DB Verbal Commands

At your practice sessions, your coach will introduce the basic commands necessary to operate the boat and compete in the races. 

1. Paddles Up - Get to the ready position: paddle blades out of the water

2. Take It Away - Begin paddling at a normal clip (not too hard, not too gentle)

3. Let it Run - Stop paddling and allow the boat to glide

4. Hold the Boat - Promptly insert your paddle vertically in the water (to "put on the brakes")

5. Hold Hard - Hold the boat WITH a little push forward -- generally used if the boat is about to hit something!

6. Back it Down - Paddle backwards to put the boat "in reverse"

7. Stabilize - Hold your paddle firmly and flat agains the surface of the water. This is done when a coach or crew member needs to change positions on the water.

8. Blades Up - Distress signal (not to be confused with Paddles Up). If a team member is in distress, hold your paddle up in the air. If the coach instructs the boat, everyone will hold their paddles up in the air to signal the safety boat to respond.

9. Heads in the Boat - this is a command used to get the attention of all paddlers and means the next instruction or command is important. Note that whenever you turn to look toward the back of the boat, you look down the CENTER of the boat to maintain stability.

10. (front/back) Draw (left/right) - A rarely used command, it instructs a portion of the crew to move the boat laterally by pulling toward the side of the boat or pushing water away from the side of the boat.