I.    1998 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES EVENTS

 * Special Request:
 

1. Applications for doubling in singles trials events must be received in writing by April 20, 1998 at USRowing Office by the Regatta Services Manager. See Part II, Section B, "Special Considerations - Doubling"

All trials will be run according to the Trials Rules set forth in the 1998 USRowing Rules of Rowing unless superseded by these Procedures. The following procedures will apply to all events unless otherwise specified elsewhere in these Procedures:

A.    Format for Selection Trials

Depending on the number of entries in each event, heats, repechages and semifinals will be conducted at Selection Trials following the FISA Progression System, as follows:

All events will follow the standard FISA Progression System modified with a "Two Out of Three" progression format. Each event shall consist of a minimum of two final races with a third finals race if necessary. If there are seven to twelveentries, crews advancing out of each heat are placed in the first final; all others are placed into the repechages. Crews advancing out of the repechages are placed into the first final; all others in the repechages are eliminated. If there are six or less entries, the first race will be the first final.

In events with thirteen or more entries, crews advancing out of each heat are placed directly in the semifinals, all others are placed into the repechages. Crews advancing out of the repechages are placed in the semifinals; all others in the repechages are eliminated. All crews advancing out of the semifinals are placed in the final; all others in the semifinals are eliminated.

Under the "Two Out of Three" progression system, all crews (6) advancing to the finals round shall automatically compete in the first finals race. The heat results will be used to determine lane assignments in the first final. The first three places from the first finals race shall then advance to race in the second finals race. If the same crew wins both of these races, it shall be considered the winner of the event. Otherwise, a third race shall be held between the winners of the first two finals races only, and the winner of the third race shall be considered the winner of the event.

Seeding will be used to determine the composition of heats and the assignment of lanes in heats in trials events. This seeding will be determined by USRowing Staff in consultation with the three National Team Coaches and shall be based on one or more of the following indicators: current year's speed orders, identification camps, national team testing results, and past world championship results.

The composition of the repechages and semifinals shall be according to the options prescribed by FISA (Article 20 - System for determining finalists). In events with more than thirty-six 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 according to the order of finish in the previous level of competition. Lane assignments for both the second and third finals in events with twelve or fewer entries shall also be determined in this manner based on the first and second finals results, respectively.

The following shall constitute the forms of progression in the Progression System "A" for six lane racing:
 

Entries	Heats	Adv. In Each Heat	R ep e c h a g e s	Adv. In Each  Repechage	Semifinals	Adv. In Each  Semifinal
1-6	0	-	0	-	0	final only
7-8	2	1	1	4	0	final only
9-12	2	1	2	2	0	final only
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	2	3	2
37-54	9	1	9	1	3	2
55+	1  head race	1st 6; next 54 to  repechages; rest eliminated	9	1	3	2

 

Changes in the Form of Progression:

Once the form of progression has been published according to the number of entries received, it will be changed under the following circumstances:

(1) by the USRowing Regatta Services Manager, 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 USRowing Regatta Services Manager 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.

If the USRowing Regatta Services Manager changes the form of progression he/she shall utilize and post for trials events the same seeding excluding those entries dropped to determine the composition of heats and lane assignments.

TENTATIVE RACING SCHEDULE (Weather Permitting):

For events with finals only- 6 or fewer entries:

For events with 7-12 entries:

Day 1:     Athletes Meeting
Day 2:     Heats
Day 3:     Repechages
Day 4:    Finals Race #1(6 competitors)
Day 5:     Finals Race #2 (3 competitors)
Day 6:    Finals Race #3 (2 competitors) *this race shall be held only if necessary
 

For events necessitating semi-finals - 13 or more entries:

Day 1:     Athletes Meeting & Head Race if necessary (for events with more than 54 entries)
Day 2:     Heats & Repechages
Day 3:     Semi-finals
Day 4:     Finals Race #1(6 competitors)
Day 5:     Finals Race #2 (3 competitors)
Day 6:    Finals Race #3 (2 competitors) *this race shall be held only if necessary
 

B. Special Considerations - Doubling

Applications for doubling in Singles Trial events must be received in writing by April 20, 1998 at the USRowing Office by the Regatta Services Manager for a decision to be made by the High Performance Committee in consultation with the three national team head coaches.

III.    SELECTION TRIAL REQUIREMENTS

A.    Requirements

Eligibility

 The USRowing National Team selection process is open to all athletes who meet the following criteria:

 *    Hold United States citizenship at the time of Trials
 *    Hold current membership and are in good financial standing with US Rowing
 *    Complete a 1998 USRowing Athlete Consent and 1998 USRowing Athlete Agreement Form
*    Athletes are encouraged to check the status of their USRowing membership, and to renew it if necessary, at least 30 days prior to the date of trials. This will allow time for US Rowing to process new or renewed memberships. Do not leave this critical eligibility requirement to the last minute.

Drug Testing

 All athletes participating in the Selection Trials or selected to the National Team are subject to selection for drug testing administered by representatives of the United States Olympic Committee or FISA. Athletes who violate USOC, IOC, FISA or US Rowing rules relating to banned substances will be subject to penalties as established by the respective organization. Athletes are responsible for calling the USOC drug hotline (1-800-233-0393) prior to taking any medications and making sure the medication they are taking is not on the banned substance list. A complete guide to banned substances is available by contacting USOC Drug Control and Education or the USRowing Athlete Services Coordinator at 317-237-5647.

Trials Weight Requirements

Lightweight Women
 A female single sculler shall not weigh more than 59 kgs. (130.07 lbs.).
 

An accurately calibrated scale will be provided at the trials course. It will be made available for athlete weighing following the athletes' meeting which is held one day prior to the first heat. Athletes will be required to weigh in only once per day for the first race of the day regardless of the number of events or races that athlete is competing in on that particular day. The weigh in procedure shall take place on each day no less than one hour and no more than two hours before the scheduled time of the first race in the first event for which the athlete is scheduled to compete in that day. Competitors shall be weighed in racing uniform, without shoes or other footgear.

Rules of Racing

 All athletes must abide by all trials rules and safety procedures set forth in the 1998 US Rowing Rules of Rowing. Copies of the Rules of Rowing may be purchased from USRowing (317) 237-5656. The 1998 Rules of Rowing will also be available for distribution at the World Championship Trials racing site.

Time Standards

No time standards will be used in the 1998 Single Sculls Selection Procedures.

Boat Weigh-in

All boats are required to be at weight according to the FISA Rules of Racing. It is the responsibility of the athletes and /or their coaches to have their boats at weight. All boats will be subject to random "weight checks" during the course of the trials procedure. All trials winning crews will have a mandatory boat weigh-in immediately following the race they have won. Any crew whose boat is found to be under weight as a result of a random weight check, or as the result of the weigh-in following a race they have won, will be disqualified.

An accurate digital scale will be provided at the trials course, and the same scale will be made available for the boat weighing one day prior to the start of the first race, following the athletes' meeting, as well as throughout the trials procedure. Athletes are encouraged to weigh their boats well in advance of the start of their race.

Athlete Check-in

A representative of each boat will he required to attend and confirm their participation at the roll call during the Athletes' Meeting the day before the first day of racing..

Declaration of Intent to Compete

Within two hours after winning the trials, a crew must declare his/her/their intention to compete in the World Championships. If the winning crew declines, the second place crew must declare his/her/their intention to compete. This digression in finishing place will continue through the third place crew.

USRowing Code of Conduct Agreement

All National Team athletes, coaches, and staff selected to the World Championship Team must sign and adhere to the USRowing Code of Conduct as well as the 1998 Athlete Agreement prior to being authorized to travel to the World Championships.

Selection of Alternate Athletes

 Selection of alternate athletes will be detailed in the subsequent 1998 selection procedures for team boats.

Selection of Coaches

World Championships' Team Coaches will be named no later than seven days after the last day of the last set of trials (August 7, 1998). The coach of each sculler or crew selected for the World Championships as a result of the trials detailed above will be proposed as a World Championships' coach. The High Performance Committee in consultation with the three head coaches and US Rowing staff will evaluate all proposed candidates and select the World Championships' Team Coaches according to the following criteria (listed in order of priority)

*    The number of available coaching positions on the team
*    Demonstrated commitment to the crew throughout the year
*    Demonstrated commitment to the National Team throughout the year
*    Choice of and compatibility with the selected crews
*    Number of athletes on the team trained by a particular coach
*    International coaching experience
*    Domestic coaching experience

Selection of Other Staff

 US Rowing programs staff will select a team manager and other staff.

C.    World Championship Team Boat Procedures

Removal of an Athlete from the World Championships Team or a World Championships Team Boat

An athlete may be removed for any of the following reasons:

*    A US Rowing team doctor, after consultation with the athlete and coach of that boat, may declare an athlete medically unable to compete because the athlete's physical condition would inhibit the performance of the boat per the doctor's diagnosis.

*    An athlete may remove himself or herself.

*    For behavior in violation of the USRowing Code of Conduct or the 1998 USRowing Athlete Agreement an athlete may be removed from the boat or team. Such removal may only take place after a hearing conducted in accordance with the expedited Grievance Procedure outlined in Article Ix, Section J of the US Rowing By-Laws.

Replacement of an Athlete from the World Championship Team or a World Championship Team Boat

If an athlete who qualified for the World Championships Team is unable to continue at any time (as specified in "Removal of an Athlete from the World Championships Team or a World Championship Team Boat" above), the coach of the boat will select a substitute for that crew from the alternate athletes named to the Team or any athlete on the current team (in another event) who is in agreement with such a substitution.

If the replacement of an athlete has created a vacancy on the World Championship Team, a new team member(s) may be identified using criteria listed in the 1998 Team Boat World Championship Team Selection Trials Procedures (forthcoming at a later date).

All athletes selected to the World Championships Team as a result of the trials procedures detailed above shall race at the World Championships in the same boat in which they were selected to the Team, except that any of the three National Team Head Coaches, if coaching more than one World Championships Team boat, may alter the lineups only of those World Championships Team boats. An athlete affected by these changes may not be removed from the World Championship Team.

IV. Funding

In 1998 there will be no athlete contribution for all World Championship athletes. Details of the athlete contribution for alternate athletes will be detailed in the forthcoming team boat selection procedures.