Except as specifically limited in these Rules, there shall be no limitations on the design and construction of boats, oars and other equipment.
(a) A boat in the sport of Rowing shall have all its load bearing parts, including the axes of moving parts, firmly fixed to the body of the boat, but the seat of a rower may move along the axis of the boat.
(b) The use of "sliding riggers," in which the fulcrum of the oar is not stationary with respect to the body of the boat, is strictly forbidden, except that the local organizing committee may allow such equipment if the event is clearly publicized as "experimental," and if all teams are informed in writing in advance that such equipment will be allowed in that event.
(a) Boats types may include:
Number of
Rowers Oar Coxswain (Abbr.)
1 scull without 1x
2 scull without 2x
2 sweep without 2-
2 sweep with 2+
4 sweep without 4-
4 sweep with 4+
4 scull without 4x
4 scull with 4x+
8 sweep with 8+
8 scull with 8x
(a) All boats described in Rule 3-103 ("Categories of Boats") shall comply with the following minimum weights:
Category Weight (lbs.) Weight (kgs.)
1x 30.86 14
2x 59.53 27
2- 59.53 27
2+ 70.55 32
4- 110.23 50
4+ 112.44 51
4x 114.64 52
4x+ 116.85 53
8+ 205.03 93
8x 213.85 97
(b) For purposes of this Rule, the weight of a boat shall not include oars,
or detachable loudspeaker or electronic systems. Seats, rudders, skegs,
fins, and riggers shall be included in the boat's weight. Other items that
are not permanently affixed to the boat shall not be included in the boat's
weight.
Every boat shall have a supple or plastic ball, of a white or fluorescent color, mounted on its bow unless equivalent provision for visibility and protection against puncture injury is included in the boat's basic construction. The bowball shall be at least 4 centimeters in diameter.
A boat may be equipped with an internal loudspeaker system, and electronic devices that provide statistical information about the progress of the race or performance of the crew (such as elapsed time or stroke rate). During a race, no boat shall have on board any electronic devices that are capable of sending or receiving information from any source external to the boat, regardless of whether it is actually used. The possession within the boat of any radio device is specifically prohibited.
No boat shall have on its hull any substance that is water soluble or partially soluble, or that alters the mechanical or chemical interaction between the hull and water, except that non-soluble varnishes, paints or other similar surface finishes may be applied. The use of "bottom tape," including "3M RibletsTM" on the outside of the hull is specifically prohibited.
The blade of an oar shall have the following minimum thickness: sweep oar, 5 mm. (measured 3 mm. from the tip of the blade); scull oar, 3 mm. (measured 2 mm. from the tip of the blade).
Where the feet of the competitor are held in place by footgear affixed to the structure of the boat, the design of such footgear shall provide for the quick release of the competitor's feet in case of capsize, without the use of hands. Such design may consist of VelcroTM or pull strings at the heels.
A boat in which the body of the coxswain is enclosed or partially enclosed within the hull of the boat shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) The opening of through which the coxswain enters and exits shall be at least 2.30 feet (70 cm.) long when measured along the longitudinal axis of the boat. For a length of at least 1.64 feet (50 cm.), the opening shall be as wide as the inner hull of the boat itself.
(b) The inner surface within which the coxswain's body rests shall be
smooth and free of any obstacles, devices, or other structures that would
hinder quick exit.
(a) Subject to subsection (b), all competitors in a crew shall wear identical clothing. Such clothing shall cover the torso of the body, and may also include sweatgear. The Chief Referee may grant exceptions to this Rule on account of unusual weather conditions.
(b) Individual competitors in a crew may choose whether or not to wear a hat or other headgear, which may be of the individual competitor's own choosing and need not be identical with those worn by other crew members.
Each boat shall be capable of having mounted on its bow a card indicating the number of its lane in a race, and each crew shall be responsible for supplying the bow number card. The local organizing committee may also have a supply of bow number cards for use in a regatta, but crews shall not rely thereby on the local organizing committee to provide such cards. The local organizing committee may also require that a member of a crew wear a number marker affixed to his or her uniform.
(a) General Provisions: The specific provisions of the Rule with regard to the appearance of manufacturer or sponsor advertisement on equipment and clothing are subject to the following general provisions.
(1) This Rule allows for advertisement on equipment and clothing by both manufacturers of the equipment and clothing, and sponsors of a crew or club. A manufacturer that is also a sponsor of a crew or club may use the space reserved both for manufacturers and sponsors, but may not combine the specified areas to produce a single larger area in which to display its advertisement.
(2) If the area reserved for the manufacturer is not used by the manufacturer, it may not be used for sponsor advertisement.
(3) The advertisement need not be the same on the boat, the oars and the clothing, but within each of those three categories only one manufacturer and one sponsor may appear.
(4) This Rule applies to each crew. Accordingly, for example, the advertisement appearing on the clothing of the competitors in the 4+ from one team need not be the same as that for the competitors of the 8+ from the same team.
(5) Advertisements promoting tobacco products and alcoholic beverages whose alcohol content is more than 15% are prohibited. A crew competing in an event shall not display advertisement promoting any alcoholic beverage. A sponsor who is commonly identified as a provider or manufacturer of a prohibited product or service, but who also provides or manufactures permitted products or services, may advertise according to this Rule, but only if the advertisement affirmatively and clearly associates itself with the permitted product or service only.
(6) The advertisement of the manufacturer and sponsor may consist of the company's name, trademark and/or the name of the product service. Therefore one, two or three of these elements may be displayed provided they appear together and are directly related to a single company and a single product or service of that company. The names, trademarks and other products or services of different companies may not, therefore, be combined.
(7) The area included in the size restrictions identified in this Rule is calculated by drawing vertical and horizontal lines at right angles to each other extended from the most extreme points of the name or trademark.
(8) If the advertisement appears on a background color that is different from that of the surface that it covers, that background color is also counted when determining the size of the advertisement.
(9) The Chief Referee or the referee of a particular race may excuse a crew from compliance with this Rule for good cause, including situations in which a crew is required to borrow equipment.
(b) Oars: The following rules apply to each oar whether it is a sweep oar or sculling oar.
(1) Oars must be uniform throughout the crew, except that each rower in a composite crew may use the colors of his or her own club. Only the national or club colors may appear on oar blades. Unpainted oars are also permitted for all boats, whether composite or otherwise, if all rowers use such oars. Use of National Team oar colors without the approval of USRowing is specifically prohibited.
(2) Any portion of the loom or shaft beyond the collar must be free of any advertisement or inscription. Manufacturer and sponsor advertisement may appear on the section of the loom or shaft inside of the collar, provided that the area of the manufacturer advertisement shall not exceed 100 square centimeters, and the area of the sponsor advertisement shall not exceed 100 square centimeters with one of the linear dimensions being no greater than 5 centimeters.
(3) Nothing else (including the name of the nation or club, or its emblem) may appear on the oar, except that marks to identify the owner of the oar are permitted.
(c) Boats and Related Equipment The following rules shall apply to advertising on boats and anything affixed to the boat:
(1) Boat manufacturer: The manufacturer's name, address, trademark, and name of the product may appear on the inside the boat on a plaque or equivalent marker, provided that plaque has a maximum area of not more than 50 square centimeters. The manufacturer's advertisement may also appear on the outside boat once on each side (including the gunwale and washboard) provided the maximum area of that advertisement does not exceed 30 square centimeters.
(2) Boat Sponsor: The sponsor's advertisement may appear once on the bow and once on the stern canvas. The advertisement may also appear on the side of the boat (including the gunwale and washboard) as follows:
1x, 2x, 2-, 2+ Once on each side
4x, 4-, 4+ 2 times each side maximum
8+, 8x 4 times each side maximum
All sponsor's advertisements that appear on the outside of the boat pursuant to this subsection must be exactly identical with each other, and each advertisement individually shall have a maximum area of 700 square centimeters.
(3) Name of Boat or Emblem of Club: Each boat may also carry once on each side of the shell (including the gunwale and washboard) the name of the boat and emblem of the club that the crew represents. The letters used in any such name may not be more than 6 centimeters in height, and the area of the emblem may not be more than 60 square centimeters. If the name of the boat advertises a sponsor, then it must comply with provision governing boat sponsors in subsection (c)(2) above.
(4) Electric Equipment: Any internal loudspeaker or electronic equipment permitted by Rule 3-106 ("Electronic Equipment") may bear the name and trademark of the manufacturer of that equipment.
(5) Footgear: Any footgear attached to the stretcher for use by a rower may bear the name and trademark of the manufacturer.
(d) Clothing: The following shall apply to any clothing worn for purposes of competition:
(1) Uniformity: Subject to Rule 3-201, the clothing of all the members of a crew shall be identical. This means that any manufacturer or sponsor advertisement appearing on crew member clothing shall be identical both in design, size and location for each member of the crew.
(2) Manufacturer: The advertisement of the manufacturer of each main piece of clothing (i.e. clothing covering the torso of the body, such as shirt or trunks), may appear once, provided that such advertisement does not exceed 16 square centimeters. Visible manufacturer advertising on socks, hats, headbands, or other incidental clothing is not allowed, Rule 3-201(b) notwithstanding.
(3) Sponsor: The advertisement of a sponsor may appear only once on clothing worn by a competitor (it may not appear both on the shirts and shorts, for example) and the total area of the advertisement may not exceed 50 square centimeters.
(4) National Team Uniform: No competitor may wear the uniform of the National Team while participating as a member of a crew without the express approval of USRowing.
[superseded by Rule 3-203(d) above]
(a) Rules governing the use of advertising, including those contained in Rules 3-203 ("Advertising on Equipment") and 3-204 ("Advertising on Clothing"), shall apply throughout the duration of the regatta, and shall extend throughout the regatta site. Such rules shall not apply to the local organizing committee, and thus shall not limit the ability of the local organizing committee to sell advertising in programs, billboards, or regatta installations.
(b) USRowing may grant specific exceptions to the prohibitions against advertising contained in these Rules.
(a) Only amateur competitors may compete in races and regattas held under these Rules.
(b) An amateur is one who competes in Rowing without obtaining, or having in the past obtained, from it, any direct and immediate material gain or profit.
(1) An individual who is remunerated for acting as coach, trainer, manager, or administrator in the sport of Rowing does not thereby lose his or her amateur standing.
(2) Competitors may be reimbursed for training expenses, or loss of gainful employment resulting from training or competition, but only under the USRowing Trust or other program explicitly approved by USRowing.
(c) Clubs, local organizing committees and regatta sponsors of regattas may award, and team members may receive:
(1) medals, diplomas, trophies, or other mementos of participation or achievement;
(2) travel or other expenses incurred in attending any regatta; and
(3) equipment intended for use by the team member in competition.
(d) No forms of award or prize other than those described in this Rule shall be allowed.
[Editor's Note: This rule may not be the same as those imposed by scholastic or intercollegiate athletic organizations.]
(a) It is forbidden for any competitor to engage in the sport of Rowing, whether in competition or in practice, while under the influence or effect of a drug, or other medical practice such as blood doping, that may enhance athletic capabilities, or that is proscribed as a controlled dangerous substance under the laws of the United States.
(b) In determining which drugs or practices may enhance athletic capabilities, USRowing adopts the regulations and procedures of the United States and International Olympic Committees and of FISA. A discussion of those regulations and procedures, and a list of the drugs currently prohibited by FISA, the United States Olympic Committee, or the International Olympic Committee, shall be available upon request from USRowing headquarters.
(c) If a competitor refuses to submit to a drug test when requested to do so, that competitor is subject to the same action as if the competitor had tested positive.
(d) Competitors found to have violated this Rule shall be disqualified under Rule 2-602(d) ("Types of Penalties") from any regatta at which evidence of the use or effect of such drugs is found, and shall forfeit any prizes, awards, or other consideration. Any incident involving violation of this Rule shall be reported to the President of USRowing. The President (or the President's designee) shall promptly inform the competitor of the alleged violation, and, where appropriate, of the competitor's opportunity to observe the testing of a second drug test specimen. After giving the competitor the opportunity to respond to allegations and, where appropriate, after confirmation of the drug use or prohibited practice through the testing of the second specimen, the President will inform the competitor of the penalty, if any, USRowing intends to impose. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice of the proposed penalty, the competitor may request a hearing to challenge the imposition of the proposed penalty. That request will be treated as a request for an expedited procedure under [Article X, Section 2] of the USRowing Bylaws. In the absence of a request for a hearing, the penalty proposed by the President shall become effective thirty (30) days after the competitor's receipt of notice of the proposed penalty. A competitor may not compete in any USRowing event or represent USRowing in any international competition during the pendency of the procedures identified in this paragraph.
(e) The President, the Grievance Hearing Panel or the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors may impose a period of probation or suspension or disqualify the competitor from participation in the sport of Rowing. Any period of probation, suspension or disqualification shall be consistent with the guidelines established and published by the United States Olympic Committee for penalizing such offenses, unless the President, Panel or Executive Committee determines that particular aggravating or mitigating factors exist that warrant either a greater or lesser penalty.
[Deleted. See new Rule 5-301A]
(a) Junior: A Junior is a competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who is and has been continuously enrolled in secondary school as a full time student seeking a diploma. A competitor thus ceases to be a Junior after December 31 of the year of his or her 18th birthday, or of the year in which he or she completes the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full time student, whichever is later. [Editor's Note: Please note that rules relating to USRowing Junior National Team Trials' regattas and regattas governed by FISA, the International Rowing Federation, may vary; refer to Rule 6-203.]
(1) A competitor's eligibility to compete in Junior events is not affected by his or her classification by skill under Rule 4-105 ("Classification by Skill"). A Junior competitor's classification by skill in non-Junior events shall be as provided in that Rule.
(2) Within the Junior classification, there shall be a subclassification known as "Junior B" made up of those Juniors who in the current calendar year do not attain the age of 17.
(b) Master: A Master is a competitor who has attained or will attain the age of 27 during the current calendar year. A competitor's age is determined as of December 31 of the current calendar year, rounded down to the highest contained integer. A competitor thus becomes a Master on January 1 of the year of his or her 27th birthday. A Masters crew shall be comprised exclusively of Masters rowers, but the coxswain need not be a Master.
(1) Masters crews shall be classified by age according to the following categories: (A) 27 to 35 years, (B) 36 to 42 years, (C) 43 to 49 years, (D) 50 to 54 years, (E) 55 to 59 years, (F) 60 to 64 years, (G) 65 to 69 years, and (H) 70 years and over. The age category of a Masters crew shall be determined by the average age of the rowers in the crew, rounded to the nearest integer. The age of a coxswain shall not be counted. The ages of individual rowers need not fall within the age category, so long as each rower is a Master and so long as the average age of the crew falls within the applicable category.
(2) A Masters crew may compete in a lower (younger) age category, but not in a higher category.
(3) [Editor's Note: This section, which created a separate "Grandmasters" category, has been deleted.]
(4) A Master competitor's eligibility to compete in Masters events is not affected by his or her classification by skill under Rule 4-105 ("Classification by Skill"). A Master competitor's classification by skill in non-Masters events shall be as otherwise provided in that Rule. A rower who is a member of the current year's National Team, or received a medal (Rule 5-305A) in any Elite or Senior event at the USRowing Nationals or the American Rowing Championships, shall not be eligible to compete in the current year at the Masters Nationals.
(a) A competitor's classification by skill shall be determined separately with respect to sweep events and sculling events. Except for the provisions of subsection (b)(2) below (Elite status affecting scull or sweep status), a competitor's classification in one category shall not affect his or her classification in the other. A competitor's classification by skill shall not be determined separately with respect to open events and lightweight events, and thus a competitor's status as Elite, Senior or Intermediate is applicable regardless of weight class.
(b) Competitors shall be classified according to skill by the following criteria:
(1) Intermediate: A competitor is an Intermediate who has not advanced to the status of Senior or Elite.
(2) Senior: A competitor is a Senior who has won any intermediate or senior event over 2000 meters at the American Rowing Championship Regatta or at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, and who has not advanced to the status of Elite. A competitor who is an Elite as a sweep rower shall also be advanced to Senior for all sculling events, and a competitor who is an Elite as a scull rower shall be advanced to Senior for all sweep events.
(3) Elite: A competitor is an Elite who has won one 2000 meter event classified as Elite at the USRowing National Championship Regatta, an Open 2000 meter event at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, or any 2000 meter event other than a Junior or Masters event at a USRowing Open or Lightweight National Team Trials' regatta. A competitor also becomes an Elite if he or she has won any two 2000 meter events classified as Senior at the American Rowing Championship Regatta or equivalent level at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta; or who has been a member of a USRowing National Team as a competitor (including as a spare) in the category at issue, other than in a Junior or Masters event.
(c) All trials events to select the National Team, except those for Junior or Masters events, shall be classified as Elite events.
(d) Junior or Masters races do not effect a competitor's classification by skill under this Rule.
(e) All changes in classification by skill shall take effect on Januaryú1 following the year of competition.
A lightweight crew is one that complies with the requirements below. An open event is one that is not a lightweight event.
(a) Men: A men's lightweight crew shall average no more than 155 lbs. per rower, and no individual rower shall weigh more than 160 lbs. The coxswain shall not be counted for purposes of this Rule. A male single sculler (1x) shall not weigh more than 160 lbs. A Junior men's lightweight crew is one in which no individual rower weighs more than 150 lbs.
(b) Women: A women's lightweight crew, including a single scull (1x), shall have no rower who weighs more than 130 lbs. The coxswain shall be not be counted for purposes of this Rule.
[Editor's Note: Please note that rules relating to USRowing National Team Trials' regattas and regattas governed by FISA, the International Rowing Federation, may vary; refer to Rule 6-203.]
(a) No rower who is an Elite shall compete in a Senior or Intermediate event, and no rower who is a Senior shall compete in an Intermediate event. A coxswain may compete in any of those categories regardless of his or her classification by skill.
(b) No rower who does not comply with Rule 106 ("Lightweights") shall compete in a lightweight event. Any coxswain who otherwise complies with applicable rules may participate in a lightweight event.
(c) No competitor, including a coxswain, who does not comply with Rule 4-104(a) ("Classification by Age") shall compete in a Junior event.
(d) No rower who does not comply with Rule 4-104(b) ("Classification by Age") shall compete in a Masters event, or in an inapplicable Masters age category event as described in Rule 4-104(b)(1). A coxswain may compete in any Masters event regardless of age.
(e) A female rower shall not compete in events for men, and a male rower shall not compete in events for women.
(a) A coxswain is a member of the crew and subject to all rules governing competitors unless specifically excepted.
(b) A male coxswain may compete in events for women, and a female coxswain may compete in events for men.
[Editor's Note: Please note that rules relating to USRowing National Team Trials' regattas and regattas governed by FISA, the International Rowing Federation, may vary; refer to Rule 6-203.]
(a) A coxswain in an event for men's crews shall weigh at least 120 lbs. A coxswain in event for women's crews shall weigh at least 110 lbs. Weight shall be determined as provided in Rule 4-110 ("Weighing of Competitors").
(b) Coxswains who do not comply with subsection (a) above shall carry deadweight, such as sand or other ballast, in order to achieve the minimum weight. Any such deadweight shall be placed in the boat as close to the torso of the coxswain as possible, and it is specifically forbidden to distribute deadweight throughout the boat.
(c) Clothing, equipment, electronic systems, tools, or other utilitarian devices germane to competition, shall not be considered part of the coxswain's weight, and shall not be included as part of any deadweight required under subsection (b) above.
[Editor's Note: Please note that rules relating to USRowing National Team Trials' regattas and regattas governed by FISA, the International Rowing Federation, may vary; refer to Rule 6-203.]
The weight of a rowers in lightweight events as described in Rule 4-106 ("Lightweights"), as well as coxswains, shall be determined once a day no less than one hour and no more than two hours before the scheduled time of the first race on each day in which the competitor is entered. Competitors shall be weighed in racing uniform, without shoes or other footgear.
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