• Coxes are responsible for safety of themselves and the rest of the crew.

• They must ensure that they avoid damage to equipment as much as possible.
• They ensure that the rowers do what they are supposed to be doing and tell them what to do / not do.
• They help keep the rowers rowing in time with each other – this doesn’t mean sitting there repeatedly saying the word ‘stroke’, which is a very common misconception.
• They encourage the rowers to push as hard as they can – particularly important if you want to win things!
• They steer the boat.

If learning to cox appeals to you, then please don’t hesitate to email our Captain of Coxes (spcboatclub@gmail.com) for more information. At the start of each term, there will be meetings organized by Oxford University Rowing Clubs (OURCs) to give you a thorough guide to rowing and coxing.

Make yourself familiar with our Coxing Guide. It provides you with a detailed description of calls which will help you for your first outings. However, you do not need to absorb it all immediately and coaches will always be able to help you. If you are unsure about anything then ask. Nobody will mind. Seeking regular feedback and taking the advice on board is the best way to improve. More useful information can also be found on the internet.