US Rowing
Judge Referee Clinic
The Mystery of the Control Commission
Judge-Referee Committee, 2000
Thank You!
The Judge Referee Committee wishes to acknowledge the contributions
of the following referees who generously donated their time and
expertise to compile this presentation.
Bill Collins, Thousand Oaks, California
Ray Duff, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Vic Fiebig, Springfield, Virginia
Chip Kerby, Montclair, Virginia
Kris Grudt, Gresham, Oregon
Christine Livingston, Alexandria, Virginia
Donna Livingston, Woodbridge, Virginia
Roger Messersmith, Springfield, Virginia
Mike Tremonte, Centerville, Virginia
Dean Vidal, Arlington, Virginia
About This Presentation
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This presentation is one of a series being developed for Judge
Referees.
These presentations are an effort on the part of the Judge
Referee Committee to expand the available training materials
currently available to Referees.
These presentations are developed for the purpose of Judge
Referee education; they may be duplicated and distributed
freely for the use of referees and any other member of the
rowing community.
The Judge Referee Committee hopes to continue to develop
additional presentations.
We welcome your input and comments on this, as well as all
other, presentations. Please contact your regional
representative or your nearest clinician with your comments.
Control Commission Mission
The Control Commission shall verify that
crews and competitors comply with the
Rules of Rowing regarding equipment as
described in Article III and competitors
as described in Article IV.
Personnel
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Judge-Referees
Assistant Referees
Candidates
Local Organizing Committee Members
A Team Effort
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Chief Referee
Regatta Director
Dockmaster
Weigh-In Staff
Marshals
Referees
Responsibilities
Control Commission responsibilities
vary depending on the type of regatta:
 Local Regatta
 National Regatta
 Trials
Responsibilities at All Regattas
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Responsibilities at National Regattas
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising Check
Athlete Verification
Responsibilities at Trials
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising Check
Athlete Verification
Why we care
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Promote safety and fairness
Apply rules uniformly and consistently
Satisfy competitor expectations
Opportunity to excel
11
Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
12
Weigh-in Overview
 Rules are not asterisked; LOC rules vary
 Different rules for rowers & coxswains
 Regattas
 Trials
 Limited guidance regarding process
13
Weigh-in for Rowers
 Men
 Average weight must be 155 lbs or less
 Max weight is 160 lbs
 If juniors, max weight is 150 lbs
 Women
 Max weight is 130 lbs
 Coxswains aren’t counted
14
Weigh-ins for Coxswains
 For women’s events, min weight is 110 lbs
 For men’s events, min weight is 120 lbs
 Lighter coxswains must carry weight
 Close to the coxswain’s torso
 May not distribute throughout boat
 Extra weight “may” be checked by Starter
and at the end of the race, by the following referee
 Tools, cox-boxes, clothing don’t count
15
Weigh-ins at International Regattas
and Trials
 Coxswains
 For women’s events, min weight is 50kg
 For men’s events, min weight is 55kg
 No more than 10kg of ballast permitted
 Rowers
 Women: Avg  57kg; max is 59kg
 Men: Avg  70kg; max is 72.5kg
16
Weigh-in Process
 How often? Once each day
 When? During the weigh-in window
 Window is one-hour long
 Window starts 2 hours before and ends 1
hour before scheduled time of first race in
which weight is relevant
 In what? Racing uniform, without shoes
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What’s not addressed
 How many times can competitors
weigh-in?
 Does it matter how heavy they are?
 How heavy is too heavy?
 Do you round? NO!
 Can a protest be filed? If so, when?
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Managing the Process
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Preparing the area
Managing the area
Respect the competitors
Communicate results
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Preparing the Area
 Check scales
 Are they correct?
 If more than one, equalize the scales
 Check volunteers and equipment
 Logs, stamp pads, stamps, wrist bands
 Clock, radio or other communication
devices
 Be ready when window opens!!!
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Managing the Area
 Think finish line decorum!
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One crew at a time
Have coxswain prepare paperwork
Coaches welcome
Quiet is beautiful
Prioritize “re-weighs”
 De-mystify the process!!!
 If possible, post the weigh-in procedure
for the crews to follow
21
Respect the Competitors
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Don’t have food lying around
Don’t coddle; don’t be officious
Don’t make weight jokes
Watch what you say, and how you say it
22
Communicate Results
 Mark with stamp or wrist band
competitors who make weight
 Report boats that don’t make weight
 Report boats carrying ballast and
amount
 Who needs to know?
 Dockmaster
 Control commission
 Start (and following referees)
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Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
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Equipment to Be Checked
 Foot Quick-Release Devices
(Heel Tie Downs)
 Bowballs
 Bow Numbers
 Coxswain’s Cockpit
(Bow Loading Coxswains)
 Oar Blades
25
Quick Release Device
 NO HANDS!!!
 Pull strings max three (3) inches (7.5 cm)
 “Any pull strings shall not allow the heel to
rise more than three inches.”
 Clog type shoes are exempt
 provided athlete’s feet are not tied in
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Bowballs
 Must be White or Fluorescent
 4 cm minimum in diameter
 Must be Supple or Plastic
(No Tennis Balls with Duct tape)
 Rule 3-105 does allow for a substitution
if an ‘equivalent provision for visibility
and protection against puncture injury
is included in the boat’s basic
construction’
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Bow Numbers
 Indicates either the crew’s lane
assignment or a participant number
 Be sure to check that the bow number
matches the lane assignment/participant
number assigned in the program
 All crews should have one to ensure clear
identification at the finish
 LOC and Boat Crew Responsibility
 The “But no one gave me a bow number”
excuse
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Bow Loading Cox
 70 cm long by 50 cm wide
 Must be free from snags and
obstructions
 Do not assume all boats will comply
 you must check
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Oars
 Uniform Colors
 Composite crew exempt
 May have unpainted oars if all rowers in crew
have unpainted oars
 Sweep - 5 mm minimum thick, 3 mm from tip
 Scull - 3 mm minimum thick, 2 mm from tip
 No “Knife Edges”
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Boat Safety Check Area
 When possible, check the boats before they
approach the launch area; have referees walk
through the boat storage area, marking
inspected boats
 Position slings along the path to the dock
 Make the checks BEFORE the boat starts
down the ramp to launch
 The time to fix problems is not on the dock
 Be quick, but thorough. Keep the shells
moving
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Boat Safety Check Process
 Communicate directly with the
Coxswain
 Hold boats with changes on slings
 Do not let them on to the dock
 Recheck boats as applicable
 If you are delaying a boat, communicate
the crew name and the event to the starter
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Tips for Checking Boats
 Have a 3 inch measuring device
 Mark the measurements for the
Coxswain’s cockpit on your flag for
quick measurement
 Wiggle the bowball to check it
 Check that the bow ball is supple
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Respect the Competitors
 Don’t be officious
 Be helpful in suggestions for making
boats comply
 Do not talk to the rowers
 They are concentrating on their
upcoming race
 Do not engage in banter about the
legality or necessity of the rules
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The Moral of the Story...
he thing to learn from this story is that we are there to
ensure the safety of all competitors. These checks should
be done prior to the launching of the crews.
Be polite, be helpful, be firm, and be consistent. Explain
to the Coxswain (or Coach) exactly what needs to be
fixed on their boat, and offer suggestions if needed. Have
measuring devices, or marked flagpoles, handy so that
each boat is measured with consistency.
If possible, check the boats well before the launch times.
Remember that when crews are heading down to launch,
time is everything to them. When they are ready,
recheck their boat as soon as possible. Communicate to
the start if a boat that needs to be fixed will be late. It
will save the Starter time and reassure the crew.
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Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
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Overview
 Rules are not asterisked
 Limited guidance regarding process
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Equipment Check
 National team trials and major
Championship regattas may have boat
weigh-ins. These weigh-ins may apply
to all crews or just the winning crews.
 The equipment of any crew may be
checked at any time during the regatta,
and the LOC should provide a facility
for a crew to check the weight of its boat
prior to racing
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What equipment is included
 The weight of a boat does not include
oars, detachable loudspeaker, or
electronic equipment
 Items that are not permanently affixed to
the boat are not included
 Seats, rudders, skegs, fins, and riggers
are included in the boat’s weight
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The Weights
 The following are minimum weights:
Category
Weight (lbs)
Weight (kgs)
1x
30.86
14
2x, 2-
59.53
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2+
70.55
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4-
110.23
50
4+
112.44
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4x
114.64
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4x+
116.85
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8+
205.03
93
8x
213.85
97
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Penalties
 If a crew’s equipment is found not to
comply, the crew will not be placed
 The Jury will decide whether to accept the
race results without the offending crew or
to have the race re-rowed
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What’s not addressed
 Can a protest be filed? If so, when?
 What is the proper process for weighing
the boat?
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Managing the Process
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Preparing the area
Managing the area
Respect the competitors
Communicate results
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Preparing the Area
 Check scales
 Are they correct?
• Use certified weights to ensure that they are
correct
 If more than one, equalize scales
 Ensure scales are steady enough to hold
the weight of a shell
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Managing the Area
 Think finish line decorum
 One crew at a time
 Coaches welcome
 Do not announce boat weight
 Give the weight to Chief Referee or Trials
Director
 Give the weight to the crew and/or coach
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Respect the Competitors
 Don’t make jokes about racing or the
rules
 Watch what you say
 Be respectful. As referees, we should
remember to respect all levels of
competitors.
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The Moral of the Story...
he thing to know you are there to ensure that everything
was done within the rules and that the fastest boat, given
all the conditions are equal, will advance. The boat
weight is included in keeping races fair. Weigh each boat
on the same scale, or make sure you keep the scales
equalized at all time. This will prevent any protests on
the basis of boat weight.
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Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
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The Dockmaster: The Who and What
 LOC appointee or Judge-Referee who is
familiar with the course launch and recovery
facilities
 Controls the flow of the launching and
recovery process – determines who gets on
which dock, when, and for how much time
 Last line of “defense” for boat safety
equipment verifications
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Preparing for the day
 Attend the pre-race meetings
 Know the schedule of the races
 Know the scratches
 Know the docking window for the day
• Know the intervals for first and second calls.
 If you can, get an assistant
 To track which crews have launched
 To be the line of communication with start
for late arriving crews
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Managing the Process:
Control Your Dock
 Keep control of the dock
 Do not allow boats to jam up
 Direct the Coxswains to the exact spot you
want them at
• Do not let them decide for themselves
 Do not allow crews to stack equipment
on the dock
 Ties up dock space and creates a hazard
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Managing the Launch Process
 Try to maintain launch windows as
closely as possible
 Know the order of races and which races
have been called
 Give preference to crews that are late
 Use your assistant (or LOC volunteer) to
track down crews that are missing
 Accommodate early launches as possible
 Never leave the docks unattended
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Managing the Final Check Process
 Make sure the Coxswains understand the
traffic pattern before they launch
 Especially if it is a novice crew or visiting crew
 Do a final check of each boat for bow number
and bow ball
 Check Coxswain’s carrying extra weight, if
applicable
 Note that Coxswain had weight when launching
on your schedule
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Managing the Post-Launch Process
 Do not let teammates or coach linger on
the dock giving encouragement or
instructions
 Make sure all excess equipment are
removed; e.g., shoes, water bottles,
clothing
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Managing the Recovery Process
 Need to recover boats on the dock as
soon as possible
 Do not let boats stack up out on the water
 For safety reasons, track returning crews
 Especially important during head races
 Helpful if there are two dockmasters
 One for launching and one for recovery
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Managing the Recovery Process
 Be aware of boats that will be relaunching
 Be aware of any emergencies that may
arise while crews are waiting and how
to manage the emergency
 Medical emergencies
 Boat problems
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Knowledge and Tools
 Have a general knowledge of boat and oar
“problems”
 Have spare bow numbers and bowballs
 Have communications with the Starter and
Finish Line
 The dockmaster is essential in running a regatta
on time
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Respect the Competitors
 Be calm and courteous
 Use a megaphone instead of yelling
 Be neutral
 Watch what you say and how you say it
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The Moral of the Story...
he key to being a good dockmaster is maintaining control
of the situation. Have a plan of who, what, and where so
that you can keep the flow onto and off of the dock
constant.
Know the schedule of the races. Remember, crews are
leaving to race, so try not to disrupt their focus.
Be watchful of returning crews. Make sure they have no
medical emergencies that were not detected on the water.
Be accommodating to late crews – they are nervous
enough and any help you can offer them will go a long
way. Keep in communication with the Starter so they
know which crews will be late arriving.
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Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
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Role of the Start Marshal
 Primary role is to support the Starter
 Check in boats as they arrive
 Locate boats that have not yet arrived
 Maintain a smooth, timely flow of boats
from the marshalling area to the
starting line
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Overview
 No rules address standard Sprint
Regattas; LOC rules vary
 US Rules of Rowing Section 8 addresses
Head Races
 Rules identify penalties that may be
assigned by the Marshal or Starter
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Start Marshal at Head Races
 8-104 Officials (non-asterisked)
 “The Marshal…is responsible for organizing
participating crews into proper order and
interval.”
 8-105 Qualification of Officials (asterisked)
 “The…Marshal…shall possess a valid
US Rowing Judge-Referee license.”
 Exemptions may be granted by the US Rowing
Judge-Referee Committee if requested by the
LOC
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Start Marshal and Penalties
for Head Races
 Penalties may be assigned by the
Marshal or Starter
 For a delay, a crew can be moved back in
the starting order
 Exclusion
 Time Penalties
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What’s Not Addressed
 Chief Referee can assign one or more
Start Marshals for a sprint regatta
based on:
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Coordination with LOC
Experience of Rowers
Size of Regatta
Race intervals
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Managing the Process
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Checking in Crews
Communicating with the Starter
Positioning Crews
Maintaining Safety in the Marshalling
Area
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Checking In Crews
 Be at your position from before the first crew
arrives until the last boat leaves your area
 Check boats in as they enter Marshalling area
 Give them directions where to go
 If their race is soon, keep them close
 Group the crews for the next race before the
preceding race is started
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Communicating with the Starter
 Start Marshall and Starter should
decide the level of communications
before the regatta
 Find out the information that the Starter
wants reported and when they would like
the information
 Be sure not to try to report to the Starter
when they are in the process of starting an
event
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Positioning Crews
 Ensure crews for the next event are ready to
take their place on the starting line
 Crews are still responsible for being at the start
on time
 Keep all crews within hearing distance
 They need to hear when their race is called
 Answer any last minute questions of crews
 Know the recovery dock traffic pattern
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Maintaining Safety
 Be aware of all boats within the
Marshalling area
 Watch for any traffic pattern or LOC
rule violations
 Do not be afraid to issue penalties
• Notify starter of all penalties issued
• If one does something, they will all soon follow
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Respect the Competitors
 Do not coddle; do not be officious
 Remain neutral to all crews; do not wish
a particular crew “Good Luck”
 Let the Coxswains direct their crews; if
need be, you can offer assistance to the
Coxswain
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The Moral of the Story...
He Start Marshall is a key player to keeping the regatta
running on time. Keep track of all crews in the
Marshalling area so they will be easy to find when it’s
their race.
Follow the instructions of the Starter as to what to report
and when. For example, reporting when all boats for a
race are present or the status of a missing boat.
The rowers are at the final step before their race, so
direct all comments to the Coxswain. The rowers will be
in their “race mode” and disturbing this can have an
effect on their race.
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Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
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General Provisions
Provides for advertisement on equipment and
clothing by manufacturers and sponsors
If a manufacturer’s area is not being used, a
sponsor CANNOT use it instead
The advertisement need not be the same on
equipment, oars, and clothing BUT within each
of these categories, there can be only ONE
manufacturer and ONE sponsor
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General Provisions
 The Rules apply per crew
 That is, a 4+ does not need to have the
same advertisements as the 8+ from the
same team
 No tobacco products
 No alcohol advertisement for alcohol that
is greater than 15%
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General Provisions
An advertisement may consist of:
 Company name
 Company trademark
 And/or the name of the product/service
All the elements above may be used in
combination, but they must appear together
and be related to a single company or a single
service
 Different companies’ advertisements cannot be
combined
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Determining the size
 Size is determined by drawing vertical
and horizontal lines at right angles from
the extreme most tips of the
advertisement
 If an advertisement contains a
background color that is different from
that of the item it is on, this is counted in
the size of the advertisement
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Exemptions
 The Chief Referee may excuse a crew
from this Rule for good cause
 Exemptions may also be granted by
USRowing
 Advertising rules do not extend to LOC
 Programs, billboards, and regatta
installations
78
Oars
 Advertisements must be inside
the collar
 Manufacturer advertisement cannot
exceed 100 cm2
 Sponsor advertisement cannot exceed
100 cm2 with one of the linear
measurements not exceeding 5 cm
79
Boat Manufacturer
 The name, address, trademark and name
of product may appear inside boat
 Cannot exceed 50 cm2
 May also appear on outside of the boat
 Once on each side of the boat
(including gunwale and washboards)
 Cannot exceed 30 cm2
80
Boat Sponsor
May appear once on the bow and once on the
stern canvas
May also appear as follows:
 On 1x, 2x, 2-, 2+, once on each side
 4x, 4-, 4+, 2 times each side (Maximum)
 8+, 8x, 4 times each side (Maximum)
Advertisement on the sides of boats must be
identical
Each advertisement, individually, cannot
exceed 700 cm2
81
Equipment in the Boat
 Electronic Devices
 Internal loudspeaker may have the name
and trademark of the manufacturer
 Footgear
 Any footgear attached to the stretcher
may have the name and trademark of
the manufacturer
82
Clothing
 Crew’s clothing must be identical
 Any advertisement appearing on a crew
member’s clothing must be identical in
design, size and location for each member
of the crew
 Headgear may be of the individual’s own
choosing and need not be identical to
those worn by other crew members.
83
Clothing Manufacturer
 Each manufacturer of a main item of
clothing (e.g., shirt, shorts) may have an
advertisement appear once
 It cannot exceed 16 cm2
 Items such as socks, hats, headbands
and other incidental clothing cannot
have any visible manufacturer
advertisements
84
Clothing Sponsor
 An advertisement for a sponsor can
appear on a competitor’s clothing
only once
 For example, if the advertisement is on the
shirt, it cannot appear on the shorts of the
same competitor
 The advertisement cannot exceed 50 cm2
85
The Moral of the Story...
he key to checking advertising is to know the
measurements. Be sure to have a ruler or similar device
that measures in centimeters. Also, have a copy of the
rules for reference. Remember, the Chief Referee or
USRowing may exempt a crew. Remember to check the
advertising prior to the crew launching for their event.
86
Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
87
The Role of Control Commission
 The Control Commission will verify all
crews and competitors, including:
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Substitution of competitors
Replacement of competitor due to illness
Weigh ins for Lightweights and Coxswains
Classification by age of competitors
Classification by skill of competitors
 These rules are not asterisked; LOC
rules may vary
88
Submission of Entries
 Crews seeking to enter shall submit entries,
in writing, to LOC along with payment
 LOC may establish two different deadlines
 One for general entries and another for the
clubs to identify members of a crew
 Regatta secretary shall not report any
information regarding the entries until the
date has passed.
 LOC shall provide a list with the names of
the clubs and boatings of all crews being
entered
89
General
 Each crew member must be a bona fide
member of the club
 Exemptions are made for composite crews
and single scullers
 A competitor can only represent 1 club
 For Championships regattas, each crew
member must be a member of USRowing
or if international crew, a member of their
National Rowing Federation, which is
recognized by either FISA or the National
Olympic Committee
90
Composite Crews
 A composite crew includes competitors
from more than one club
 A composite crew may substitute its
rowers following the rules, however, it
will still remain a composite crew
regardless of the subsequent
substitutions
91
False Entries
 Chief Referee or delegate can EXCLUDE
any crew if it is determined that there
was an intentional deception on the entry
form
 Deception is the falsehood of any
information relevant to the competitive
status. This includes the identity,
classification, amateur standing, and
affiliation of competitors
92
Substitutions
A crew may substitute up to one half of its
rowers, as well as the coxswain, before the first
race of the event in which the crew is entered
 LOC may reject this substitution if it is not done in
writing up to one hour before
There are no substitutions for a single scull
unless it’s due to injury or illness
After the first race of the event, the
composition of the crew must remain the same
unless a competitor becomes injured or ill
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Competitor Illness
 If the Chief Referee finds that illness or injury
prevents a rower, except a single scull, from
competing, a substitution at any time before the
event is completed may be made
 A certificate from a health professional is required
unless the Chief Referee deems it unnecessary
 A club may replace a single scull who has
become injured or ill any time before the first
race in that event
 After the first race, there are no substitutions!
 Participant may compete in subsequent races if
returned to good health
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Challenges
Another crew may challenge an entry up
to one hour after final race in that event
Will be handled like other protests
95
Respect the Competitors
 Do question, but approach in a civilized
manner
 Handle all challenges with the same
privacy you would other protests
 You are not the judge of an illness or
injury, the Chief Referee is.
96
The Moral of the Story...
he verification of athletes is important because it helps to
ensure the fair outcome of the event. Know the rules
about substitutions and illness. Refer anyone who wants
to substitute rowers to the LOC, because that is who they
need to notify, in writing. Contact the Chief Referee in
cases of illness/injury. Don’t be accusatory towards any
crew.
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Agenda
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Weigh-Ins
Boat Safety
Boat Weights
Dockmaster
Start Marshal
Advertising
Athlete Verification
Drug Testing
98
Overview
 In general, USRowing Referees are no
longer directly involved in the drug
testing procedures at trials
 USOC representatives will set the
procedures for each testing site
 The Chief will coordinate any
involvement of Judge-Referees with the
USOC
99
What You should know:
Use of Drugs
 Prohibited from rowing either in practice or
in a race under the influence or effect of a
drug, or other medical practice such as blood
doping, that can enhance athletic capabilities,
or is considered a controlled dangerous
substance under the laws of the United States.
 USRowing adopts the regulations and
procedures of the United States and the
International Olympic Committee, as well as
FISA.
100
What You should know:
About Drug Testing at Trials
 Participation in trials events is
considered consent to a drug test
 Apart from a positive result, all
information collected as a result of these
tests will be kept confidential
101
What You should know:
About the Test Area
 The USOC will have a separate and
secure facility designated for drug
testing
 In general, the USOC brings all their
own equipment
 No one goes near the facility while
competitors are present
102
Respect the Competitors
 Don’t make jokes; do not try to make
light of the situation
 Watch what you say; this is a very
sensitive time for athletes
 Be respectful
 No one likes to be tested for drugs, keep
your thoughts and experiences to
yourself
103
The Moral of the Story...
eing tested for drugs is not something anyone, especially
an elite athlete, takes lightly, and neither should you.
Keep the security around the testing facility tight. Do not
allow outside interference into this area. This facility is
for drug testing only.
104