Sculling for Beginners

Sculling for beginners starts at a club, not in your own boat. You row with two oars, one in each hand, in a stable training boat with a coach nearby, and most learn-to-row courses last about 6 weeks.

Before you book, check that the course teaches sculling, as some start in sweep boats. British Rowing says no rowing experience is needed, and asks that you can swim 50 m in clothing. Rules vary by club, so ask how they handle this.

Sculling or sweep?

In sculling, each rower has two oars. In sweep rowing, each rower has one. Both are rowed facing backwards. The main sculling boats are the single (1x, one person), the double (2x, two) and the quad (4x, four). Our comparison of sculling vs sweep rowing sets out how they differ.

Sculling is often recommended for beginners. With an oar in each hand, the forces on the boat are balanced from side to side, and you learn to feel and correct the boat’s balance for yourself. You also do not need a crew.

Learn at a club

You can learn the sequence on an erg, but balance and blade control must be learned on the water. Find a course through rowing clubs in the UK or British Rowing’s club listings. Clubs usually ask about your swimming before the first outing, so be ready to say how confident you are in the water. Practice varies: some ask non-swimmers to wear a buoyancy aid until they have passed a swim test and a capsize drill.

What a 6-week course usually looks like

Every club does it differently, so treat this as a rough guide. One session a week is common.

Week	Stage	What you do
1	Land training	Learn legs, body, arms, then reverse, on an erg or fixed seat
1 to 2	Boat handling	Carry, lift and launch the boat; get in and out safely
2 to 3	Paddling	Small movements in a stable boat, often with a coach in a launch or a double
3 to 5	Building the stroke	Add more slide, then more pressure, then cleaner blade work
4 to 6	Capsize practice	Many clubs include a session on what to do if the boat tips
6	Next steps	Ask about improver sessions and club membership

If you can get out twice a week, the same stages come faster. Between sessions, 20 minutes on an erg twice a week keeps the sequence fresh.

The boats you will meet

Training boats are wider and more stable than racing boats. You will normally start in a training single, double or quad. A racing single is about 8 m long, and can weigh as little as 14 kg, so it is narrow and tippy. Racing boats come later. Club boats are usually heavier, because they are built to take knocks, and that extra weight will not bother you while you learn.

Kit

• Clothing. Close-fitting layers that dry quickly, plus sun and weather protection. Baggy clothing catches on the slide and in the handles. See what kit to wear for rowing.
• Footwear. Your club will tell you what to wear in the boat and on the landing stage.
• Safety. Follow your club’s rules on buoyancy aids, supervision and conditions.

Boats and oars are normally provided when you start. See the essential rowing equipment for beginners before you buy anything.

Technique for your first outings

1. Sit tall. A stable, upright posture helps balance and power.
2. Hold lightly. Use your fingers, not a fist. Your hands are hooks.
3. Keep the handles level. Your hands control the balance of the boat.
4. Push with your legs first. Then swing the body, then draw the arms.
5. Come forward slowly. Aim for a recovery about twice as long as the drive. At 20 strokes a minute, that is about 2 seconds forward for each 1 second of drive.

Your coach will also show you the overlap. The handles cross in the middle of the stroke, and by convention the left hand is higher. For more, see how to improve your sculling technique and single scull rowing: the best way to perfect your technique.

Common beginner problems

Problem	Usual cause	What to try
Boat rocks	Uneven hands or a rushed recovery	Slow down and row 20 strokes with arms and body only
Blade catches the water	Hands dropping too low on the recovery	See catching a crab
Tiring quickly	Over-gripping and pulling with the arms	Relax your fingers and start each stroke with the legs
Hitting your knuckles	Hands level at the overlap	Keep the left hand high, and pass slowly at first

Safety

Any water sport carries risk. Do not go out alone while you are a beginner. Check the weather, the water temperature and the stream before you go, and follow your club’s limits. If you capsize, free your feet and stay with the boat, which will float, and do as your coach tells you.

Using the erg alongside

An erg builds fitness and the body sequence, and you can use it at home. It will not teach balance. For why people stick with this side of the sport, read the benefits of sculling.