Rowing Stroke - Sculling

 Point 1

• Blades are placed in the water (called ‘the catch’) and the boat is driven forwards using the large muscle groups in the legs and body.

• Shins are vertical, back straight, leaning forward and the body closed up on the thighs.

• All that is needed is for the hands to lift and the blades will be fully ‘locked’ in the water.

Point 2

• Legs should be doing most of the work here, with the arms relaxed and the back still straight and leaning forward.

• Hands follow the path parallel with the boat. The feeling should be that of hanging off the blade handles.

Point 3

• Nearing the end of the drive phase the body swings back. 

• Arms are used to maintain the momentum of the blade handles.
  
  

Point 4

• Hands make a small tap downwards, to lift the blades clear of the water.

• Legs are flat down.

• Back is straight, leaning slightly back so that the abdominal muscles feel a slight pull.

• Blade handles just brush the body when the spoon end is flat on the water.

• This is the end of the drive phase and the recovery phase begins.
   

Point 5

• At the beginning of the recovery phase, the hands move down and away.

• Arms move away from the body, but the seat has not yet begun to move and the knees are still held down.

• Arms, shoulders and neck are relaxed. This posture aids recovery from the exertion of the stroke and helps to keep the boat balanced in the water.

• Body then rocks over from the pelvis, with the back straight, and the knees lift, allowing the seat to move.