What do elite rowing coxswains say during races?

Coxing is a highly specialised skillset in the sport of rowing which has received limited research to date. The aim of this study was to explore what elite coxswains say during rowing races. The study involved a thematic analysis of coxswain recordings that were publicly available on YouTube. Sixteen elite coxswain recordings were found and eight met the inclusion criteria. Video recordings were from the following competitions: one from the World Senior Championships (2011), one from the World Under-23 Championships (2021), one from a World Cup (2022), two from Henley Royal Regatta semi-finals (2015 and 2022) and three from Henley finals (2014, 2017 and 2022). Coxswains made an average of 32 calls per minute. Out of the coxes’ total calls, 94% were directed towards the crew however on occasion coxes directed calls to individual rowers or specific sections of the boat (e.g., bow side). The content of the elite coxswains’ calls was classified under three themes: technical calls (40.4% of total calls), motivational calls (38.6%) and tactical calls (21%). In addition, four themes were developed in relation to how coxes delivered the calls: the direction, timing and tone of calls, as well as the use of chiding. This exploratory study provides a first step towards gaining a richer and broader understanding of what elite coxswains say during races and may stimulate reflection among coxswains and rowing coaches. The findings provide a basis for evaluating coxswain education and future research.