Rowing is a team sport where athletes race in long, narrow boats using oars. It’s a full-body workout that builds strength, endurance, and teamwork. Clemson Crew uses mainly sweep rowing (one oar per person) with occasional sculling (two oars per person), across various boat sizes, from singles to eights.

There are two main roles in a boat: rowers, who power the boat, and coxswains, who steer and lead. New members can choose which role they’d like to pursue—both are essential to the team.

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• Coxswain (pronounced “cox-in”) – The coxswain is the person who steers the boat and leads the crew. They’re the on-the-water coach, giving commands, keeping the boat on course, and motivating the team during races and practices.

• Erg – Short for “ergometer,” this is a rowing machine used for indoor training.

• Shell – Another word for the rowing boat, designed to be fast and lightweight.

• Catch – The start of the stroke, when the oar blade enters the water.

• Drive – The powerful part of the stroke, when the rower pushes with their legs and pulls the oar through the water.

• Finish – The end of the stroke, just before the oar comes out of the water.

• Novice – A rower in their first year of the sport.