Great question! I have taught several people to row with great frustration. It seems so natural after rowing for years and sometimes it’s hard to remember what the beginner needs to know.

Most people start out with their hands too far apart. With a wide stance the mechanics are all wrong. Start them off with their hands almost touching when they have the oars out of the water. This will force them to take short strokes and give a feeling of control. The next thing is to make sure they pay attention to the position of the oar blade. By changing the angle of blade (feathering) you can really fine-tune your drift.

The most difficult thing for the beginner to learn is how to anticipate the water and how the boat will react. This is where I experience the most frustration. I use the chess analogy that you need to be a couple moves ahead of the game to really place the boat in the position you want.

Once they have these instructions time is what’s needed. If you’re in a spot that you have a lot of confidence in you row. If you’re in a stretch of water that is not so productive let them go at it! Hope this helps.