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OVERALL ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.  All are reminded that PYR is a YOUTH event.  As such, all participants must meet the USRowing formal definition of a Youth Competitor.  Specifically and per USRowing 4-104.1 Classication by Age: "A Youth is a Competitor who in the current calendar year does not attain the age of 19, or who is and has been continously enrolled in a secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma.  A Competitor thus ceases to be a Youth 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, which- ever is later.

REGARDING "CADETS, COLTS, TYROS...." AND MANY THINGS.  You will each note reference to Age Classifications which will most certainly throw you for a loop...unless you yourself remember racing PYR "back in the day." These classifications are that of CADET, COLT, and TYRO.  In a separate Regatta Bulletin, we will share more about the history and original inception of the Philadelphia Youth Regatta, but - for now - know that the reference to these three classifications is a way to connect our past with our present and our future....and honor Regatta Founder Chuck Colgan.  Chuck Colgan was a Philadelphia rowing legend and tremendous contributor to our sport on many fronts...National Champion Rower, Collegiate and High School Coach, US/FISA/Olympic Referee, Director/Founder of several regattas, and proponent of greater access for disabled athletes and inner city youth.  In starting the Philadelphia Youth Regatta, he created these three classifications, and we will use them going forward in this way:

(a) A Competitor may compete in the CADET category, so long as they meet the eligibility requirements of a Youth Competitor as outlined above and in USRoiwng Rule 4-104.1. (Thus, a CADET is a U19 athlete as well as any athlete who in the calendar year has been continuously enrolled in a secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma).

(b) A Competitor may compete in the COLT category until December 31 of the year of his or her 16th birthday. (Thus, a COLT is a U17 athlete).

(c) A Competitor may compete in the TYRO category until December 31 of the year of his or her 13th birthday.(Thus, a TYRO is a U14 athlete).  We will also consider "NOVICE" athletes as Tyro's.  NOVICE Classification is given to only those students who did not compete in any sweep or sculling event prior to January 1, 2017.