How do I start the process of becoming a rowing official?

Contact Allison Frederick at USRowing by emailing allison@usrowing.org, or contact the regional referee representative in your geographic region, whose names and contacts can be found under the Referee Directory tab.

Do I have to have been a rower to officiate?

No. But familiarity with the sport is certainly a plus.  Coaches, parents, and coxes have all proved to be excellent officials even if they have not rowed. If you have not rowed, you might volunteer to cox during a club practice just to get a sense of how difficult it is to maneuver a shell. And you will have to get down a fair amount of nomenclature to speak rowing properly -- a crab is not a salad; a stretcher is not for paramedics, etc. But you can be trained if you have a natural ability to multi-task and to be aware of what is going on around you. 

Where does one get referee gear and equipment ?

For official shirts, patches, and hats, contact USRowing merchandise at www.usrowing.org. Other equipment such as megaphones and stopwatches can be purchased locally.

Why should a person not think of being an official?

If you have difficulty projecting your voice or difficulty in giving crisp, clear commands, or in taking responsibility for the safety of upwards of  54 or more bodies over a mile and a quarter, you should probably volunteer to help in some other capacity at a regatta. Also, if you cannot swim, or have physical handicaps that would prevent you from fulfilling your duties on the water over the course of a day of racing, you should help in some other area than officiating.

Do I have to be a member of USRowing to be an official?

Yes. This is a question of liability insurance, as well as a token of support of the national governing body for the sport.

How long does the candidacy period last?

Until one has completed the requirements for sitting for the Assistant Referee Exam. Generally, it takes a minimum of a number of months depending on the number of regattas and the intensity of the work, done at them, that would make you feel comfortable in taking a race down the course by yourself.

How long does the Assistant Referee period last?

Between two and four years during which time one must complete all the apprenticeship requirements before sitting for the oral and written exams for plenary referee.

What's a protest?

It is a crew's request of the official to rectify a wrong done to them in the course of the competition by restoring their chance at a better placement in a race. The protestor states the infringement of the crew's right to a safe and fair race and what remedy is sought for that infringement. Any protest for race incidents must be lodged on the water at the end of the race with the official who has followed the race; that official may uphold or deny it there. If the protestor is not happy with that official's decision on the water, he or she may then ask that the jury be convened to hear the protest more formally on land. In the later case the race results are unofficial until the protest has been resolved.

What is the Referee Commission?

The Referee Commission is a committee of the United States Rowing Association whose purpose is to oversee the training and continuing education of officials throughout the country in order to ensure the highest standards of safety, fairness, and ethical conduct among rowing community and the fair and consistent application of the Rules of Rowing. It meets two to three times a year and by email and conference call. It also acts as an arbiter of appeals to protest rulings done by on-site juries. It also determines the validity of licenses of referees, the assignment of chief referees to national regattas, and the nomination of referees for international regattas.

What's a start flag?

Normally a red flag is used to start a race by the starter. For better visibility a red flag with a white crisscross is also allowed. It is the movement of this flag downwards that actually starts a race.

How does the Referee at the Start differ from the Aligner?

The aligner brings crew even to the plane of the start by either talking directly to them or through headsets to the stake boat holders. The Referee at the Start determines by watching both the start flag and the bows at the line if any crews jump the start. He is the sole determiner of a false start that immediately stops the race. Oftentimes, in smaller regattas the two jobs are compressed into one. At large regattas, the Referee at the start has the benefit of split screen TV to monitor both the bows and the start flag.

What's a primary referee?

An informal designation of the referee "covering" the lower numbered lanes in a race which has two separate referee launches. The other referee is sometimes called the secondary or suppliant referee. Sometimes this second referees withdraws after the first 500 meters of the race is safely completed. In international competitions, there is only one referee launch per race.

What is the Sacramento Shuffle?

A launch placement, developed by Bob Scurria at the PCRC in Sacramento, which places referees every 500 meters along the course as monitors. After a race passes them by, each monitoring referee moves back towards the start by 500 meters until eventually he becomes the referee going down the course. In this way only one referee is needed to take a race down the course and wakes are minimized by officials in the race and by those returning to the start for the next race. Safety is enhanced by having competent rescue/safety/officiating boats in reserve all along the race course who can join in the race at any point where they are needed. This kind of progression works especially well at championship events with competent crews when there are sufficient numbers of referees and launches to accomplish its goals.

When is a race official?

When the referee on the water signals to the rowers and to the Chief Referee at the Finish with a white flag and after the race and the chief referee signals back with a white flag accepting his finish time.

When does a crew leave its lane?

When any part of the boat or oars are in another lane.

What's a reprimand?

A verbal sanction imposed on a crew by an official for a minor violation of rules or procedures at a regatta so that the crew may rectify it at once without incurring a more serious penalty. A reprimand imposes no handicap on a crew. Repeated instances of the same or similar violations may incur a stronger penalty. Examples:  wrong bow number on the shell; lack of uniformity in dress in a shell.

What's a warning?

A serious imposition on the crew for a violation of traffic, safety, rules, or good sportsmanship. It is recorded and accompanies a crew for the duration of the race or can be carried into a subsequent race if the warning was imposed outside of a race situation. A second warning for whatever offense excludes the crew from its race.  Examples of warnings: false start, violation of traffic pattern en route to a race, or after a race (in which case the penalty is carried with the crew into their next heat or final).

What's an exclusion?

Conduct of the crew has been egregious enough to remove it from a race either because of a foul or because of some serious violation of the Rules of Rowing or because of the accumulation of a second warning.

What's a disqualification?

A serious offense which causes the crew not only to be excluded from its race but from any subsequent races at the same regatta. The crew's actions are reported to the Referee Commission for examination. Individuals may also be disqualified. Example: flagrant and intentional violations of fairness and safety at a regatta, or abusive language or action taken toward other competitors or officials on or off the water.

What is a NSR Regatta?

These are regattas that have been singled out by the Referee Commission as models for the entire rowing community by the way they are managed. They are meant to be teaching/learning venues for referees and substantially meet the requirements of a Class A course.  This designation is an honor to be sought and establishes that the regatta is following the highest standards. Referees must officiate at one of these regattas on a regular basis to keep their license current.  Regatta organizers are encouraged to visit one of these regattas as a model for smaller regattas.