There shall be four types of registered regattas:
(a) A "National Championship Regatta" shall mean any regatta that is explicitly designated by USRowing as determining the national champion for that year in a given event.
(1) The USRowing Nationals, the American Rowing Championships, and the Masters Nationals shall be considered as National Championship Regattas.
(b) A "Regional Championship Regatta" shall mean any regatta that is explicitly designated by USRowing as determining the champion for that year in a given event for one of the geographical regions of USRowing.
(c) A "championship regatta" shall mean:
(1) all National Championship Regattas,
(2) all Regional Championship Regattas,
(3) all trials races and regattas to select the National Team;
(4) any other registered regatta that is specifically designated by USRowing as a championship regatta.
(d) A "non-championship regatta" shall mean any registered regatta that does not fall within the definition of "championship regatta."
Each regatta shall be sponsored by a local organizing committee, which shall be responsible for its operation. The duties and powers of the local organizing committee shall include:
(a) seeking and receiving the status of registered regatta from USRowing;
(b) choosing a name for the regatta, except for national championship regattas already named by USRowing;
(c) establishing and collecting entry fees, including scratch fees, from participating crews;
(d) determining the events to be offered at the regatta, establishing the applicable progression system, and where necessary devising a progression system where the number of entries is beyond the capacity of existing systems;
(e) receiving entries, and establishing the racing schedule;
(f) publicizing the regatta;
(g) managing the finances of the regatta;
(h) providing for the course as described in Article III of these Rules;
(i) providing for the comfort and convenience of competitors, team members, race officials, and spectators;
(j) appointing a Regatta Director (Rule 5-103), a Regatta Secretary (Rule 5-104), a Control Commission (Rule 5-105), and such other officers, committees or other bodies as are necessary for the operation of the regatta whose appointment is not otherwise provided for in these Rules. The local organizing committee may provide for the allocation of duties among its officers that is different from those contained in these Rules, provided that such allocation establishes equivalent responsibilities.
The Regatta Director shall have general responsibility for the logistical operation of the regatta, shall be the principal liaison between the local organizing committee and USRowing, and shall have the power to execute binding commitments on behalf of the local organizing committee.
The Regatta Secretary shall receive and administer procedures regarding entries, as described in Part B of this Article, and shall publish necessary and proper information regarding such entries. The Regatta Secretary shall also supervise the publication of results.
(a) Under the supervision and control of the Chief Referee, the Control Commission shall verify that crews and competitors comply with the rules regarding equipment described in Article , and the rules regarding competitors described in Article .
(b) The particular duties of the Control Commission shall include, but not be limited to verifying compliance with rules regarding:
(1) substitution of competitors;
(2) replacement of ill competitors;
(3) weighing of lightweight rowers;
(4) weighing of coxswains and checking of deadweight to be carried by coxswains;
(5) classification by age of competitors;
(6) classification by skill of competitors;
(7) requirement of a bowball on the boat, and of sufficient opening for coxswains in the construction of the boat;
(8) requirement of foot release devices;
(9) requirement of a bow number;
(10) possession of prohibited electronic devices;
(11) use of prohibited substances on the hull or oars of a boat;
(12) minimum weights of boats and thicknesses of oars;
(13) prohibited advertising;
(14) uniforms.
(c) If drug tests are being conducted, the Control Commission is responsible for escorting competitors to the drug testing station as soon as possible after getting out of the boat, and for ensuring that such competitors do not take any action that would interfere with the administration of the drug tests.
(a) All clubs seeking to enter crews in a regatta shall submit entries in writing to the local organizing committee, accompanied by the proper amount of entry fees. An unaffiliated sculler shall submit his or her entry in the same manner as a club.
(b) Entries shall be received by the Regatta Secretary, and the local organizing committee of a regatta shall establish and publicize a date by which all entries shall be received. The local organizing committee may establish one deadline for the submission of generic entries and a later deadline for the submission of the actual identities of the members of the crew.
(c) The local organizing committee shall provide a form or set of forms on which are listed: (1) the name of the club submitting the entries, (2) the names of all competitors, (3) USRowing registration number of each competitor and the date of expiration, (4) the affiliation of each competitor, if such affiliation is not with the club submitting the forms, and (5) the boatings of all crews being entered.
(d) No entries received after the date established by the local organizing committee shall be accepted, unless that entry does not result in a change in the format of the progression system. The local organizing committee may assess additional fees for such late entries.
The Regatta Secretary shall not report any entries, or release any information regarding the current state of entry lists, until the date established under Rule 5-201(b) ("Submission of Entries") has passed. After entries have closed, the Regatta Secretary shall publish the number of entries received, and the applicable format of the progression system that applies to each event.
(a) Registered regattas shall be open to entries submitted by United States clubs that are organizational members of USRowing, or by foreign clubs that are members of the appropriate national rowing federation recognized by FISA or its national Olympic Committee. Such clubs shall have been organized at least one month prior to the first day of the regatta.
(b) Registered regattas shall also be open to unaffiliated competitors entering any single scull (1x) event. Other crews, including composite crews, must be comprised of competitors who are members of clubs.
(c) Only competitors who are bona fide members of a club shall be entered by that club, except that a composite crew may be entered by any of the clubs to which one of the competitors in the crew belongs.
(d) A competitor shall represent only one club at a regatta. A competitor shall not represent more than two clubs in any calendar year. Individual exemptions from the requirements of this subsection may be granted by USRowing to competitors upon a showing a good cause.
Composite crews are those that include competitors from more than one club. Such crews shall be ineligible to receive points or other scores used to determine team trophies or awards, including those described in Rule 5-307. Once a crew has been entered as a composite crew, it shall remain so, regardless of subsequent substitutions.
[Deleted. See new Rule 5-301A]
(a) The Chief Referee or his or her delegate shall exclude any crew when he or she determines that there has been intentional deception or falsehood in that crew's entry information concerning a competitor's identity, classification, affiliation, amateur standing, or other information relevant to his or her competitive status. The Chief Referee or his or her delegate may also curtail or prohibit the further participation at a regatta of any team member found responsible for such deception or falsehood. The Chief Referee shall make a report of such incident to the USRowing Judge-Referee Committee.
(b) A challenge to the entry of a crew, or to the status of a competitor, may be made by any team to the Chief Referee or his or her delegate. Such challenge shall be made no later than one hour after the final race in an event is completed, and shall be resolved pursuant to the procedures described in Rule 2-607.
(a) Once an entry has been submitted and the deadline for submitting the identity of members of the crew has passed, a crew other than a single scull may substitute up to one half of its rowers, as well as the coxswain, but the local organizing committee may prohibit such substitution if it is not submitted in writing to the local organizing committee at least one hour before the first race of the event in which the crew is entered.
(b) No substitutions shall be made for a competitor in a single scull (1x), except for illness or injury as provided in Rule 5-208(b) ("Illness of Competitors").
(c) After the first race in an event has taken place, the composition of a crew shall remain the same and no substitution shall be allowed for any subsequent races in that event, except as provided in Rule 5-208 ("Illness of Competitors").
(d) Any substitutions must comply with the same provisions regarding competitors contained in Article IV (Competitors), as applied to the original competitor.
(a) If the Chief Referee finds that serious and sudden illness or injury prevents a competitor in a crew other than a single scull (1x) from competing, that competitor may be substituted at any time before the event is completed. A certificate from a health professional shall be required unless the Chief Referee finds the requirement impractical. Such substitution shall not count toward the maximum amount of substitutions allowed under Rule 5-207(a) ("Substitutions").
(b) If the Chief Referee finds that serious and sudden illness or injury prevents a competitor in a single scull (1x) event from competing, that competitor may be substituted by the club that submitted the entry at any time before the first race in that event. No substitution shall be made for a competitor in a single scull (1x) event after the first race of the event, regardless of the circumstances.
(c) A competitor substituted due to illness or injury under this Rule may return and participate in subsequent races in that event, if the competitor is restored to good health.
(a) In the USRowing Progression Systems, events shall consist of finals, and if necessary, heats and semifinals. Those crews advancing out of each heat are placed in the semifinal or final; all others in the heats are eliminated. In events having semifinals, those crews advancing out of each semifinal are placed in the final; all others in the semifinal are eliminated. In events with more than 36 entries, there shall be one heat conducted as a "head race" (Rule 1-202(i)) as well as repechages, semifinals and finals. The course distance for the head race shall be as close as practicable to the prescribed distance for the event under Rule 7-102, with such variances as may be required by the particular configuration of the venue.
(b) Random lots or a randomized computer program shall be used to determine the composition of heats and the assignment of lanes in heats. In events with more than 36 entries, the composition of the repechages shall be determined by seeding entries according to the order of finish in the heat. Lanes for semifinals and finals shall be assigned from the center lanes outward according to the orders of finish in the heats or semifinals.
(c) The following shall constitute the forms of progression in USRowing Progression System "A" for six lane racing.
Entries Heats Advancing in Semi- Advancing in
Each Heat Finals each semifinal
1-6 (final only)
7 2 (all but last) 0 (five boat final)
8-12 2 (3) 0
13-15 3 (2) 0
16-18 3 (4) 2 (3)
19-24 4 (3) 2 (3)
25-36 6 (2) 2 (3)
37+ 1 (1st 6) 2 (3)
(head race) next 36 to
to repechages; rest
eliminated. One (1) from
each repechage advances.
(d) The following shall constitute the forms of progression in the USRowing Progression System "B" for six lanes.
Entries Heats Advancing in Semi- Advancing in
Each Heat Finals Each Semifinal
1-6 0 0 (final only)
7-12 2 (3) 0
13-18 3 (2) 0
19-24 4 (3) 2 (3)
25-36 6 (2) 2 (3)
37-54 9 (3) 3 (2)
(e) The following shall constitute the forms of progression in the USRowing Progression System "C" for seven lace racing.
Entries Heats Advancing in Semi- Advancing in
Each Heat Finals Each Semifinal
1-7 0 (Finals only)
8-14 2 (3) 0
15-21 3 (4) 2 (3)
22-28 4 (3) 2 (3)
29-42 6 (2) 3 (2)
43-63 9 (2) 3 (2)
(a) In the FISA Progression Systems, events shall consist of finals, and if necessary, heats, repechages, and semifinals. Crews advancing out of each heat are placed directly in the semifinals or finals. All others in the heats go to the repechages. Those advancing out of the repechages are placed in the semifinals or finals; all others in the repechages are eliminated. All those advancing out of the semifinals are placed in the grand final; all others in the semifinals may be placed in a petite final.
(b) Random lots or a randomized computer program shall be used to determine the composition of heats and the assignment of lanes in heats. The composition of repechages and semifinals shall be according to the options prescribed by FISA. In events with more than 36 entries, the composition of the repechages shall be determined by seeding entries according to the order of finish in the heat. The assignment of lanes for semifinals and finals shall be assigned from the center lanes outward according to the orders of finish in the previous level of competition.
(c) The following shall constitute the forms of progression in the FISA Progression System "A" for six lane racing
Entries Heats Adv. in Repe- Adv. in Each Semi- Adv. in
each heat chages Repechages Finals Each Semi
1-6 0 0 0 (final only)
7-8 2 (1) 1 (4) 0
9-12 2 (1) 2 (2) 0
13-15 3 (3) 1 (3) 2 (3)
16-18 3 (1) 3 (3) 2 (3)
19-24 4 (1) 4 (2) 2 (3)
25-36 6 (1) 6 (1) 2 (3) 25-36 6 (1) 6 (2) 3 (2) *
37+ 1 (1st 6) 6 (1) 2 (3)
(head race) (next 36
to repechages;
rest eliminated)
*option added March 1996
(d) The following shall constitute the forms of progression in the modified FISA Format Progression System "B" for seven lane racing.
Entries Heats Adv. in Repe- Adv. in Each Semi- Adv. in
each heat chages Repechages Finals Each Semi
1-7 0 (0) (0) (final only)
8-11 2 (2) 1 (2) 0
12-14 2 (1) 2 (2) 0
15-16 3 (3) 1 (3) 2 (3)
17-20 3 (2) 2 (3) 2 (3)
21-22 4 (2) 2 (2) 2 (3)
23-28 4 (1) 4 (2) 2 (3)
29-42 6 (1) 6 (2) 2 (3)
43-63 9 (1) 9 (1) 3 (2)
(a) Once the form of progression has been published according to the number of entries received pursuant to Rule 5-202, it may be changed only under the following circumstances:
(1) by the local organizing committee, no later than one hour before the scheduled time of the first race in the event, if due to scratches, the reduced number of entries would call for a different form of progression under the applicable progression system;
(2) by the local organizing committee any time before the first race in the event, if due to scratches the event would be reduced to a final only, with no heats, under the applicable progression system.
(b) If the local organizing committee changes the form of progression
under subsection (a), it shall conduct a new draw to determine composition
of heats and lane assignments.
(a) The rules contained in this Part shall apply to all National Championship Regattas. Parts A (Regatta Organization) and B (Entries) of this Article governing Regattas shall also apply to National Championship Regattas.
(b) At national championship regattas, the a staff liaison from USRowing shall act as the representative of USRowing to the local organizing committee. The staff person shall consult with the Regatta Director on the conduct of the regatta, and, along with the Chief Referee, shall supervise the local organizing committee to insure compliance with the Rules of Rowing and the specifications for a national championship regatta.
All competitors at National Championship Regattas shall be individual members of USRowing, or in the case of foreign competitors, members of their National Rowing Federation recognized by FISA or its National Olympic Committee.
There shall be three National Championship Regattas held each year. The USRowing Nationals shall be held for all Elite and open Junior events. The American Rowing Championships shall be held for all Senior, Intermediate, Junior 16 and lightweight Junior events (if any). The Masters National Championships shall be held for all Masters events.
At the USRowing Nationals, either the FISA Progression System "A" or the modified FISA Format Progression System "B" shall be used. At the American Rowing Championships, either the USRowing Progression System "A" or "C" shall be used. The local organizing committee of any national championship regatta may alter the published progression system during the course of the regatta in response to extraordinary or unexpected circumstances, such as extreme weather and water conditions.
The winning crew of each national championship event shall be designated as the National Champion for that year, and shall receive medals, awards, or mementos reserved exclusively for National Champions. If a crew entered by a foreign club or rowing federation, or a foreign unaffiliated single sculler, places first in a national championship event at the USRowing Nationals or the American Rowing Championships, it shall receive special medals or awards memorializing the accomplishment, but the designation and entitlements of National Champion shall be given to the domestic crew that placed highest in the event and all other crews shall be advanced in placement. At the USRowing Masters National Championships, the national championship medals shall be awarded according to the order of finish, regardless of nationality, but the records of USRowing shall designate the highest place domestic crew as the National Champion for that event.
Events other than national championship events may be added by the local organizing committee at National Championship Regattas, but the winning crew of such an event shall not be given the title of National Champion, nor shall it be entitled to the medals, diplomas of victory, or other awards bestowed on National Champions. The local organizing committee shall provide for a certificate of accomplishment or other award to acknowledge such winners.
National Championship gold medals shall be awarded in all national championship events with three or more entries. Silver medals for second place shall be awarded in all events with four or more entries. Bronze medals for third place shall be awarded in all events with five or more entries. The state of entries shall be determined one hour before the first race in the event.
(a) The National Championship events, other than Masters events, shall be:
1x 2x 2- 2+ 4- 4+ 4x- 8+ 1x 500 m. dash
Elite Men
Open x x x x x x x x x
Lightweight x x x x x x x
Senior Men
Open x x x x x x x x
Lightweight x x x x x x x
Intermediate Men
Open x x x x x x x
Lightweight x x x x x x x
Junior Men
Open x x x x x x x
1x 2x 2- 2+ 4- 4+ 4x- 8+ 1x 500 m. dash
Elite Women
Open x x x x x x x x
Lightweight x x x x x x x
Senior Women
Open x x x x x x x x
Lightweight x x x x x x x
Intermediate Women
Open x x x x x x x x
Lightweight x x x x x x x x
Junior Women
Open x x x x x x
(b) The national championship events for Masters shall be as described in Rule 5-310 ("Masters National Championships").
(a) The following trophies shall be awarded to clubs based upon the points earned by that club's crews in national championship events each year. They shall be awarded at the American Rowing Championships.
(1) Overall Point Trophy, awarded to organizations that earn points in both men's and women's events. The total points shall be the sum of points awarded in men's Elite, Senior, Intermediate and Junior events, open and lightweight, plus the points awarded in women's Elite, Senior, Intermediate and Junior events, open and light- weight. The points earned in the events of one gender, however, shall not comprise more than 60% of the total points awarded. Thus, organizations that receive no points in the events of one gender receive no points for the Overall Points Trophy.
(2) The Barnes Point Trophy, based on aggregate points received in all open and lightweight men's Elite, Senior, Intermediate, and Junior events;
(3) The Women's All-Event Trophy, based on aggregate points received in all open and lightweight women's Elite, Senior and Intermediate events;
(4) The Men's Youth All-Event Trophy, based on aggregate points received in all men's Junior events;
(5) The Women's Youth All-Event Trophy, based on aggregate points received in all women's Junior events;
(6) The Men's Lightweight All-Event Trophy, based on aggregate points received in all men's Elite, Senior and Intermediate lightweight events.
(7) The Women's Lightweight All-Event Trophy, based on aggregate points received in all women's Elite, Senior and Intermediate lightweight events.
(b) The club of the winning boat in each national championship event shall receive points as follows:
Type of Event Points
1x 10
2x, 2+, 2- 15
4+, 4-, 4x 20
8+ 30
The clubs of the remaining boats in the finals race of a national championship event shall receive points according to the following percentage of the points awarded to the national champion in that event. If more than six boats raced in heats in an event, points shall be awarded as if six boats raced in the final, regardless of the number of crews that actually race in the final.
Number of Boats Percentage of 1st Place Points
in Event
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
2 20%
3 40% 20%
4 60% 30% 5%
5 80% 40% 10% 5%
6 or more 80% 40% 20% 10% 5%
National Championship Regattas shall take place on a Class "A" course, unless specific approval for another level of course is given by USRowing.
The following entry fees shall be charged at National Championship Regattas:
1x $15 4- $40
2x $25 4+ $50
2- $25 4x $40
2+ $30 8+ $70
(a) The Masters National Championship events shall be:
Categories
Men
1x A B C D E F G [H-I-J]
2x A B C D E F G [H-I-J]
2- A B C D [E-F-G-H-I-J]
4+ A B C D E [F-G-H-I-J]
4x A B C D E [F-G-H-I-J]
8+ A B C D E [F-G-H-I-J]
Women
1x A B C D [E-F-G-H-I-J]
2x A B C D [E-F-G-H-I-J]
2- A B [C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
4+ A B C D [E-F-G-H-I-J]
4x A B C [D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
8+ A B C D [E-F-G-H-I-J]
Lightweight
Men's 1x A B C D E F [G-H-I-J]
Men's 2x [A-B-C][D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
Men's 4+ [A-B-C][D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
Women's 1x A B C [D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
Women's 2x [A-B-C][D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
Women's 4+ [A-B-C][D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
Mixed
2x A B C D E [F-G-H-I-J]
4+ A B C [D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
8+ A B C [D-E-F-G-H-I-J]
Age categories grouped within brackets [ ] shall be combined into one event and time handicaps applied.
(b) Events shall be held in each category for which at least two entries are received. If fewer than two entries are received, that event may be combined with the next younger age category or scratched.
(c) The USRowing Masters Committee shall approve or disapprove the proposed order of events as well as any additional non-championship events suggested by the local organizing committee.
(d) The USRowing Masters Committee may on its own authority approve changes or deviations from the description of events contained in this Rule. In particular, the Masters Committee may separate a combined age categories event described in subsection (a) above in order to avoid semifinals.
(e) Time handicaps shall be applied in any event that combines two or more age categories. Handicaps shall not be applied when a single age category is run as one event, except that time handicaps shall always be applied in age category H (70+ years) and higher.
(f) The following time handicaps shall be applied in events where time handicaps are used. The time handicap for each crew shall be calculated by subtracting the handicap for the youngest crew in the event from the handicap that applies to each crew.
Age 4x 2x 1x Age 4x 2x 1x
8+ 4+/4- 2- 8+ 4+/4- 2- A------------------ E---------------------------
27 0.0 0.0 0.0 55 15.7 16.9 19.6 28 0.0 0.0 0.0 56 16.8 18.2 21.0
29 0.1 0.1 0.1 57 18.0 19.4 22.5
30 0.2 0.2 0.2 58 19.2 20.8 24.0
31 0.3 0.3 0.4 59 20.5 22.1 25.6
32 0.5 0.5 0.6 F---------------------------
33 0.7 0.8 0.9 60 21.8 23.5 27.2
34 1.0 1.1 1.2 61 23.1 25.0 28.9 B------------------ 62 24.5 26.5 30.6 35 1.3 1.4 1.6 63 25.9 28.0 32.4 36 1.6 1.7 2.0 64 27.4 29.6 34.2 37 2.0 2.2 2.5 G--------------------------- 38 2.4 2.6 3.0 65 28.9 31.2 36.1 39 2.9 3.1 3.6 66 30.4 32.9 38.0 40 3.4 3.7 4.2 67 32.0 34.6 40.0 41 3.9 4.2 4.9 68 33.6 36.3 42.0 42 4.5 4.9 5.6 69 35.3 38.1 44.1 C------------------ H--------------------------- 43 5.1 5.5 6.4 70 37.0 39.9 46.2 44 5.8 6.2 7.2 71 38.7 41.8 48.4 45 6.5 7.0 8.1 72 40.5 43.7 50.6 46 7.2 7.8 9.0 73 42.3 45.7 52.9 47 8.0 8.6 10.0 74 44.2 47.7 55.2 48 8.8 9.5 11.0 I--------------------------- 49 9.7 10.5 12.1 75 46.1 49.8 57.6 D------------------- 76 48.0 51.9 60.0 50 10.6 11.4 13.2 77 50.0 54.0 62.5 51 11.5 12.4 14.4 78 52.0 56.2 65.0 52 12.5 13.5 15.6 79 54.1 58.4 67.6 53 13.5 14.6 16.9 80 56.2 60.7 70.2 54 14.6 15.7 18.2 J---------------------------
81+ Add the following
for each year over 80
2.0 2.3 2.7
(g) The following progression system shall be used at the Masters Nationals.:
Entries Heats Advancing to Finals
1 to 6 0 [finals only]
7 to 12 2 (3)
13 to 18 3 (2)
19 to 24 4 (1)
[plus crews with next two fastest overall times]
25 to 49 The entries will be divided by age, into two groups
of approximately the same size.
50 to 74 The entries will be divided by age, into three groups
of approximately the same size.
(h) Gold, silver, and bronze medals shall be awarded regardless of the number of entries in the event.
(i) No competitor shall enter more than five events at the Masters Nationals.
(j) Coxswains in Masters mixed events shall weigh at least 120 lbs.
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