Rowing Cycle Terms

• release – a sharp downward (and away) motion of the hand, which serves to remove the oar blade from the water and start the rowing cycle
  
• feathering – the act of turning the oar blades from a position perpendicular to the surface of the water to a position parallel to the water; done in conjunction with the release
  
• recovery – part of the rowing cycle from the release up to and including where the oar blade enters the water
  
• squaring – a gradual rolling of the oar blade from a position parallel to the water to a position (almost) perpendicular to the surface of the water; this is accomplished during the recovery portion of the rowing cycle and is done in preparation for the catch
  
• catch – the point of the rowing cycle at which the blade enters the water at the end of the recovery and is accomplished by an upward motion of the arms only; the blade of the oar must be fully squared at the catch
  
• drive – that part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies power to the oar; more (or less) blended sequences of applying power primarily with a leg drive, then the back and finally the arms
  
• finish – the last part of the drive before the release where the power is mainly coming from the back and arms
  
• layback – the amount of backward lean of the rower’s body at the end of the finish