Coxswain (rowing)

In a rowing crew, the coxswain (/ˈkɒksən/ KOK-sən; colloquially known as the cox or coxie) is a crewmember who does not row but directs the boat.^[1] The coxswain sits facing the bow, unlike the rowers, and is responsible for steering the boat and coordinating the power and rhythm of the rowers. The coxswain's role while on the water is similar to that of an assistant coach or team captain, and they are sometimes also called upon to implement the training regimen or race plan.

In most racing, coxswains may be of either sex regardless of the sex of the rowers. Often they are women, since women are more likely to be near the ideal weight of a cox, which is 125 lbs for USRowing and 55 kg for World Rowing (see Sex, and Weight, below).^[2]