Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-26

STROKE OF THE CREWS.
Methods Employed by the Various
University Coaches,


The following interesting description of
the stroke taught by the various coaches of
the university crews at Poughkeepsie is
the first authentic description of the meth
cd employed given by the various trainers:
Pennsylvania-By Ellis Ward, coach:
THE stroke my men are rowing depends
largely upon the leg drive, even more so
than on the catch, the drive of the leg at
the finish Of the stroke being strong enough
to give the boat such an impetus that there
can be a short recovery without any check
resulting to the shell. The reach is as long
as possible. The grip is just as hard as
the stroke of any other crew, but 1t does
not appear to be so hard because 1t is done
more smoothly; that is, without any jerk
When Cornell or Wisconsin catch they lift
their heads and shoulders, which makes 1t
appear as II they caught the water harder
ders at all, because believe in man sit
ting straight and natural at all times in a
boat The normal stroke Is thirty to the
minute, which Is raised to thirty and
thirty-six"
Columbia-By Edward Hanlan. coach:
my stroke is begun with a quick catch
at about the same speed as last year. 1t
Is pulled through hard to the finish and not
jerked out The body swing and leg drive
are simultaneous. and not separated. When
the slide limit Is reached the body should
be erect, and the stroke then carried out to
the finish by strong pull with the shoul-
ders. the body being firmly placed at the
groin. The recovery is slow. so as not to
jerk the boat and thus produce a check.
The bodies are carried forward quietly un-
til again ready for the sharp catch at the
beginning of the stroke. The normal stroke
is thirty and the maximum thirty-five."
Georgetown-P. A. Dempsey. coach:
1.-THE catch Is hard, using the body and
the legs at the first part of the stroke. The
arms and shoulders are brought back with
a dash which finishes the stroke. The men
throw their hands out fast with the body
following. After the hands are over the
knees the oarsmen start the slides slowly.
which gives them a slow recovery. They
then grab the water again. putting all their
power in the start of the stroke, which is
thirty to thirty-one minute at it's normal
speed and thirty-four maximum
Wisconsin-Andrew O'Dea. coach.
1.-THE reach in our stroke is long. with the
back as near straight as possible and the
arms straight and rigid. The power is ap-
piled by swinging the shoulders on the oar.
the body being brought to an upright posi-
ton before the leg drive is used. Then the
legs are driven steadily on the stretchers.
enough to keep the seat well under control
When the hands reach the knees the arms
begin to bend and the oar is swept home
with a steady pressure. This completes the
pull The hands are dropped low enough to
clear the water we'll enough with the blades
and then shot out at an even pace. the
body following sharply. The recovery
gradually tones down until it ends softly
just before the new CATCH The highest
stroke that we row is thirty-two, while
our normal rate is twenty-eight."
Syracuse-James Ten Eyok coach:
1.-THE Syracuse stroke has q long reach.
but the body Is bent forward a little past
the perpendicular. The arms are held
straight and rigid until the body has its
full swing. The oar blade goes into the
water at right angles. because that Is where
It mas to be when the power IL applied to It.
In pulling the stroke through the shoul-