Click Below for the Approved 2023 Rules Changes

Dear member,

Following the closing of the community feedback period, the USRowing staff, referee

committee, and rules committee reviewed the proposed 2023 rules changes.

The following determinations were made:

• To be accepted: Proposal to update Rule 2-502 Placement of Crews; Dead Heats Current

text of the rule (Meisner, H.)

• To be referred for consideration for Safety Guidelines: Proposal to add Rule 3-111:

Navigation Lights (Zalkind Mayor, M.)

• To be rejected: Proposal to change 4-104.1 Classification by Age (Anderson, B.)

• To be accepted: Proposal to change Rule 11-402 Classification by Age (Sleigh, R.)

The accepted rule change regarding 2-502 updates the language to better reflect the actual

process and the time it takes to complete the process.

The accepted rule change regarding 11-402 adds additional age categories in masters rowing

already recognized in indoor records and in recognition of continued participation in our sport.

Instead of being added to the Rules of Racing, rule 3-111 will be considered for addition to

USRowing’s Safety Guidelines. While navigation lights are already required in the dark, racing in

the dark is extremely limited and is strongly discouraged due to safety concerns. If rowing in the

dark takes place, proper lighting of the vessel is required by law, and we will remind members

as such through the safety guidelines instead of the racing rules.

The changes to rule 4-104.1 and the definition of eligibility for Youth will not be implemented at

this time. Responses regarding the proposal during the comment period were notably divided.

Proponents praised the alignment of eligibility with the average high school enrollment year

and the opportunity for athletes to consistently race with classmates. Opponents voiced strong

concerns about the lack of alignment with World Rowing and other USRowing age categories,

differences in the start and end date of school years across regions, and the proposal only

pertaining to USRowing championships.

Additionally, the definition of Youth was changed just last year to codify the longstanding

precedent that the Youth category is a U19 category, allowing an exception for only those U20

athletes who are continuously enrolled in secondary education to remain eligible for

participation in the USRowing Youth Series. By redefining U19 as “A Competitor may compete

in the U19 category provided they don’t turn 19 from September 1 to August 31” of what is

described in the proposal as “the current racing year […] calendar year,” U20 athletes would

become eligible for Youth Nationals regardless of their educational enrollment as long as their

birthday is after September 1 of the current year. We believe this substantially alters the

definition of Youth in a manner that changes longstanding intention, and we currently are not

supportive of that change.

If you have any questions at this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out at

members@usrowing.org.