RegattaCentral

Rules and Regulations

In addition to the rules of USRowing, the following rules will apply.  Complete rules of USRowing are available in PDF form on their website www.usrowing.org.

The Executive Board of the GSSCR reserves the right to request the removal of any person or persons from the regatta site for unsportsmanlike conduct or breaking of the rules.  Removal from the site may lead to a ban of that person or persons from future regattas as determined by the Executive Board.

Access to the race course by anyone other than race officials or safety personnel is prohibited.  Exception to this rule would be for a credentialed member of the press or VIP approved by at least two members of the Executive Board of the GSSCR.  Notification of this exception must be provided to the Chief Referee prior to access to the race course.

All questions of eligibility, qualification or interpretations of any rule shall be referred to the Chief Referee whose decision shall be made in coordination with the GSSCR Executive Committee.  This decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.

Athletic Eligibility Limitation

1. Eligibility is assigned to students in their freshman through senior year (grades 9 through 12).
2. Each athlete has four consecutive years (eight consecutive semesters) of eligibility beginning in September of their freshman year (9th grade).
3. A rower or coxswain cannot have reached his or her 19th birthday prior to September 1st of that academic year.
4. After four consecutive years (eight consecutive semesters), a student will have completed his/her athletic eligibility and may no longer participate in the GSSC Regatta.
5. The four consecutive years (eight consecutive semesters) begins with the student’s initial enrollment in the 9th grade.
6. Post Graduates, fifth year students are not permitted.
7. Freshman shall be designated as those athletes in the 9th grade as listed on their team roster.
8. Junior events are restricted to competitors in the 11th grade (junior year) or lower.
9. Juniors, including coxswains, must not have attained the age of 18 years prior to September 1st of that academic year.
10. 12th grade (senior) students shall not compete in junior events.

Regatta rules

1. All paperwork and fees must be submitted prior to racing.  No registration will be onsite at the race course. 
2. Freshman boats may not race in varsity events.  Rowers in freshman events must have less than one year of rowing experience. May only row in Freshman 4+ or 8+ not both.
3. All races will be 1500 meters.
4. $50.00 cash shall accompany all protest. 
5. There will be a 20-second equipment breakage rule.
6. There must be two crews entered or the event will be canceled.
7. The dock master must be notified of all hot-seat boats before the boat goes out for its first race.
8. The event schedule is subject to change depending on the entries received.
9. All athletes and coaches are reminded that sportsmanlike conduct is expected.

Specifics:

1. All boats shall have their own lane #’s and must be equipped with a bow ball and foot release straps.  Each team must provide their own bow numbers. All boats will be checked.

2. Launch when called

• Have someone carry oars to the dock for your crew
• Tie in on the water
• Try to keep it to 90 seconds on the dock.

3. Follow buoys away from the dock

4. Row up to the start staying outside lane 1. Proceed directly to the marshalling area.
    
   • • Under no circumstances should any crew go onto the course until called to your lane at the starting line.
     • The course will be buoyed and lanes easily identified.
     • Try to stop, if possible, when a race is coming down but do not make yourself late to the start.

5. Get most of your warm-up done on land before launching.

6. Once in the marshalling area follow the marshal’s instruction.  As one event is lining up on the stakeboats the next race shall be sitting next to the course waiting to go to your lane.

7. Boats will enter the course once the previous race clears the breakage zone and go in descending order starting with lane 6 going across first, then lane 5, etc...

8. Get onto the stake boats quickly and get your point.  Be sure that your crews know how to spike the boat around to get their point.

9. Be ready to start at any moment.  With a tight schedule the starter can not and will not wait for boats that are not following instructions or are not getting into the stake boats in a timely manner.  Count down starts will be used at the starter’s discretion.

10. Stakeboat use will be suspended at the starter’s discretion if wind is making it difficult to get boats locked on in a timely manner.

11. Races will not be held up for hot seating or crews not in the marshalling area prior to your event being called to the line.

12. Should the breakage zone not be clearly marked there will be a 20-second equipment breakage rule.  If you break equipment in the zone stop, raise your hand and notify the officials immediately.  Jumped slides, crabs, and problems with the cox box do NOT count as breakage.

13. After you cross the finish line stop, follow the buoy line steering your boat toward starboard.  Steer well clear of boats launching and proceed to the landing dock.
     
14. Coaches have someone on the landing dock to get your crews oars off the dock quickly.  Again no more than 90 seconds on the dock.

15. If after the race you wish to protest you must sit at the finish line and raise your hand.  An official will come over and listen to your protest.  They will either make a decision there or tell you to write a formal protest and give it to the Chief Referee.  If they give you a decision on the water but you still feel that is not acceptable you can appeal to the Chief Referee in writing.
     
16. Please note that with the tight schedule it is unlikely we will be able to rerow any race.  The foul would have to be fairly serious and egregious to warrant a rerow.  The best you may hope for is the exclusion of an offending crew.

17. Not being ready to start will not be considered a valid protest.  Once you get to the stakeboat you must ready yourself right away.  Races will start without you if you can not control your boat.