on the square, without feathering, works on the balance of the shell.
Groan of the day: Square blades keep the balance on the level.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: It exercises all the major muscle groups
Rowing is one of the few bearing sports that exercises all major muscle groups and improves cardiovascular endurance.
Groan of the day: Rowing works your whole body, one stroke at a time.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: It is a low-impact sport with movement in defined ranges
Rowing is low impact with movement in defined ranges, so twist and sprain injuries are rare.
Groan of the day: Low impact means fewer twists in your training.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Contact with the seat tracks at either end of the stroke
Track bites are thin cuts on the back of the calf or thigh caused by contact with the seat tracks.
Groan of the day: Track bites are a bite from the boat, not a bug.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Adjust your grip and technique
Holding oars too tightly or poor technique can cause blisters, so grip and technique adjustments help prevent them.
Groan of the day: Don't let blisters rub you the wrong way.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
Short answer: Successfully complete the swimmer test
The swimmer test must be completed before requirements involving on-water rowing skills.
Groan of the day: Pass the test before you make a splash.
Sources: Scouting America: Rowing
Short answer: Practicing righting and reboarding in deep water
The drill practices righting and stabilizing the craft, reboarding in deep water, and making headway.
Groan of the day: Don't be swamped by surprise, practice the drill.
Sources: Scouting America: Rowing
Short answer: The stern of the boat
The rower pivots so the swimmer can hold the stern, then tows the swimmer to shore.
Groan of the day: Stern is the word for a safe hold.
Sources: Scouting America: Rowing
Short answer: Bowline
The bowline is one of the required mooring knots, along with the clove hitch and others.
Groan of the day: Bowline is a knot above the rest.
Sources: Scouting America: Rowing
Short answer: Racing shells
Competitive rowing uses racing shells, while commercial and recreational rowing use other craft types.
Groan of the day: Shells are the real deal in racing.
Sources: Rowing (sport)
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Two oars, one in each hand. Sculling means each rower holds two oars, one in each hand, unlike sweeping.
The flat end that pushes the water. The spoon is the flat end of the oar, about 50 cm long and 25 cm wide, that pushes water.
Race to a stake or buoy and return. In the stake format, competitors race to a stake, moored boat, or buoy and return, requiring a 180 degree turn.
Adaptive rowing. Adaptive rowing is a special category of races for those with physical disabilities, with several boat classes.
The balance of the shell. Rowing on the square, without feathering, works on the balance of the shell.
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