Meetings:
Novice registration meetings:
Novice induction meetings are held every term, typically two per term. They are scheduled as far as possible on two different days of the week, one in first week and the other in second week, to maximise attendance. They typically start soon after 6:30 and will take around 1 hour 15 minutes from the time we begin the presentation. We ask that you arrive at least 10 minutes before this to allow for admin to be completed before the start time.Coxes coming to registration meetings should bring £2 cash or card and two passport-sized photographs. They must stay for the whole meeting, otherwise they will not be registered.Coxes who have enough experience before coming to Oxford to be registered at X or S status still need to come to the briefing, but will be able to attend a shorter briefing rather than the full novice briefing . The level of experience needed for this must be significant, and depends on many factors – it will be decided at the meeting. The decision on status will be taken once we have a full coxing CV to look at.
May I go out coxing as a novice before I attend a registration meeting?
You can only cox without attending a briefing from the end of Term until the first registration meeting of the next term. After the first registration meeting of term, you must not cox without having attended a briefing, even if you plan to attend the second briefing. We recommend that if you do go out before the briefing, and have no prior coxing experience, you only go out with a fully experienced crew, and read the coxing briefing slides thoroughly yourself. Handling novice rowers is difficult for all coxes, and if you're a novice too it can be very dangerous. What will help you is shadowing a more experienced cox: borrow a bike and go down and listen from the towpath so that you start learning what to do in the boat.
Pre-regatta meetings:
Briefing meetings are held before all the big regattas (Torpids, Eights, and Tamesis Novice Regatta). Bumps regatta meetings are obligatory for all those coxing at any point during the regatta, including Rowing On, but a shortened section at the start is given for X and S status coxes who have coxed bumps before. Novice coxes, and those who have never coxed bumps in Oxford will be fully briefed in the second section of the meeting. Where possible pre-regatta coxing meetings will be held on the Wednesday of the week before the racing starts (i.e. two days before Rowing On in the case of bumps, and the week before the Tamesis Novice Regatta).Any coxes who cannot attend such a meeting should contact the OURCs Captain of Coxes well before the meeting. For very good reasons alternative arrangements may be possible but are not guaranteed. We do not expect coxes to miss two bumps meetings in a row. Novice status coxes who cannot attend a briefing may be asked to send a representative from the stern pair of the boat they will be coxing in their place, or in some circumstances may not be permitted to cox the regatta at all. The rules for exemptions for a regatta will be communicated by the Captain of Coxes when advertising that meeting. Coxes (or representatives from stern pair) need to bring photo ID - preferably their coxing cards. Those without coxing cards should report to the main desk on arrival and will need to show other ID, such as their bod card.
Flags:
What changes under dark blue flag?
No novice coxes – X or S status only.Spin early – anywhere between the ’Turn Early’ Post (on the towpath, about 50m downstream of Donnington Bridge) and the red and white post at Haystacks Corner. Don’t go below the first Haystacks Post.There is also no spinning at Longbridges, other than for crews who are landing there immediately and wish to land upstream.Navigation of Iffley and Osney locks is prohibited.
What is light blue flag?
Light blue flag has slightly less flow than dark blue flag, but still significantly more than green flag. It was introduced to allow novice coxes more time to learn under slightly higher stream conditions, subject to various safety measures. Light blue flag has all the same rules as dark blue flag above, except Novice coxes are also permitted provided they follow the following restrictions:
The cox must have been coxing for at least 1 full term
The outing must occur between sunrise and sunset
Senior crew required: At least 4 rowers with more than 1 year’s rowing experience and no rowers with less than 1 term’s experience.
The bankrider must have a throwline (which they should know how to use properly) and a mobile phone for emergencies.
The outing must be registered at least 2 hours in advance on the online form.
What changes under amber flag?
No novice or experienced status coxes – senior status only.Senior crews required (in addition to senior cox): at least 4 rowers with more than 1 year’s rowing experience, no rowers with less than 1 term’s experience.Spin early (as on blue flag).No spinning at Longbridges (other than for those landing there), as for blue flag.Navigation of Iffley and Osney locks is prohibited.Crews must be accompanied at all times by a bankrider who has with them a throwline (which they should know how to use) and a mobile phone for emergencies.
Coxing status and upgrades:
What is an experienced status cox?
An experienced (X) status cox is expected to be safe and competent to cox unsupervised under moderate stream conditions. They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew and other river traffic around them, as well as knowing all the rules of the river. See Coxing Competencies for an in-depth explanation of what is expected for an experienced status cox.
How do I get upgraded to experienced status?
There are two routes to upgrade. Auto-upgrade and by assessment.Auto-upgrade applies to specific coxes who have done three full terms of serious coxing, that is several outings a week, and evidence of some OURCs race experience in each term. This is usually easiest in ‘standard’ cases where a cox is a full time cox, coxes for their club regularly during Peak Term, and is typically demonstrated by coxing a full bumps or Tamesis campaign for their college, though it isn’t necessarily required.Assessment is more general and for coxes who feel they have progressed quicker than the 3 full terms or have had a more sporadic coxing record, but are still capable. During N-X assessments, we’re looking for safe coxing, particularly your ability to recognise developing hazardous situations and take suitable avoiding action in good time.
How to apply for an auto-upgrade?
For those with three full terms of coxing, the boat club President, Captain or CoC should e-mail the OURCs CoC (ourcs.coxing@sport.ox.ac.uk) with the cox to be upgraded copied in. They should certify that the cox in question has at least three full terms of coxing experience and is competent to cox without a coach under blue flag conditions. Please list the full terms you believe the cox has completed, and any extra details you think are relevant. You cannot apply for an auto-upgrade for yourself.
For example: "John Smith has done three full terms of coxing (TT25, MT25 and TT26) and is competent to cox unsupervised under dark blue flag conditions."In saying this, you are taking responsibility for assuring us of the cox’s ability yourself.Then the application will be reviewed against the cox’s record and racing history, and a decision will be made. Note: You’re still novice status until your upgrade has been confirmed by the OURCs CoC.Do not put a cox forward for an auto-upgrade if they have registered less than three terms ago, or if they are not good enough. X status coxes who break rules or are shown to be incompetent/unsafe will be downgraded to novice status again, either temporarily or permanently.If a cox doesn’t have the required amount of coxing experience or race coxing evidence for an auto-upgrade, they, the boat club President, Captain, or CoC can request an assessment for upgrade from N to X status (see next section).
How do I apply for a coxing assessment?
If a cox doesn’t have the required amount of coxing experience for an auto-upgrade, then their boat club President, Captain, or CoC can request an assessment for upgrade from N to X status. They should email the Captain of Coxes (ourcs.coxing@sport.ox.ac.uk) with the cox in question copied in, with a summary of their experience, and that they are suitable for assessment. The cox will then be entered into the process for the assessment to be scheduled. Please only submit coxes for assessment who you think are of X status standard and have a high likelihood of passing.
What counts as a “full term of coxing”?
We generally expect coxes to have done at least 2-3 outings per week throughout the main rowing period of term, as well as racing experience. If the river is at dark blue flag or above for large portions of a term, it may be decided that no novice status coxes will be able to count that term as a “full term” for their unassessed upgrade.Terms are counted from the beginning of one term to the beginning of the next. Therefore if, for example, you register as an N status cox in Michaelmas of your first year in the University, the earliest you could be upgraded without assessment would be the beginning of Michaelmas of your second year, not the end of Trinity of your first year.
What can I do as an experienced cox?
Go out under blue flag, as well as without a coach.Note: You’re now responsible for the safety of your crew. Be familiar with the British Rowing Water Safety Code and the OURCs Code of Conduct. Assess the conditions and the ability of your crew before each outing: don’t go out if it’s unsafe. If your coxing falls below the standard expected of an X status cox or if you break BR guidelines or OURCs rules, you may be demoted back to novice status.
What do I need for senior status?
A lot more. Senior coxes should have at least 6 full terms of coxing, unless they are exceptionally talented. Senior status is awarded to coxes who are not just competent, but genuinely expert. While we expect Experienced status coxes to be able to conduct outings safely while unsupervised, for Senior status we’re looking for someone who can get the most out of the outing for their crew, without ever being unsafe.
For instance, moving neatly through gaps which are big enough, without wasting time dithering, yet without making any other crew or craft on the river have to get out of the way or stop early. Spotting a log-jam developing and finding a way around it without getting stuck, but without inconveniencing any other crew. Understanding how the movement of water in the river is affecting your boat and adjusting your commands and rudder use accordingly. Knowledge and application of the rules, obviously, but that’s by no means enough on its own. The judgement to apply your skills well in a tight situation and make quick, good, decisions to the benefit of your crew and everyone else on the river. You need to have a really secure sense of watermanship and good steering/boat handling, be good at observation and aware of everything else happening around you so that you can take avoiding action early and help prevent accidents as well as keep your crew busy with its outing.You should be able to contribute substantially to coaching, technique and the crew’s improvement during the outing.
Commands must be well given, not just OK, and using the voice tone to improve the mood and reaction of the crew. Communication with other crews to facilitate the flow of river traffic is crucial.We aren’t looking for squad-level motivation, or tactics, but an awareness of both is useful. Essentially a senior cox is someone who is good enough at all the coxing requirements to be able to go for one of the varsity squads, but who may or may not suit the mindset of OU coxing or have the time to trial. Conversely, some coxes can get Blues or half-blues but not seniority because their judgement is erratic and their safety awareness non-existent.How do I apply for Senior status?To apply for an assessment to upgrade to Senior status, your Captain of Coxes should send your full coxing CV to the OURCs Captain of Coxes, stating your experience both on and off the Isis, and that you are suitable for assessment to S status. An auto-upgrade to Senior status other than on arrival at Oxford is very rare, and only occurs in exceptional circumstances.
I’ve done a lot of rowing, can you give me experienced/senior status?
Unfortunately we need coxes to have real coxing experience before we can give them experienced or senior status. While many people with extensive rowing experience do a fine job coxing, there have also been quite a few who don’t, and it is impossible to tell which will be which without seeing their coxing for ourselves. Therefore, we don’t count rowing experience, but we’re always happy to assess someone in this situation early for an upgrade.Similarly, footplate-steering experience doesn’t normally count for much, since you have a blade to correct your steering with (by adjusting the pressure), although it does add experience of having to work around other crews and may play a part in you rising from novice to experienced status.
Can you assess me at Sandford/Radley/Godstow/Wallingford?
No, assessment outings have to be on the Isis. We’re looking at how coxes react to hazards or obstructions which appear during the outing to determine whether they are suitable for an upgrade. This means that assessments must be done on a busy stretch of river, i.e. the Isis. If water time has been limited during a term, it also means that we can get more than one assessment done per session, so coxes aren’t kept waiting for upgrades.
When can you run assessments?
We need the river to be quite busy for assessments, so if it’s is too quiet then we may need you to wait until it becomes busier. Weekday mornings during Peak Term are best, or busier weekend times, though 1st week in Michaelmas Term does not always work if many novice crews are very static. The crew should be senior, and capable of rowing with the full crew for the duration of the outing. The crew also needs to be moving fast enough to demonstrate the skill of the cox performing several overtakes proficiently, and responding well to unfolding situations. Excessive slow moving or stationary drills will reduce the chance of a successful assessment, please make sure you coach knows this. It is possible for assessments to be inconclusive, where the conditions were just not right to give a pass, however it is not a fail either.X to S assessments can be run on blue flag, but N status coxes must usually be assessed on green flag.
Can I be upgraded before the end of my third term coxing?
Only by assessment. The deadline for unassessed upgrades doesn't move, even if you will do no more coxing before the next term. The only exception is those who manage to get a full Long Vacation coxing for a club, though we will need convincing proof of substantial vacation coxing.
I requested an upgrade ages ago! Why haven't you done the assessment yet?
There are often lots of clubs waiting for assessment, and many do not respond providing a suitable time (or list of times) for assessment when asked by the Captain of Coxes. If you are worried that your assessment has been on the waiting list for too long, please contact the Captain of Coxes.Once we've got some outing times, we'll confirm one that we can do, and we'll e-mail you to confirm the assessment time.Where possible we will try and pick a time when the river is busy enough, otherwise your assessment may be wasted. If we do not see the cox having to cope with more than one difficult situation, then we will not grant an upgrade.
Miscellaneous:
I’ve lost my coxing card, can I have a replacement?
Yes, drop an email to the OURCs Captain of Coxes (ourcs.coxing@sport.ox.ac.uk) giving your full name and college, and a replacement card will be sent to you.
I don’t think my coxing card ever arrived, what do I do?
Are you sure:
- you have given in two passport-sized photos?
- you wrote your name on them if you sent them to RQ after the briefing?
- you stayed to the very end of the registration briefing? - you definitely did not take your coxing card and CV away with you? - everyone else who registered from your college has received their licences, and they don’t also accidentally have yours?
If the answer is yes to all five then contact RQ explaining the problem.
What are 'cox-coaching' sessions?
RQ and the OURCs Captain of Coxes are available to discuss all matters to do with coxing in an informal evening format. Colleges should book by emailing coxing@ourcs.co.uk and suggesting a choice of evenings. Coaches and rowers are also welcome, and the format is Q&A so that anything the college's coxes wish to discuss can be covered.
What should I do if I have any other coxing questions?
Email the OURCs CoC (ourcs.coxing@sport.ox.ac.uk) .
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