The Short and Snarky CoxswainsThe Short and Snarky Guide to Coxing & Rowing: Straight Talk on Coxing and Rowing from Real Coxswains

I've only been rowing for a little over a year, and never coxed until very recently. Basically, I had no clue what I was doing, so I bought this book to help me figure it out so I don't crash a boat. Let's be honest, I'm not ever going to be going to the Olympics or anything, but I want to keep my crew and my equipment as safe as possible. I LOVE this book. First, there are PICTURES! Tons and tons of pictures! I'm a very visual person, so getting to see what something should look like, and the step-by-step breakdown of it has been enormously helpful. Second, the book is broken down into short segments, so if I only have 10 minutes, I can study over a few things pretty quickly. Third, (and possibly the most important), the book is well-written, funny and holds my attention, which isn't easy to do. I knew if I got some bland instruction book, I would ultimately never read it. I've bought this book for myself, and have bought more copies as gifts.

As a freshman boys rowing coach I can say with certainty that this is a MUST READ AND MUST HAVE! Not only did I read it and laughed out loud but I insisted every coxswain on our team needed to buy it and read it!Let's be honest, most books on rowing are a bit.. Dry.. Ironic right?Not this one! As a rower turned coach I knew the basics of coxswains terms but when our team lost our "coxswain coach" I realized we were in trouble. I went to coxswain clinics to help become our new source of information which was very helpful and informative but I needed to be able to reach our kids on a deeper level, a visual learning level..being able to hand a novice or even our experienced coxswains an easy to read, informative and funny book that contains all they need has become invaluable! THANK YOU SHORT AND SNARKY!

If you've just been put in the 9th seat, get this book immediately. I'm sorry I waited as long as I did. Tons of photos, resources, and a several pages of drills & race plans, tons of calls (motivational and otherwise) and great practical advice. It's well written, engaging, and worth the purchase. Even my coach liked it. Definitely buy this book - it's really helpful when learning to steer, to correct rowers' forms, and to find your coxing voice.

Incalculably invaluable for novice coxes, especially those who have to teach themselves to cox. Buy and read this book first, then watch/listen to as many cox videos/audios as you can find online. This book definitely got me through my first season of coxing with my nerves - and my boat! - intact.

I am a novice coxswain, this is my first year on the water and this book is so helpful! (and hilarious.) I constantly read this on my way to regattas and practices. It gives amazing tips on sprint races, head races, coxing vocab and lots of other things! This has helped me and my fellow coxswains throughout our first season. (This book was even with me while I was at Stotesbury Cup Regatta- where we places 5th over all in the Freshman Girls Final!.)

HILARIOUS start to book - epiomises xactly wots happened to me - i knew nothing - the rowers headhunted me as a dinghey & yacht sailor who is short with loud voice - plonked me in a long thin wooden fine rowing boat & i headed out if the creek to the river thames - stilk dont know wit u am going bt no one else will do the job.

I am reading this book now, just joined a masters' crew team. I find it very helpful and a fun read as well. Tons of real life information that I might not get from a traditional book on coxing.

Our coxswain read this her novice year and found it helpful. A number of coaches we know recommend it.

Before I bought this book, I sucked. Now, I do not. If you haven't already heard of the Short and Snarky Coxswains then either you're a newcomer to rowing, like me, or you've been living under that old rowing shell in the corner of the boathouse for the last three years. Straight talking advice on how to get to grips with coxing, and how to find your place in a team, from two sarcastic and witty coxswains who've been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and coached somebody else to do the same. They know their stuff and they present it well. What's particularly nice about this book is that there's almost certainly something you can get out of it, no matter what level you're at, even if it's a sense of smug satisfaction that you're better than them.It's well laid out, and unlike a lot of handbooks, it's extremely readable in one sitting. The book is divided up into a clear set of chapters, which are all nicely independent, starting with the absolute basics, and ending with a long appendix of drills for improving the abilities of experienced rowers. You can dive in at your preferred level, without feeling like you have no idea what is going on.

Purchased for sister in law as present for her grandsons but understand both were delighted.

Overall a good book for the basics needed, down to earth and easy to relate to apart from the different calls used for the same meaning as opposed to our calls in the Southern hemisphere.

Such a great resource for coaches and coxswains!