Renae Domaschenz – Australia Para Coxswain
Renae Domaschenz – Australia Para Coxswain and Coach of the Year
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The team at Kanghua has a single scull available for sale. It’s an all carbon Spirit design for athletes weighing 60-65 kilogrammes. You can trial a Spirit single scull near your home club by contacting Eric Sims
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03:00 Background in rowing – There is no age limit to being a coxswain
10:00 The Australian system takes time to get known. I networked around. I got better as a coxswain by saying yes to every opportunity. Get exposure to rowers who might be heading to the national team. I applied for camps and it’s important having a strong coxing CV. Got involved in my club and then the state team as well. Contacting coaches and asking to meet them and go out in the coaching launch with the was a good strategy.
14:20 The rowers are on an important path to selection. I ask What do they like to hear from the cox? You might not make it into the squad in the first year of your rowing. Develop a tough mindset. Speak to the coach – what are you after in this outing? Don’t dominate in your first outing – don’t be bossy. A coxswain has to grow with the crew. Do technical points first in your calls.
18:00 There’s more to coxing than steering. That’ is number one – so steer the best line go straight. Number 2 is safety especially for school crews and novices. Number 3 is motivation and 4 is Technical knowledge and 5 is relationships with the crew and coach.
21:15 What can a coxswain actually see in an 8? you have a big blind spot. The best coxswains feel corrections rather than see them. Blade heights – efficiency and being in unison. Blade depth. Steering also has a blind spot – take a peek around the crew.
29:00 How to feel the changes? When the coach calls a correction ask yourself can I feel the change? Rowers have the mind of a goldfish. Reiterate the words the coach uses. Calling different variations of “legs” can help if they don’t respond to your first words.
32:00 It’s your job to have a race plan – but be adaptable. The Disher Cup 3k race was this weekend. Keep the rowers ion control and be patient. I try never to be negative in my calls.
41:00 How to coach a cox – Include them in your coaching on the water. Give them feedback. Repeat the calls – say now over to you cox to try it.
49:00 How to select a cox – it can be very selective. They need to know how it will happen. Be encouraging at all times – steering straight is key. Calls being made – find what works for them. Motivation, Implementing the plan and reading the race. Crew dynamics. Get input from the rowers. Ensure the rowers can respect the coxswain.
52:30 Pathway to the Paralympics. IN 2016 Renae trialled for the Australian womens 8. She now coaches and coxes the Para team – it’s a camp based system. Kathryn Ross is the para 1x who asked Renae to coach her. Renae Domaschenz was Para coach of the year 2019.
59:00 Renae mentors a cox group on Facebook. She gives coxing workshops on how to cox better, what can you do to improve and how to get to elite level coxing.
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