ARA Rules of Racing

Unofficial notes re changes introduced April 2004

These are unofficial notes, not with the authority of the ARA nor of the Rules of Racing Sub-Committee.
For full details of the rules, see the relevant issue of the British Rowing Almanack.
The 2004 changes, and the current 2004 edition of the ARA Rules of Racing (and MSWord version)
are now available on the ARA website, but I have included a few notes here.

Changes to the rules - to take effect from April 2004

Overview -

2-1-6  -  Qualifications of key race officials.
The duties listed, for which a licensed umpire has previously been required, may in future be undertaken by a trainee adopted by their RUC and under the direct supervision of a licensed umpire.
An additional provision is being included, that the starter and race umpire at a multi-lane event should hold a ML-endorsed licence or be a trainee adopted by the MLUC and under the direct supervision of an ML-endorsed umpire.  It is stated that this provision will be mandatory from 1.4.2005, but the operation of this provision will be reviewed during the 2004 season.

2-3-4b  -  Substitution.
Clarification of wording.

2-3-8a  -  Control Commission  -  Equipment Checks.
Heel Restraints.  Reworded to comply with Water Safety Committee advice (after questions were asked about Concept 2 heel plates).
Buoyancy Compartments.  Again reworded to comply with advice from Water Safety Committee.

2-3-9  - Updating racing licences.
Now applied to SARA & WARA licences, as well as to ARA licences.

2-4-6  -  False Start.
Clarification of wording.

2-5-3e  -  Steering.
Further clarification regarding obstructions off the course.

2-5-4b  - Bank Umpires.
Clarification that warnings should be passed on so as to be heard by all other umpires down course.

3-2-1c  -  Senior Classification.
New provision that GB representation at the Adaptive World Championships shall count as a qualifying win.

3-3-3g & h  +  4-1-6c & d  -  Juniors.
The awarding of a senior point for the first qualifying J18A or Sch/J win in a year will now also apply to WJ18A & WSch/J.

5-1-1d  -  General Requirements for regattas.
Clarification regarding SARA & WARA licences.

5-2-3f  -  Closing of Entries.
Draw & timetable need not necessarily be printed for each club, & can be sent by e-mail (for example) if a club can receive it that way.

Changes to the rules - specific wording  

(but now also see official version on ARA website)

Changes to the Rules of Racing as approved by Executive and Council to take effect from 1st April 2004

Note: Changes to the wording of a Rule are denoted in upper case type.

Edit 1.

2-1-6 Qualifications

Of these Key Race Officials, the following shall hold an ARA, SARA, WARA or FISA umpires licence OR BE A TRAINEE ADOPTED BY THEIR REGIONAL UMPIRES COMMISSION AND UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF AN UMPIRE HOLDING ONE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED LICENCES:

. Race Umpire

. Coordinating Umpire

. Head of Control Commission

. Starter

. Judge at the Start

. Chief Judge

THE STARTER AND RACE UMPIRE AT A MULTILANE EVENT SHOULD HOLD A MULTILANE ENDORSED LICENCE OR BE A TRAINEE ADOPTED BY THE MULTILANE COMMISSION AND UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A MULTILANE ENDORSED UMPIRE.
(THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE MANDATORY FROM 1st APRIL 2005).

Edit 2.

2-3-4 Crew Composition

b. Up to half the ROWING MEMBERS OF A crew AND THE COXSWAIN may be substituted before a crew's first race in an event. Any substitute must be ARA registered and approved as eligible by the Organising Committee. Each must be a member of the same club as the oarsman he is replacing or, in the case of a composite crew, of any of the clubs entered as the composite, and must provide a Racing Licence. COXSWAINS ARE BOUND BY THE SAME RULES OF SUBSTITUTION AS AN OARSMAN WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT A SUBSTITUTE COXSWAIN MAY BELONG TO A DIFFERENT CLUB.

c. Further substitutions (DELETE: "OTHER THAN IN 2-3-4b") will only be permitted on the basis of medical evidence produced by the crew or its club. In the absence of a medical certificate the decision of the Race Committee Chairman will be final. An oarsman substituted on medical grounds may not reclaim his original place in the crew.

Edit 3. Revised wording to the second bullet point of Rule 2-3-8a:

2-3-8 Equipment Check

a. heel restraints. ALL BOATS WHERE "FITTED SHOES" ARE EMPLOYED MUST HAVE EFFECTIVE HEEL RESTRAINTS. THESE MUST BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED (THE HEEL SHOULD BE PREVENTED FROM RISING HIGHER THAN THE LOWEST FIXED POINT OF THE SHOE) AND IN WORKING ORDER. LIKEWISE, THE FOOT RELEASE FROM ANY 0THER TYPE OF FITMENT THAT MAY BE USED MUST BE SELFACTING AND NOT REQUIRE THE INTERVENTION OF THE ATHLETE OR A RESCUER.

Edit 4. An additional note is required to the last bullet point of Rule 2-3-8a.

2-3-8 Equipment Check

a. condition and general maintenance of the boat, including the integrity of any buoyancy compartments. NOTE: IF A COMPARTMENT IS FITTED WITH A METHOD OF CLOSING THAT COMPARIMENT, THEN THE FITMENT MUST BE IN PLACE AND INTACT

Edit 5.

2-3-9 Updating Winners' Racing Licences

e. COMPETITORS HOLDING A SARA OR WARA RACING LICENCE MUST HAVE THAT LICENCE UPDATED ACCORDING TO THE RULES GOVERNING AN ARA RACING LICENCE.

Edit 6.

2-4-6 False Start

b. A crew causing a False Start' shall be given an 'Official Warning'. If a crew incurs two 'Official Warnings' FOR THE SAME RACE

Edit 7.

2-5-3 Steering

. Collide with an (DELETE: PERMANENT) obstruction (DELETE: ON OR) off the course.

AN OBSTRUCTION COULD BE ANY STRUCTURE SUCH AS A BRIDGE PIER, PONTOON, WEIR OR OTHER RIVER TRAFFIC IN THE NAVIGATION CHANNEL THAT MAYPROVIDE A RISK OF DAMAGE OR INJURY TO BOAT, EQUIPMENT OR CREW AND MAY INCLUDE THE BANK, STAGING OR HEAVY BUOYS

Remainder of Note as at present.

Edit 8. Revised wording to last bullet point Rule 2-5-4b:

2-5-4 Umpires Instructions

b. Bank Umpires

inform ALL OTHER UMPIRES, JUDGES AND THE COORDINATING UMPIRE of the warning (DELETE: AND ANY EARLIER WARNINGS).

THE ORGANISERS SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH UMPIRE IS PROVIDED WITH THE FACILITIES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.

Edit 9. The National Competition Committee has requested that the following text be

added to the end of the last sentence of Rule 3-2-1 c:

3-2-1 Senior Classification

c. REPRESENTATION FOR GREAT BRITAIN AT THE ADAPTIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SHALL COUNT AS A QUALIFYING WIN.

Edit 10.

3-3-3 Juniors

g. EDIT: WJ18 to WJ18B.

h. The first qualifying J18A, Sch/J, WJ18A OR WSCH/J win in any one year counts for one Senior point.
(DELETE THE NOTE).

Edit 11.

4-1-6 Junior Class

c. The first qualifying J18A, Sch/J, W18A OR WSCH/J win in any one year counts for one Senior point.
(DELETE THE NOTE).

d. EDIT: WJ18 to WJ18B.

Edit 12.

5-1-1 General Requirements

d. The regatta shall TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO ensure that all competitors representing clubs affiliated to the ARA, SARA OR WARA ARE, THEMSELVES, REGISTERED MEMBERS OF THE ARA, SARA OR WARA RESPECTIVELY and are in possession of a current Racing Licence or a day competition ticket where appropriate (see 2-3-3 and 2-3-9). The regatta shall charge the appropriate fee for day competition tickets and shall return the stubs of such tickets to the ARA together with such sum for each day ticket sold as the ARA shall determine annually. Overseas competitors shall not be charged.

For events rowed in playboats, or events held for J13 or lower age groups, registration and day tickets are not required, but event organisers should check their insurance position.

Edit 13.

5-2-3 Closing of Entries

A (DELETE: PRINTED) copy of the draw and timetable of racing for the events entered shall be sent to each of the competing clubs no later than three days before the Regatta. Note: It is insufficient to post the draw on the internet.

The complete 2004 edition of the ARA Rules of Racing (and  MSWord version), together with details of the 2004 changes, are available on the ARA website.

Page produced 1 Jan 2004, last updated 27 Dec 2004.

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