BCBC Sculling

i) Pass your swimming test

ii) Attend a capsize drill

These are run by the uni and held at Iffley, where the swim tests were also held.

Please send me proof of attendance once you’ve been.

You won’t get Bodcard access to the boathouse until I know you’ve done the drill.

There are three levels of status:

• Novice
• Experienced
• Senior

Higher status’ are afforded with more privileges as laid out in the weather and safety section. The criteria for the different status’ are roughly as follows:

1. Safety

Novice

• Understand and follow basic river navigation rules.
• Recognise weather and stream conditions but rely on bankrider/coach decisions.
• Know what to do in a capsize situation (basic understanding, demonstration optional).
• Demonstrate safe entry and exit with assistance if necessary.
• Require accompaniment of an experienced sculler or bankrider at all times.

Experienced

• Independently assess conditions and make basic risk judgments.
• Perform capsize drills confidently and unaided.
• Recognise signs of hypothermia and heatstroke.
• Dress appropriately without prompting.
• Understand self-rescue and basic incident procedures.

Senior

• Confidently assist others in capsize, collision, or emergencies.
• Provide safety briefings for outings.
• Understand advanced risk assessments and mitigation (e.g., strong winds, high stream).

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2. Boat transportation & handling

Novice

• Carry boat with assistance.
• Correctly place/remove blades.
• Enter and exit boat safely with assistance if needed.

Experienced

• Independently rack and de-rack a single scull safely.
• Adjust footplates, shoes, and straps competently.
• Lift, turn, and place boats with confidence.
• Awareness of surroundings on the pontoon; communicate with others to avoid congestion.

Senior

• Confident racking and de-racking of boats on trestles or trailers.
• Adjust riggers, seats, and footplates as needed.
• Assist others (especially novices) with heavy or awkward boats.

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3. Basic control and boat handling

Novice

• Row at light pressure in a straight line under supervision.
• Hold the boat still when stationary.
• Basic stopping and holding up.
• Understand simple calls from coach/bankrider.

Experienced

• Control of boat balance and steering at paddle pressure.
• Row cleanly, including feathering and squaring.
• Use pressure changes to steer or adjust position.
• React correctly to simple hazards and obstacles.
• Begin to control speed and rate independently.

Senior

• Row confidently at higher pressures and varied rates.
• Execute sharp turns, spins, and adjustments in confined areas.
• Confident one-handed sculling when needed (e.g., steering corrections).

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4. River knowledge & awareness

Novice

• Know which side of the river to row on.
• Identify basic river landmarks (e.g., spinning points).
• Follow bankrider/coaching instructions at all times.

Experienced

• Know names of river sections and common hazards.
• Communicate intentions clearly to other river users.
• React independently to swans, debris, or other sudden obstacles.

Senior

• Predict and adapt to complex river situations.
• Mentor novices on river etiquette and hazard response.
• Understand impact of stream and wind on navigation and adjust proactively.

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5. Manoeuvres

Novice

• Push off safely with assistance.
• Spin in wide areas with coaching guidance.
• Stop promptly when told.

Experienced

• Independently spin at Head, Longbridges, and Haystacks.
• Execute clean landings, both upstream and downstream.
• Tuck in and back down safely when needed.

Senior

• Spin confidently in tight spots without assistance.
• Land precisely, even at pace.
• Confident handling of unusual or challenging situations (strong stream, congestion).

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6. Technical proficiency & drills

Novice

• Basic understanding of the stroke cycle (catch, drive, finish, recovery).
• Follow basic drills under direction (arms-only, legs-only, pauses if clearly explained).

Experienced

• Execute common drills (legs-only, hands-away, pauses) independently.
• Understand and apply feathering, squaring, and pressure changes.
• Begin to feel boat balance and adjust.

Senior

• Confident square blade paddling and advanced drills.
• Self-diagnose and correct technical flaws.
• Assist others with drills and technical explanations.
• Vary stroke rate and pressure smoothly and independently.

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7. Race preparation & event knowledge

Novice

• No expectation to race.

Experienced

• Understand circulation patterns and marshalling instructions.
• Know how to position correctly at start.
• Know overtaking protocols.

Senior

• Execute race starts confidently.
• Independently navigate racing circulation and event conditions.
• Maintain correct positioning and awareness under race pressure.
• Provide advice to less experienced competitors and crews.

Once you feel that you meet the criteria for higher status please message the boat club secretary. They will then consider the application and deem whether an assessment is necessary or suitable.

These will occur in the following format.

Novice to Experienced

The assessment will consist of a practical assessment only. You will be assessed on the following points:

• Safety
• Boat transportation & handling
• Basic control and boat handling
• River knowledge & awareness
• Manoeuvres
• Technical proficiency & drills

Experienced to Senior

The assessment consist of two parts; a written assessment followed by a practical assessment.

Past papers for practicing the written assessment may be found on the past paper archive here.

In the practical assessment you will be asked to complete one or two drills as demonstrated in the following video. Do not attempt to practice these on your own and not in the summer.

As per normal outings, check the weather. Don’t go out if you are uneasy about the conditions.

Follow OURCs rules of the river at all times (included in later section).

If the flag is DARK BLUE: Senior scullers and Experienced Scullers only.

If the flag is AMBER: Senior scullers also need exemption from OURCs and a bankrider.

If the flag is RED: do not go out

Senior scullers do not require bank party (ie someone following you on the bank, whether coaching or just accompanying).

Experienced scullers who have been sculling regularly do not require bank party (ie if it is your first or second outing in a term you will need a bank party, as well as if you are in the 2-/x with a Novice sculler).

This leaves Novice scullers… If your name is on this list, you must have bank party. This can be a coach, or just someone who watches out for you and shouts if there are any obstructions. They don’t need to be from BCBC.

You can go without bank party if you go on the 2-/x with a Senior sculler.

You should bring:

• towel
• dry clothes
• your phone
• Bod card
• ideally, one bright item of clothing (not compulsory but helpful for other river users)

Before getting to the boathouse:

• book in the bookings tab
• ask for help if you aren’t comfortable carrying a 1x out alone
• get the phone number of your coach/bank party, or at least one other boat club member, so you can call for help while at the boathouse if needed

At the boathouse:

• go to the upstairs cupboard (up the stairs, turn left into the changing rooms, cupboard is at the end of that little corridor next to the shower)
• look on the right-hand-side of the cupboard and pick up a waterproof phone pouch. you must take your phone with you in case of emergency so this isn’t optional! We will purchase more of these soon.
• pick up reflectors if you don’t have bright clothing
• pick up lights if needed (1 hour after sunrise, 1 hour before sundown, or in fog/mist)
• make sure the blades you select are labelled for the boat you are using
• use the yellow waterproof bag if you like
• close the boathouse doors
• don’t forget your Bodcard to get back into the boathouse!

After the outing:

• wipe down the boat (general washing)
• close the boathouse doors
• message Tobi if there is any equipment damage 

If you capsize:

use common sense – ask for help if you’re injured, too cold, or feel ill. 

put everything inside the bays

shower upstairs & change into dry clothes

put away equipment, draining water where necessary & sanitise as normal

fill out a British Rowing incident report here – even if it is a benign capsize, they still want to have it reported to show rowing is a statistically safe sport

OURCs Code of Conduct

OURCs River Restrictions (eg river closures, times you can go out etc)

Twilight hours – 1 hour after sunrise, 1 hour before sundown using these times

Incident reporting forms – the ones about simple capsize might be particularly relevant.

You’re free to use the boats without a coach, but if you do fancy some coaching try asking the our coaches.

Please ensure this is recorded as we will need to pay them! (NB: all costs covered by the club, but if you do want coaching, it would be best if you could organise yourselves to go at the same time as other scullers to make the most of club funds. Dw if this isn’t possible!).