Club Committee

2006-2007 Manifestos

Dominic Hockley for Coxing Captain

I noviced this year with First and Third, coxing the 1st women’s novice VIII. Since then I have been on two training camps coxing both men and women, and by the end of this year will have coxed two bumps weeks as well. I have had Magnus, as well as two very good coaches, who have taken the time to explain certain points and given me constructive criticism throughout the terms. Furthermore, I have also been fortunate enough to have a very senior Cox at stroke for two terms and she has been vital in helping me develop as a Coxswain. Unfortunately however, much of this support has often been sporadic and piecemeal and I am aware that certainly not all the novice coxes have received the same support as me, and this is something that I hope to rectify.

I have gained a good understanding of the problems and challenges of coxing under a variety of different conditions, and I believe my relative inexperience (compared to some members of the Boat Club) is offset by my understanding of what it means to novice as a First & Third cox under present conditions.

Too often coxes lack confidence, as they receive relatively little coaching (especially in comparison to the rowers). They are often expected to pick things up quickly, but are not always told when it is appropriate to make certain calls, and end up simply repeating things or remaining silent for fear of getting it wrong. There is a distinct lack of training and coaching with regards to both calls and steering (including parking, maneuvering), and coxes are not currently taught, other than on an ad hoc basis, about boat care off the water.

The Cox has huge responsibilities both for the welfare of the boat and the crew, and they can win and lose races. Coxing should be fun, and coxes should be an asset to the boat, not simply dead weight. I hope to improve the standard of coxes throughout the boat club, ensuring that there is a constant supply of confident, motivational, and proficient coxes to uphold First and Third’s reputation on the river.

As Coxing Captain I would:

Encourage and recruit novices

1. Work to recruit a strong enthusiastic contingent of novice coxes for the Michaelmas novice boats, working together with the lower boats captains on the Club’s recruitment drives but with a special eye toward encouraging prospective coxes to join. Assist the LBC’s with getting novice boats out on the water, and getting novice coxes confident in the basics of coxing.

Coaching coxes on the water:

1. Ensure a senior Cox bank parties them on their initial outings to encourage, support and coach the Cox.
2. Throughout the term, on a more informal basis, myself or other senior coxes to bank party, to ensure that any training is being given appropriately and put into practice. Also to identify any problems, so that they can be sorted before they become too serious, e.g. steering
3. Informal assessments so that the novices need to know where to improve and importantly to actually let them know when they are doing it correctly
4. When crews are more proficient allowing the Cox an outing to explore the boat, e.g. simply doing manoeuvres, parking, etc. and getting to grips with what happens if you get certain rowers to do different things,
   • This will help coxes become much more confident in their own ability, as well as helping them to know the extent of the boats capabilities.
   • This in turn will hopefully lead to a decrease in the number of boats damaged throughout the terms

Coaching coxes off the water:

1. Weekly half hour informal meeting to discuss upcoming races, coaching and problems they may have encountered.
2. Land training session – need to know about the boat care, how to change riggers, footplates, etc.
3. Motivation - I will try to get novice coxes involved in Queens ergs so that they learn, early on, how to motivate rowers to give it everything they’ve got.

Professional coaching:

1. Get more liaison between senior and novice coxes so that the extent of their knowledge can be passed on.
2. Extend relationships with very senior coxes e.g. Russ Glenn, and enable both the novices and the senior coxes to tap the experience from them.

Socials:

1. Working with the LBC’s to arrange formals but also arranging separate coxing formals, to swap with coxes from other colleges.

Equipment

1. Cox Boxes: I will endeavour to get more reliable Cox boxes and ensure that the ones that do work, stay working!

Selection and Development

1. Follow up their development through Lent and Easter term and assist in selection for crews, representing them as a group within the committee.

Proposed: Magnus Jones
Seconded: Pia Schaefer