Hannah Woodruff

Hannah Woodruff is an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Radcliffe heavyweight team. She began rowing at Phillips Exeter Academy, was a coxswain at Wellesley College, and has coached college, high-school, and club crews for over 10 years.

Coxing: Summer Planning for Fall Rowing

Writing a plan forces you to think it through, to speak to your rowers and coach about it, and to get it anchored in your brain. It also make it easier to pivot.

A Time to Rig and a Time to De-Rig

You don’t need to know every skill but you should know all the parts of a boat so you can describe equipment problems accurately to facilitate solutions.
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The Art of Making Mistakes

Owning up to mistakes honestly and without groveling earns respect and credibility. Learn from them and hop back in the stern and show how resilient and responsible you can be.

Coxing: A Feast for the Eyes

Coxswains can see much more standing in the erg room than sitting in the stern. You can see where rowers begin a session and how technique changes from fatigue or stress.

Coxing: Winter Wear

For coxswains, the goal is comfort and warmth. If that means you look like the Michelin man, so be it. You want to dress so all your attention is on your job, and not how you feel.

Coxing: Making the Most of Launch Time

As a coxswain, you want to choose your words carefully to reinforce and complement the coaching. In the launch, you can ask why certain phrases are or aren’t used.

Coxing: Getting Ready for Your Trip

Traveling for a camp or regatta can be one of the best experiences you’ll share with your team—flat water, great bonding, and fast rowing in a new environment. But it also can be draining.

How Ya Gonna Call? Ghost Racing!

Calling a race off the water can be a helpful tool. You don’t need to spend hours shouting into a corner. You can do this quietly, and even in your head.

Coxswains: Really listen to your Recordings

  The winter can be a great time for a renewed focus on what I...

Coxswain Development: Indoor Involvement

The winter affords you the time to really get to know your rowers, develop your technical knowledge of the stroke, and help move your team forward.

Coxswain Development: Fall Housekeeping and Other Chores

Taking care of your coxing equipment and electronic devices over the fall and winter will ensure a smooth return to the water when racing resumes.

Coxswain Development: The Art of Making a Pass

Every opportunity to pass should be fun, so let that shine through in your coxing.

Coxswain Development: The Time to Listen and Observe

Anticipating the coach’s needs and being a steady presence and bridge between your teammates and coach can build your credibility as a coxswains with both a new coach and crew.

Latest articles

2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals

Qingdao, China will host the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, October 18-21, featuring 222 crews from 52 nations competing in 10 events, including the three new Olympic events.

Henley Royal Regatta CEO to Step Down

Henley Royal Regatta announces departure of Secretary and Chief Executive Daniel Grist.

Training: Testing Your Body Mechanics

A Functional Movement Screen assesses your risk of injury and identifies dysfunctional or performance-limiting movement patterns.

Surprise Conclusion to World Rowing Shanghai Sprints

Team Germany wins gold in the mixed eights, while the World Team the inaugural World Rowing Shanghai Sprints Overall Trophy.