Paddling Terms

Back paddle: command to move the boat backwards. The back stroke is initiated by reaching slightly behind and pushing the paddle blade forward. Paddlers should look ahead and keep time as they back paddle.

Brace the boat: Command to stabilize the boat when people are moving seats. The paddles are extended to the side of the boat and the blades are held flat on top of the water to absorb any boat rock

Bumpers in/out: Command given by steerer - leaving dock, bumpers in; return to dock, bumpers out

Catch: The point when the paddle first comes into contact with the water

Draw left/right: Command to move the boat sideways. The paddler reaches out perpendicular to the hull and pulls water toward and under the boat. Draw strokes may also be used to turn the boat by using front and back paddlers on opposite sides. For example, “Front left and back right, draw”

Exit: The point in a stroke in which the paddle leaves the water cleanly and quickly midway between the paddlers knee and hip

Heads in the boat: Stop talking and listen

Hold for drift: Command to stop the boat moving sideways. Place the paddle fully in the water keeping blades parallel to the side of the boat

Hold the boat: Command to stop the boat and keep it from moving. Paddlers bury their paddle blades vertically to create resistance and slow down/stop the boat

Hold hard: Command to stop the boat quickly. Instead of just holding the boat, paddlers apply substantial forward force against the paddle blades to bring the boat to a fast stop

Let it run (let it ride): Command to stop paddling and let the paddle rest on the gunnel. The paddlers should let the boat continue to glide (run) even though paddling has ceased.

Paddles up: Command to be ready to paddle. Paddlers raise their paddles as though about to take a stroke and then on command “take it away,” begin paddling

Power now: Command for more power and effort

Pull: The phase of the stroke in which the paddle is fully buried in the water and the paddler pulls the paddle back directly parallel with the boat

Push off: Command given to one side of the boat to push away from the dock and get the boat under way

Reach/extension: The phase of the stroke in which the paddler maximizes the length of their stroke before hitting the catch

Ready, ready: Race command given by drummer/coach in a start situation for paddles to be placed in position for the first stroke (submerged in the water)

Rushing: Occurs when a paddler’s timing is ahead of and out of sync with the rest of the crew

Stroke: Refers to one cycle of the paddling motion; also refers to the first two paddlers in the front seats who set the pace for the team

Stroke rate (pace): How quickly a team paddles, usually measured in strokes per minute (SPM) The paddling pace is the number of times the paddle goes through the water in a minute. Rates can vary from 40 to over 80 depending on the intensity of the effort. The crew’s optimum rate for racing is determined by the coach

Take it away: Command to start paddling

Top arm drive: To maximize the catch, the top arm is driven down aggressively burying the paddle. The top arm continues to push down until the end of the stroke

Walk it back/forward (left/right side): Command given by steerer when leaving or arriving at the dock by having one side back the boat down to the dock with hands. Be careful not to place hands between dock and boat