In sculling, each rower, or sculler, uses two oars. In sweep-oar rowing, each person uses one oar.
Sweep oars are larger and longer than sculling oars.
The boats used in this form of rowing hold two, four, six, or eight people, and are called pairs, fours, sixes, and eights. Eights, and most fours, are designed to hold an additional crew member called a coxswain. The coxswain steers the boat by pulling on tiller ropes to turn a rudder. The coxswain may also direct the timing of the oar strokes for the stroke, the rower who sits closest to the coxswain, and motivate the team while the race is in progress. Jenn Klar, who teaches world history at SMS, will coach this year's inaugural team.