The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-22
HOW CREWS ARE COACHED.
OF THE INSTRUCTORS OF
MO ,VARsITY FIGHTS.

Crittcni and Always Ready to Pick Flaws In
Corncii'a Boat-uis way Of Talking TO tho
Men-Cook or vale . severe Disoipiinarian.
Harvard, Yale, and Cornell will meet on next
Friday on tho Hudson River at Poughkeepsio In
what Is considered to DO tho most important
eight cared shell race ever rowod in American
waters. The crows have been coached by the
most noted rowing experts In the world. and
that should mean a test Of skill, strength, and
Nntcrmanship which has never been seen before.
Coaching In such contests has grown to DO
tho principal factor. Eight clever athletes
poo-ly coached arc worthless In such
n battle of Drawn md brains, so that
tho man who instructs or guides a varsity eight
nowadays must know his business thoroughly. |
In a word, q coach Is merely an instructor. a
man who knows every fine point about crow
rowing. who is q stickler for physical condition.
and who commands tho respect and obedience
ofhis men.
Harvard has r. G. Lohmann, the English OK
pert, whose methods have been watched with
interest ever eince he took hold Of the crimson
oarsmcn last fall. He 10 pleasant hammered and
easy going, so much 30 that he might DO accused
by souc persons of being lonient at times. But
he is conversant with every branch of rowing,
md when he sets his critical eyes on his men as
they sit in their shell the slightest flaw docs not
escape him. INT is not a severe critic;
that ID 10 say, NO uOeb nOI isbuc OEuoio III sho
usual bluff manner employed by some Ameri-
can coaches. He Is more inclined to encourage
his men with compliments than to I'LL them
with misrepresentation by hurshly picking flaws.
THAT was very we'll rowed, boys!' is one OF
his expressions after a sprint on q time trial.
You have made a vast Improvement, but there
Is still something left to be done. You must
pull your stroke through to the end, and be
careful to keep your blades near tho water"
The Englishman is very positive about one
thing-his men must observe the training rules
to the letter, and they are doing so.
As in years past, the Cornell men are under the
supcrvision Of the ex-professional sculler.
Charles E. Courtney, who has turned out many
noted crews and also q record breaker. Courtney
never says an eight 10 perfect. 1t is claimed
that he can see faults where others cannot. and
he never lets up In his coaching until the very
eve Of o race. When the time came yesterday
morning for the Cornell varsity to take a prac-
tice pull on the river Courtney was in his els.
ment.
careful nowl" he said as the muscular oars
and put 1t In the water.
Get In and row across the riveri" was the
next order. and Courtney jumped into the
launch. Tho surface Of the river was anything
but smooth. and when the varsity had crossed
long, rolling swells came in toward the shore.
They were caused by a passing steamer. As the
oarsmen began to row up stream Courtney raised
his megaphone and called outi
Ease all!'' That meant that the coxswain
had 20 work the shell around SO as to meet the
waves broadside. After the swells had sub
sided the coach ordered the crew 70 get under
yeiiitd ED' 'H' "a.'t "a' 'n'' 40 'O''
buried in the water and the boat came to o
standstill. From some unknown. source, as no
steamer was in sight, more swelis began tomake
hour the eight remained motionless. Then. as
the men began to paddle slowly toward the
bridge, Courtney followed closely In their wake,
" @LeI Rer rum r i" he called again as smooth
dsiSy. after which Courtney. commanded:
' TSa sS SsSh W %aa P fsirly le aip Sase out he e & hsFG GIsef
when the coach exclaimed in stentorian tones
through sse % foar snd sia. you are no. holding
$fS@s sEoH E 1 S SssSi f BeS;s :tS ss sysrl r. fhs 4.
"Sambes si.l You are rushing, your slide,
doing it still There. that's about right"
The crew seemed to be doing splendid work
L her rum" The boat came to a full stop
and the launch drew near. :.
getting the water where you reach for it. Catch
!s watsE harder S At the Beginning Of your
% nssSts' there crew Is ssG more sss criticism fEaSnn IN d f'" mo-
Briggs, you are not rowing your stroke clear
shtoasS hard and doh's hurry MY to 's get Your nfbi Blade
out Of the water"
s" nNS%s Der T Tns' 4, You 1870 Are sps dvs4 = y osnrh slide
sseii Nov. brisgs, clean through with that
NegI Nowl .NoWi That's the stun. A-
The speed Of the crew was remarkable at this
staysI but Courtney's brow was RULED az he
"BrI-gs-s. You are ~n-i-ppi-n-s your
For three minutes after that the coach
watched his men in silence. He seemed TO be
si1i tSsy 5H %0eF es &c tor 3 SSaY Ike sn aa aSShSs piefsse St
The next moment he frowned. a. he bawled
quick! btoSn TH BE- I'm IN such adh a Terrible TRde r rssf ON Nu r2C
ssea Three; yo ware are sSta 'f,n back =, TO- TO far an,. TIth 4 {ogr
ESs r. rushing yOur slide again. sDillmanl
without much comment Until the stroke oar
was At fault again.
your st asn: straight niSi t es IL pa aIu'I WY not dd as'tsP 9os
SsIl yoa5 st s1S' OUT SSsn TOO. Sow. i iss yourselves PssiSs
Then came q squirt and the boat cut the water
ialiys. and nnfS finally iiiSn 5lurteS T oas %it me q T feeIin ssr Of
s, sSST' sl soys; yssn a,, ,,s got st,d he, o t5ss;veIb5i Hing
as! That's hrst ciasssI Now lot soY her H rt9lGni y y
iouhCu uTcW ClOoO W IuO bntll anu bOH0
Instructions were Issued In an undertone. The
men prepared for another start, and when they
made one 1t was very pretty.
Feather hiRhl' suddenly cried tho coach.
here come some more breakersl" A series of
swells rolled in and the crew turned the boat
proadside and rode them nicely.
Now, wen go back and have dinner" was
Conrtney's command. The oarsmen hit up their
stroke as II, they were anxious TO get to the
tfnIhlng, liable, and Courtney followed them,
stni Griticising and encouraging them as they
Wen take another row tonight" said tho
S.oach as the men crawled out upon their float,
ana ! shall expect better work"
1onrtney did not leave the young athletes for
ailolpcnt until they were ready TO walk to their
a..rters. a mile or so away. There were several
,,h"itoers OF the freshman crew standing about
Ihe penthouse as the varsity men left, and one
apnrehension:
M, Courtney" said the youngster. "can I &c
up the town and buy some lettor paper !"
" no Is going with you !"
ny, this man T. was the reply. as the young
Harslnnn pointed to a clsssmate. Courtney hest
said! a moment. and then. with q sly wink. he