Bow: The forward end of the boat that crosses the finish line first.

Bowball: The white ball on the back end of the boat that protects the shell and provides an easy way for the coxswain to see who's ahead.

Bowmarker: The number identifying the lane in which that boat is racing.

Bucket Rigging: Two riggers on the same side next to each other instead of alternated.

Catching a Crab: A phrase used to describe what happens when a rower's oar enters the water at an angle rather than perpendicular. At an angle, the oar gets caught under the surface of the water and, depending on the severity of the situation, can cause a boat to lose ground in a race.

The Course: Spring races are contested on a 2,000-meter (about 1-1/4 mile) course. UC's home course is Harsha Lake in East Fork State Park.

Coxswain: The person who sits in the stern of the boat and is responsible for steering and commanding the crew.

Eight vs. Four: An "Eight" has eight rowers and a coxswain, and a Four has four rowers and a coxswain. Both are the most common collegiate competition, and the two events held at the NCAAs.

Ergs: Short for ergometer, an individualized rowing simulator that helps strength and conditioning.

Footstretchers: Apparatus used to bolt a rower's shoes into the footrest to secure positioning.

Head Race: The traditional fall regatta, in which boats cross the starting line at full speed in roughly 15 second intervals. The course usually involves navigating three miles of river, around bends and under bridges.

Lightweight: A crew on which each athlete weighs under a specified amount (130-lbs for women)

Novice: A rower in the first year of collegiate competition.

Port: A rower's right side when they are in the boat.

Power-10: A call for rowers to do 10 of their most powerful strokes to pull ahead of the competitor.

Racing Categories: There are several categories for rowers, much like a lineup. For example, Second Novice Eight refers to the second string rowers from competing teams. Varsity Eight is the most elite, consisting of a team's best "eight" rowers.

Regatta: The name of rowing events in which several crews compete.

Repechage: A second-chance race for those crews who do not automatically advance to the finals of an event.

Rigger: A metal apparatus that holds the oars to the boat.

Run: The distance the shell moves during one stroke.

Sculling: A type of rowing where each rower uses two oars.

Shell: The boat used in rowing races, ranging in length from 45 feet for a Four to 58 feet for an Eight. The shell seats nine people for an Eight and five people for a Four.

Sliding Seat: Where athletes sit. It is on rollers, allowing the athletes to use the entire body on each stroke.

Sprints: Used in collegiate competition, this type of race features a course which is 2,000-meters long, usually with four toe size unmarked or buoyed lanes and a floating or staked start.

Starboard: A rower's left side when they are in the boat.

Stern: The part of the boat that crosses the finish line first, and the end rowers face during competition.

Stroke: A complete cycle of moving the shell through the water using oars. The rower sitting closest to the stern looks directly at the coxswain in a stern-coxed boats and sets the rhythm for the shell.

Sweeping: A type of rowing where each rower uses an oar.

USRowing: The national body that governs rowing in the United States.

Varsity: A veteran rower that usually has the most skill and experience.