| Rowing is a sport in which athletes race | | | | extending from the sides of the boat. |
| against each other over bodies of water. | | | | These boats also have sliding seats to |
| The boats are propelled by the athletes | | | | allow the use of the legs in addition to |
| levering the boat through the water with | | | | the body to move the oar and so drive |
| oars. The sport can be either | | | | the boat. |
| recreational or competitive. In the | | | | There are two forms of rowing. In Sweep |
| United States and Canada, high school | | | | or Sweep-oar rowing, each rower has one |
| and collegiate rowing is sometimes | | | | oar, held in both hands. This is done in |
| called crew. | | | | pairs, fours and eights. Each rower in a |
| Whilst rowing, the athlete sits in the | | | | sweep boat is referred to either as |
| boat facing backwards (towards the | | | | "port" (aka "strokeside") or "starboard" |
| stern), and uses the oars which are | | | | (aka "bowside"), depending on which side |
| attached to the boat at the oarlocks to | | | | of the boat the rower's oar extends to. |
| propel the boat forward (towards the | | | | In Sculling each rower has two oars (one |
| bow). This may be done on a river, lake, | | | | in each hand). "Sculling" is usually |
| sea, or other large body of water. It is | | | | done in doubles, quadruples, or singles |
| a demanding sport requiring balance as | | | | without a coxswain. The oar in his or |
| well as physical strength and | | | | her right hand extends to the port side, |
| cardiovascular endurance. | | | | and the oar in his or her left hand |
| Whilst the action of rowing and | | | | extends to starboard. |
| equipment used remains fairly consistent | | | | Anatomy of a stroke |
| throughout the world, there are many | | | | The two fundamental reference points in |
| different types of competition. These | | | | the rowing stroke are the catch where |
| include endurance races, time trials, | | | | the oar blade is placed in the water, |
| stake racing, bumps racing, and the | | | | and the extraction (also known as the |
| side-by-side format used in the Olympic | | | | 'finish' or the 'release') where the oar |
| games. The many different formats are a | | | | blade is removed from the water. The |
| result of the long history of the sport, | | | | rower leans forward, and bends the |
| and its development in different regions | | | | legs,sliding forward in their seat. |
| of the world. | | | | After the blade is placed in the water |
| Basics | | | | at the catch, they apply pressure to the |
| The distinction between rowing and other | | | | oar, levering the boat forward and |
| forms of water transport, such as | | | | simultaneously sliding in their seat |
| canoeing or kayaking, is that in rowing | | | | into the unbent legs position. The part |
| the oars are held in place at a pivot | | | | where pressure is applied is called the |
| point. This allows the oars to act as a | | | | drive phase of the stroke, which occurs |
| lever of force, rather than a paddle. In | | | | after the blade is vertically placed in |
| flatwater rowing, the boat (also called | | | | the water. Once the rower extracts the |
| a 'shell' or 'fine boat') is narrow to | | | | oar from the water, the recovery phase |
| avoid drag, and the oars are attached to | | | | begins, setting up the rower's body for |
| rowlocks at the end of outriggers | | | | the next stroke |