What do the umpire's flags and commands mean?
Rule- South Africa
- Rowing South Africa
- SASRU
- RowSA Rules of Racing 2020
- Schools rowing
- U14-Open
- 2025/26
- Coxswains
At the start
- Aligner: "TOUCH", "BACK" and "HOLD" (with your crew identified and the distance to move) to get you level. A white flag raised with "HOLD IT ALL CREWS" means you're aligned.
- Umpire: "ATTENTION" with the red flag raised above the head, then "GO" as the red flag drops. That's the start.
- Rolling start: "PREPARE TO RACE" from the aligner as you approach the line, then "ATTENTION" and an immediate "GO".
- False start: the aligner waves a red flag and calls "FALSE START", and the umpire sounds a siren, bell or whistle and waves the red flag. Stop and return to the start.
During the race
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| White flag raised, your crew's name called, flag lowered to one side | You're about to interfere or leave your lane: steer the way the flag points |
| White flag vertical, two crews' names, "KEEP APART" | Both crews move apart |
| White flag up, "STOP" or "STOP ROWING" (possibly "OBSTACLE") | Stop rowing now: danger ahead or from another crew's steering |
| White flag raised vertically, your crew's name, flag dropped forward, "CONTINUE ROWING" | Start rowing again |
At the finish: a white flag means the race was in order. A red flag means there is an objection, or the umpire thinks the race wasn't properly run.
Cards: a yellow card is a warning, and two in one race make a red. A red card means your crew is excluded from that race.
Added 22 Oct 2026