On-Water Calls: Experienced Crews

For experienced crews — a four, or rowers with a set training plan: short, rhythmic, one breath, called on the rate. When you can’t see what the rowers are doing, your voice carries the power, the rhythm and how much is left.

Sources: NowNow (heard at practice, word for word), Row2k (Row2k coxswain calls list), Wolfson (Cambridge Wolfson coxing notes), Common (widely used among coxswains, not from one source — the coach’s habits come first). (To confirm) marks my reading of a call’s meaning.

1. Starts, stops and turns

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
Sit ready.	Get set to row	Before the start	Once	Clear, a little slow	Row2k
Ready all, row.	Everyone starts rowing	The start	Once	“Ready all” slower, “Row” crisp	Row2k
Settle.	Come down to race pace after the start	About 20 strokes in	Once	Low, steady	Row2k
Easy, all. / Way enough.	Stop rowing	End of a piece, stopping	Once	Even	Row2k
Hold water.	Square the blades in the water to stop the boat	Stopping, lining up	Once	Short, firm	Row2k
Back it down.	Row backwards	Turning, backing up	Once; remind every few strokes if it goes on	Even	Row2k
Spin it — starboard back, port row.	Turn on the spot	Turning	Once	Clear — say which side backs and which rows first	NowNow + Row2k

2. Technique

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
Clean catches!	Clean entries	Catches are ragged	Once	Short, clear	Wolfson
Clean release!	Clean exits	Releases are ragged	Once	Short	Wolfson
Keep your blade buried!	Blade stays covered to the end of the drive	Blades coming up mid-drive	Once	Mid-drive	Wolfson
Finish high! / Really finish.	Finish every stroke fully, handle height held	The finish is getting short	Once; every few strokes if needed	Second half of the drive	Wolfson / NowNow
Big back ends.	Make the back half of each stroke big and complete, using the body swing	The stroke shortens as the rate goes up	Yes — once per stroke for 3 to 4 strokes	Second half of the drive, lean on “Big”	NowNow (to confirm)
Set it up! / Keep it level!	Level the boat	The boat is rocking	Once	Even	Row2k / Wolfson
Steady hands.	Keep the hands steady	Unsettled boat, waves, around the catch and release	Once	Low, steady	NowNow
Hang.	On the recovery, hang rather than rush forward — give the boat time to run	The recovery is rushed	Once	Low, slow, drawn out	NowNow (to confirm)
Don't sky your blades!	Don’t lift the blades too high on the recovery	Blades too high on the recovery	Once	Short	Wolfson

3. Power

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
Press!	Drive the footplates, push the boat away with the legs	The drive, after the catch	Yes — once per stroke	Short, punchy, voice dropped	Common
Legs! / Get legs.	Use the legs	The drive, after the catch	Yes — 3 to 5 strokes in a row	Short, punchy	NowNow + Common
More pressure on legs.	A little more from the legs	After the catch, when you want more leg	Once; again a few strokes later	Steady, firm	NowNow
Let's try a little more pressure.	Add a little power	A small step up on a steady rhythm	Once	Suggesting — gentler than Power 10!	NowNow
Keep it. Really push.	Hold it, and push harder	Rhythm is settled, you want more power	Once	Steady first, then heavy	NowNow
Draw together. Push together.	Draw together, push together	You want a unified drive	One per stroke: Draw… Push…	Voice matches the movement, clear beat	NowNow (exact movement to confirm)
Power 10! / Power 20!	The next 10 (20) strokes all-out	Moving on a crew, a mid-race push	Call it once, count it, then Settle back to rhythm	“Power 10, on this one”, then count each stroke hard	Row2k
Squeeze! / Send it! / Send that boat!	Squeeze and send the boat	The sprint	Yes — once per stroke	Short, heavy	Wolfson
Stomp on those footplates!	Hit the footplates hard	The sprint	Once	Heavy	Wolfson
Length! / Nice and long.	Make every stroke long	The stroke shortens after a rate rise	Once	Draw out “long”	NowNow + Common
Time to feast!	Time to go all-out — the coach’s signal that the hard push starts now	Just before the all-out push in a race, or at the start of a hard piece	Once, as the signal — don’t chant it; then lead with Press! / Legs! once per stroke and count	“Time to” slower, low and steady; “feast” heavy and crisp; then straight away louder and quicker	NowNow (coach’s own words; not in the online lists)

4. Rhythm and relaxing

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
Together! In together, out together!	Catch together, release together	The timing has slipped	Once; again after a few strokes	Clear, even	Wolfson
Swing. / Pretty swing. / Keep the swing.	Smooth body swing	Praise good rhythm, remind them to keep it	Once	Low, smooth	NowNow
Nice and loose.	Loose, not stiff	Rhythm steady, shoulders and arms tightening	Once	Low, slow	NowNow
Nice and easy.	Row light and steady, no brute force	Warm-up, technical work	Once	Low, slow, relaxed	NowNow
Tap it along.	Carry the boat along lightly and steadily	Warm-up, easing off after a piece	Once; again a few strokes later	Low, slow, no force	NowNow (to confirm)
Nice ratio.	Good balance between drive and recovery	Praise an unhurried recovery and good rhythm	Once	Affirming	NowNow
Long and strong!	Long and powerful	A steady reminder not to shorten up for speed	Once	Steady, firm	Wolfson
Breathe.	Breathe deep, relax	After a hard effort, or when the crew is tense	Once; again a stroke or two later	Low, slow, drawn out — let them breathe in with you	NowNow
Controlled and composed. / Take it with composure. / Take it with relaxation.	Controlled movement, calm heads	A crew closing in, pressure on, the rate wants to run away	Once, don’t repeat	Low and steady, slower — don’t raise your voice	NowNow

5. Countdowns and rate changes

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
1 min down. / 2 min down.	One / two minutes done (or possibly remaining)	Progress in a timed piece	At each time mark	Clear, even	NowNow (to confirm)
Last minute! / One minute to go!	Last minute	The final minute of a piece or race	Once, louder	Strong	Common
Halfway!	Past halfway	Midpoint of a race or long piece	Once	Even, affirming	Common
500 to go! / 250 to go!	500 / 250 m left	Calling the race in sections	Once at each mark	Louder the closer you get	Common
Last twenty! … Last ten! … Ten more, nine, eight…	Final 20 / 10 strokes, counted down	Before the line	Count each of the last 10	Louder with every count	Common
20, hold it.	Hold it for these 20 strokes	A planned 20-stroke piece	Once at the start, then every 5 strokes	Clear at the start, even through it	NowNow (to confirm)
Up two in two — up one, up two.	Raise the rate by two over two strokes	Rate change	Follow the format	Clear, rhythmic	Wolfson
Down two in two — down one, down two.	Lower the rate by two over two strokes	Rate change	Follow the format	Clear	Wolfson

6. Racing side by side

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
We're right there. Stay with them. Stay calm.	We’re with them — stay steady	Crew in sight, not yet level	Once	Keep it low so the crew doesn’t tighten up early	Common
Take a seat. Next seat. Next seat.	Chase them seat by seat	Starting to close	Each time you take a seat	Stronger each time	Common
Power 10 to move on them — now!	Ten strokes to move past them	When the other crew is most tired or ragged	Once, then count each stroke	Call it, then count, heavier each stroke	Common
Reel them in! They're feeling it. Keep the pressure.	Chase them down — they’re struggling, don’t ease off	Closing and pressing	Yes — every few strokes	Louder, quicker	Wolfson (Reel them in) + Common
Walk through them. Break them — now!	Go through in one push and leave them	Going past	Once, hold it 10+ strokes	Strongest call, one per stroke	Common
Hold 'em off! Don't let them in. Stay long.	Hold them off	Being chased	Every few strokes	Steady, strong — don’t let nerves shorten the stroke	Wolfson + Common
Don't panic. Take it back, one seat at a time.	Don’t panic — win it back seat by seat	After being passed	Once	Low, steady	Common

Settle, then strike. Steady the crew first with Nice and loose or Take it with composure, then spend it all at once with Power 10!. Make progress visible — one seat at a time. Attack just after the other crew finishes a push, while they ease off. More in Racing Side by Side.

7. Encouragement

Call	Meaning	When	Repeat?	How to say it	Source
You got it. / That's it, that's it.	You’ve got it — keep going	When they get it right	Twice in a row at most	Affirming, brief	NowNow
Own it! / This is our race!	This one’s ours	Lifting the crew in a race	Once	Strong	Wolfson

Which calls for which situation

Situation	Where to look
Everyday practice with new rowers	New Crews — Technique; Power and relaxing
Planned training, experienced crew	2, 3, 4, 5
Starts, stops and turns	1 (and New Crews — Starts, stops and turns)
Racing	3, 5, 6, 7
Two boats side by side	6
Wind and waves	New Crews — Rough water; Steady hands in 2
Steering rules for the coxswain	New Crews — Technique

给老队员（四人单桨，或有明确训练计划的队员）：短、有节奏、一口气喊完，按桨频带着喊。看不到队员动作时，靠声音提醒发力、节奏和还剩多少。

来源： NowNow（训练中听到的原话）、Row2k（Row2k 舵手口令表）、Wolfson（剑桥 Wolfson 学院舵手口令资料）、常用（舵手圈通用喊法，不是哪份资料原文，以教练的习惯为准）。标“待确认”的是我对意思的理解。

1. 起航、停桨、掉头

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
Sit ready.	就位，准备起航	起航前	喊一次	清晰、稍慢	Row2k
Ready all, row.	一起开始划	起航	喊一次	“Ready all” 稍慢，“Row” 干脆	Row2k
Settle.	起航之后降到稳定的比赛桨频	起航后约 20 桨	喊一次	低、稳	Row2k
Easy, all. / Way enough.	停止划桨	结束一段或停船	喊一次	平稳	Row2k
Hold water.	桨叶压进水里刹船	要停船、对齐	喊一次	短、有力	Row2k
Back it down.	倒桨	掉头、倒船	喊一次，持续时每几桨提醒	平稳	Row2k
Spin it — starboard back, port row.	原地掉头	掉头	喊一次	清楚，先喊哪边倒、哪边划	NowNow + Row2k

2. 技术

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
Clean catches!	入水干净	入水不整齐时	喊一次	短、清楚	Wolfson
Clean release!	出水干净	出水不整齐时	喊一次	短	Wolfson
Keep your blade buried!	桨叶一直埋在水里直到划完	桨叶中途浮出水面时	喊一次	发力段中间喊	Wolfson
Finish high! / Really finish.	收尾要划完整，手柄保持高度	收尾缩短时	喊一次，需要时每几桨提醒	发力后半段喊	Wolfson / NowNow
Big back ends.	每一桨的后半段（收尾）要大、要完整，用上身体后倒的摆动	桨频提上去后桨幅容易缩短	重复，每桨一次，连喊 3 到 4 桨	在发力后半段喊，“Big” 重一点	NowNow（意思待确认）
Set it up! / Keep it level!	把船搞平	船晃时	喊一次	平稳	Row2k / Wolfson
Steady hands.	手稳住	船不稳、有浪、入水出水前后	喊一次	低、稳	NowNow
Hang.	回桨前移时“挂住”，不急着往前冲，给船留跑动时间	回桨太急的时候	喊一次	低、慢、拖长	NowNow（意思待确认）
Don't sky your blades!	回桨时桨叶别翘太高	回桨桨叶翘得太高时	喊一次	短	Wolfson

3. 发力

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
Press!	蹬住脚蹬板，用腿把船推出去	发力段，入水后	重复，一桨一次	短、有力、往下沉	常用
Legs! / Get legs.	用腿	入水后发力段	重复，连喊 3 到 5 桨	短、有力	NowNow + 常用
More pressure on legs.	腿上再加一点力	入水后想多一点腿	喊一次，隔几桨再喊	稳、有力	NowNow
Let's try a little more pressure.	我们再加一点力	在稳定节奏上小幅加力	喊一次	语气商量，比 Power 10! 温和	NowNow
Keep it. Really push.	保持住，再用力蹬	节奏已稳，想再加发力	喊一次	先稳后重	NowNow
Draw together. Push together.	一起拉（Draw），一起蹬（Push）	想让发力整齐	一桨喊一个：Draw… Push…	声音配合动作，节拍清楚	NowNow（具体动作待确认）
Power 10! / Power 20!	接下来 10（20）桨全力	比赛里提速、超过对手	喊一次，数完后说 Settle 回到节奏	先喊 “Power 10, on this one”，然后逐桨有力地数	Row2k
Squeeze! / Send it! / Send that boat!	夹紧发力，把船推出去	冲刺段	重复，一桨一次	短、重	Wolfson
Stomp on those footplates!	狠蹬脚蹬板	冲刺段	喊一次	重	Wolfson
Length! / Nice and long.	每一桨拉长	提速后桨幅缩短时	喊一次	拖长 “long”	NowNow + 常用
Time to feast!	该拼命了，用全力（教练用来宣布“现在开始全力”）	比赛里开始全力冲刺前；或一段高强度训练开始时	当信号喊一次，不连喊；后面接 Press! / Legs! 一桨一次地带，数桨	“Time to” 稍慢、低、稳，“feast” 重而干脆；喊完马上提高音量、加快节奏带全队冲	NowNow（教练原话，网上口令表里没有）

4. 节奏与放松

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
Together! In together, out together!	同时入水、同时出水	节奏乱时	喊一次，过几桨再喊	清晰、平稳	Wolfson
Swing. / Pretty swing. / Keep the swing.	身体摆动流畅	节奏顺时夸、提醒保持	喊一次	低、顺滑	NowNow
Nice and loose.	放松、不僵	节奏稳、肩膀手臂发紧	喊一次	低、慢	NowNow
Nice and easy.	轻松稳定地划，别用蛮力	热身、技术练习	喊一次	低、慢、放松	NowNow
Tap it along.	轻轻地、稳稳地把船带着走	热身，冲完一段后缓一缓	喊一次，隔几桨可以再喊	低、慢，别用力	NowNow（意思待确认）
Nice ratio.	发力和回桨的时间比例好	回桨从容、节奏好的时候夸	喊一次	肯定	NowNow
Long and strong!	拉得长、拉得有力	持续保持，别为了快而缩短	喊一次	稳、有力	Wolfson
Breathe.	深呼吸，放松	高强度之后、紧张时	喊一次，隔一两桨再喊	低、慢，拖长，让队员跟着吸气	NowNow
Controlled and composed. / Take it with composure. / Take it with relaxation.	动作受控、人沉着	对手逼近、压力大、桨频想乱时	喊一次，不重复	低而稳，语速放慢，别提高音量	NowNow

5. 倒计时与变频

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
1 min down. / 2 min down.	已经划了 1 / 2 分钟（也可能是还剩）	定时训练里报进度	按时间点报	清楚、平稳	NowNow（意思待确认）
Last minute! / One minute to go!	只剩最后一分钟	训练或比赛最后一分钟	喊一次，音量提高	有力	常用
Halfway!	过半了	比赛 / 长训练的中点	喊一次	平稳、肯定	常用
500 to go! / 250 to go!	还剩 500 / 250 米	比赛分段报距离	每个点喊一次	越近越响	常用
Last twenty! … Last ten! … Ten more, nine, eight…	最后 20 / 10 桨，逐桨倒数	冲线前	最后 10 桨逐桨数	越数越大声	常用
20, hold it.	这 20 桨保持住	一段定好的 20 桨	开头喊一次，之后每 5 桨报一次	开头清楚，中间平稳	NowNow（意思待确认）
Up two in two — up one, up two.	两桨内把桨频升 2	变桨频	按格式喊	清楚、有节奏	Wolfson
Down two in two — down one, down two.	两桨内把桨频降 2	变桨频	按格式喊	清楚	Wolfson

6. 两条船竞争（追上对手、让对手紧张）

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
We're right there. Stay with them. Stay calm.	我们紧跟着，稳住	看到对手，还没追上	喊一次	声音压低，别让大家提前紧张	常用
Take a seat. Next seat. Next seat.	一个座位一个座位地追	开始追	每追上一个位置报一次	每次报都更有力	常用
Power 10 to move on them — now!	用 10 桨超过他们	对手最累或节奏乱的时候	喊一次，然后逐桨数	先喊再数，越数越重	常用
Reel them in! They're feeling it. Keep the pressure.	追上去，他们已经吃力，别松	逼近、压迫	重复，每几桨一次	声音放大、节奏加快	Wolfson（Reel them in）+ 常用
Walk through them. Break them — now!	一口气走过去，彻底甩开	要超过对手	喊一次，持续 10 桨以上	最有力，一桨一次	常用
Hold 'em off! Don't let them in. Stay long.	守住，别让他们上来	自己被追时	每几桨提醒	稳、有力，别因紧张缩短桨幅	Wolfson + 常用
Don't panic. Take it back, one seat at a time.	别慌，一个位置一个位置追回来	被超过后	喊一次	低、稳	常用

要点：先稳后冲，先用 Nice and loose / Take it with composure 稳住，再用 Power 10! 一次性发力；让队员看得见进展（一个座位一个座位）；在对手刚完成一次加速、稍微松下来的时候发动。详见《两条船竞争时的口令》。

7. 鼓励

口令	意思	什么时候喊	重复吗	怎么喊	来源
You got it. / That's it, that's it.	你们做到了，继续	动作做对时	最多连喊 2 次	肯定、不拖	NowNow
Own it! / This is our race!	这是我们的	比赛中鼓舞	喊一次	有力	Wolfson

场景索引

场景	看哪里
新人日常训练	《新人版》技术、发力与放松
老手计划训练	2、3、4、5
起航、停桨、掉头	1（及《新人版》起航、停桨、掉头）
比赛	3、5、6、7
两条船竞争	6
有浪、大风	《新人版》极端天气；2 里的 Steady hands
舵手打舵规矩	《新人版》技术