rules of rowing an introduction 2007. referee commission january 2007 2 rules of rowing published...

Rules of Rowing

An Introduction

2007

Referee Commission January 2007 2

Rules of Rowing Published annually in March by the

United States Rowing Association (USRowing)

Available for download on the web at http://www.usrowing.org; click “Referees”, then “Rules of Rowing”


Rowing Defined (1-201) Rowing is the propulsion of a

displacement boat through water by the muscular force of one or more rowers, with or without a coxswain, in which oars are levers of the second order, and in which the rowers are sitting with their backs to the direction of forward movement of the boat


Underlying Principles and Priorities (1-102)

Safety Fairness Consistent Application

The first is infinitely more important than the rest


Major Sections General Provisions Conduct of the Race Equipment Competitors Regattas Trials Rules The Course Head Races Supplemental Rules

—Addenda

Today’s Topic


Conduct of the Race Officials Safety and Fair Conditions The Start The Body of the Race The Finish Penalties and Protests


Officials (2-101 to 2-105) Six functions/positions described in the Rules, to be

filled by licensed officials Chief Referee Starter Referee Judge at Start Chief Judge Members of the Jury

Referees routinely fill other functions/positions Marshal Control Commission


Minimum number of Officials More than one of the required functions can

be performed by a single individual, e.g., Starter can follow a race Judge at start can follow a race

A registered regatta is required to have a minimum of 3 licensed officials, one of whom must have a Referee license (to act as Chief)


Safety and Fair Conditions (2-201 to 2-207)

Chief Referee is responsible for insuring the safety of the course and regatta procedures Checking course - layout, obstacles, hazards Posting of safety information Launch protocols Traffic patterns Pre-race meeting (“Coaches & Coxswains”) Assignment of referees and safety personnel and

equipment Chief is also responsible for making the call to cancel or

suspend racing if conditions turn hazardous


The Start (2-301 to 2-311) Starting area is controlled by the Starter

An effective Start Marshal is the key to a smoothly-run starting area

Typically, Starter announces race, lane assignments, crews and time remaining at 10 minutes prior to announced race time

Repeats race call and time remaining at 5, 4, 3 and 2 minutes

Crews report and “lock on” NLT 2 minutes before the announced race time

Crews need to be uniformly attired


Getting Ready Judge at Start issues alignment commands to

crews/stakeboat holders White flag signals proper alignment

While waiting to start, crews maintain alignment, and their “point”, or proper direction straight down the course

Crews indicate not being ready to start by raised hands (bowperson, but cox typical)

Starter typically begins start sequence by announcing event and progressions


Types of Starts Polling Start:

Crews polled by name only, starting with Lane 1 “Hands are recognized”, i.e,, Starter delays Start until all crews are

ready Starter issues Starting Commands

Quick Start No polling; starter announces “Quick Start” Hands are recognized Starter issues Starting Commands

Countdown Start Starter announces “Countdown Start” Hands may be recognized (but typically are not) Starter counts down: “5-4-3-2-1” Starter issues Starting Commands


Types of Starts (cont’d) Polling Start is normal and preferred, when

conditions and time permit Quick Start used in various scenarios: floating

starts, to make up time, crews’ inability to “lock on”, etc.

Countdown Start used when conditions prevent use of other types without inordinate delay Typical to bypass use of Quick Start and go right

to Countdown Start


Starting Commands Same for all types of starts Starter uses 3-beat sequence:

“Attention!” Red Flag raised overhead “Go!” simultaneously accompanied by quick downward

motion of the Red Flag to one side First motion of the Red Flag = OK to start Rules call for a “distinct and variable pause” between

raising the flag and Go! Command Good Starter practice is to vary the length of the pause;

don’t be predictable


False Starts and Failure to Start A crew “false starts” if their bow crosses the plane

of the starting line before movement of the Red Flag Only the Judge at Start can “call” a false start A warning is the penalty for a false start (terms are

often used interchangeably, e.g., “give them a false start”)

A crew may choose not to start, and may stop within the limits of the starting area May receive a warning, unless there was broken

equipment or their failure to start was otherwise justified


Starting Commands with Lights Rules modified in 2007 to provide for

aligning, starting commands, and judgment of false starts using light systems, rather than flags

One US course with lights now (Mercer County, NJ, more expected in the future


Starting Area and Broken Equipment Starting area extends down the course 100 meters

from the start Also called the “breakage zone” Can also be measured by approximately 20 seconds of

elapsed time on an unbuoyed course “Broken equipment” may be claimed for boat, oar, or

mechanism used in normal propulsion, flotation or steering Cannot be claimed for conditions resulting from neglect or

carelessness, “crabs” or jumped slides Races stopped in Starting area are re-started, after

any penalties are assessed


The Body of the Race (2-401 to 2-411) Competent performance by the Referee

encompasses a combination of attributes and skills awareness, anticipation, decisiveness,

knowledge and understanding the ability to communicate effectively with

crews during the race proper launch positioning


Interference (2-404) Physical contact with or washing another crew, or

forcing another crew to alter its course to avoid imminent collision

Crews are entitled to protection from interference when in their own water

Crews outside their water may be instructed to return, if they are in danger of causing interference

Interference is the principal cause of unfairness; judging interference is thus an essential Referee skill


“Correct” Launch Positioning Two criteria

provides the Referee with a proper perspective to visually judge the lane positions (relative and absolute) on a continuous basis

enables the Referee to appropriately warn a crew before a significant breach of safety or fairness occurs, without unnecessary disruption to the progress and concentration of the other crews


Effective Communications Rules 2-407 to 409 delineate various instructions which the

Referee may be required to give to crews during a race Each is initiated with an alert to get the attention of the specific

crew(s) being signaled Raise the white flag vertically Call out the name(s) of the crew(s) [“Whitman!” “Gonzaga!”] “getting the crew’s attention” is getting eye contact/other recognition

from the stroke The specific instructions may be

visual, entailing use of the white or red flag to signal to the crew(s); or

combine the flag signal with an auditory command


Referee’s Instructions to Crews (2-407)

“Keep Apart!” - raised white flag and command

[Move to port/starboard] - white flag moved laterally to desired direction, from vertical

“Stop!” - raised white flag and command (for stopping the crew, not the race)

“Continue to Row!” - white flag moved forward from vertical

“Race Cadence!” - raised white flag and command


Instructions to Avoid Unsafe or Unfair Conditions (2-408)

“Obstacle!” - raised white flag and command “Stop!” - if collision is imminent

Crew ordered to stop may have opportunity to win or advance restored, if obstacle was previously unknown or unidentified

Unfair advantage: Referee may instruct a crew outside its water and obtaining an unfair advantage to return to its water using instructions in 2-407(a)


Stopping a Race in Progress (2-405) Must be justifiable on 2 basic principles

the likelihood that a crew in contention has been deprived of a fair competitive opportunity, and

no further competitive value remains in the race May result from serious collision, freak weather, wildlife

interruptions, etc. Interference per se not sufficient; has to justify invoking

one of the basic principles Much easier to do in the first 500 meters; rare in final

500 meters “Stop!” - Wave red flag, whistle, air horn, etc. (2-407(d)


The Finish (2-501 to 2-504) A crew finishes when its bow crosses the plane of the finish line Chief Judge

Presides over the finish area Establishes order of finish, assisted by other judges

Chief Judge’s opinion is final Directs other personnel

Flagperson Timers Scribe

Informs Chief Referee of protests Releases results after the race is declared “Official”


Declaring the Race to be Official (2-503) No protest

Referee on the water raises white flag Visible to competitors and Chief Judge

Penalty imposed/actions taken, without further protest or appeal Referee raises red flag, followed by white flag Announces penalty

Protest being addressed to Jury Referee raises red flag Announces protest

Referee reports race time to Chief Judge Chief Judge acknowledges receipt of time by raising white flag Only races ended by “white flag” are considered official


Penalties and Protests (2-601 to 2-608) Four types of penalties:

Reprimand: informal caution/verbal admonishment, with no immediate effect

Warning: a formal caution, applying to a crew for the duration of a particular race

Two warnings = exclusion Exclusion: Removal of a crew from a particular event

Crew may row in other events Disqualification: Removal of a crew from all subsequent races

and events in the same regatta Applied for flagrant or intentional violations affecting safety or

fairness Reported to USRowing May be applied to individuals in lieu of ta crew


Restoring Opportunity of Winning Exclusion is normal penalty for interference Referee may choose not to exclude

Can place offending crew behind offended crew in order of finish

Can’t move offended crew ahead, but… Can consider the offended crew to have rowed a dead

heat with the crew immediately preceding it

Other remedies Order re-row Advance offended crew to semis/finals,if feasible


Protests Some matters not subject to protest

Non-substantial rights of the crew Findings of fact by race officials

All valid protests (with limited exceptions) must be heard and ruled upon on the water by the Referee, at the end of a race

Referee’s decision can be appealed to the Jury Offended crew disagrees with facts or remedy Offending crew disagrees with facts, penalty, or remedy

Crew completes and files written protest statement, accompanied by $25 fee, within 1 hour of reaching the dock


The Jury Convened by Chief Referee, who presides as President Jury Hearing

Introductions and reading of protest statement Testimony obtained from protesting crew, any affected crews, race officials, other parties

Formal rules of evidence do not apply Non-participating observers permitted Jury deliberations in private Results announced, penalties imposed, race

declared official Jury decisions may be appealed to USRowing


Rules Are Just the Start Rules are not rigid, but some are more important than others

Chief can relax enforcement of the uniform rule Exceptions/modifications to Rules can be granted to a local

organizing committee (LOC) by USRowing as part of the registration process

Rules marked by an asterisk (*) cannot be waived or modified by a local organizing committee, except by the Board of Directors

Human beings are always in charge (1-105) In situations not covered under these Rules, race officials

are empowered to make such decisions and give such instructions as are necessary to carry out their responsibilities, and to effect the purposes described [safety, fairness, consistent application]


Questions?

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