Parent's Guide to British Rowing Junior Rowing J11-J18 (Years 6-13) 2026

RowSafe expects every rower to know what to do if their boat capsizes or swamps. They should attend any capsize and recovery training the club offers, or complete British Rowing's online Capsize Training for Rowers module.

The key steps: get free of the boat, get out of the water, then get off the water. Stay with the boat and use it as a life raft unless that puts you in more danger, and don't swim with the boat unless you're close to the bank in easy conditions.

Clubs are expected to:

• run capsize training in a swimming pool or other safe setting, covering:
  • getting free of an upturned boat, including getting feet out of the shoes
  • climbing on top of the boat, and "straddle and paddle"
  • calling for help
  • buddy rescue and throw-line recovery
• keep a record of each member's capsize training for coaches
• have policies for juniors and beginners who haven't been trained, for example requiring them to wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid

Coaches are expected to:

• teach rowers to check their heel restraints routinely before going afloat
• avoid holding rowers at front stops, where boats are unstable
• avoid whole-crew catch drills with less experienced rowers

At races (Rules of Racing): coxes must wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Coxes in bow-loader boats must wear a manually inflated gas lifejacket.

In training (RowSafe guidance): a lifejacket should be worn when:

• coxing, or riding in a launch
• the rower can't float or swim
• the rower is a junior who hasn't completed a capsize drill, if the club's risk assessment says so
• a medical condition means they could become unconscious or unable to move while afloat
• the club or coach requires it

Clubs are expected to make lifejackets available to all rowers and to train members in using them, including crotch straps. Inflatable lifejackets should never be worn under other clothing, and should be checked before each use and serviced at least once a year.

British Rowing junior age bands follow the school year and run from 1 September to 31 August.

A junior is anyone who hadn't turned 18 by midnight on the 1 September before the competition.

• Older than their school year? A junior whose age band is higher than their school year group can apply to the National Competition Committee to race one band lower. The application needs approval from a parent and the club welfare and safeguarding officer, plus confirmation from the school. It lasts for that academic year only. Only one rower per crew can use it, and it doesn't apply to singles, pairs or doubles.
• "School/Junior" events extend J18 so that pupils in full-time secondary education can race at junior level until the day before their 19th birthday.

Under the Rules of Racing, juniors in J14 or below:

• can't race in sweep-oared events (one oar each). They race sculling events (two oars each). They can still cox sweep boats.
• can't race more than one age band above their own (for example, a J13 can race J14 but not J15), and can't race in Senior events. Para-rowers, adaptive rowers and coxes are exempt from this one.

Events open only to J13 or younger don't earn ranking points.

To race in a British Rowing affiliated competition, your child must:

• be a registered British Rowing member with Race (or Life) membership, or have a Day Ticket for that day, where British Rowing allows it and the competition accepts it, and
• be a member of, and represent, an affiliated club (or a club affiliated to another recognised association).

Members with Row membership (or Coach or Umpire membership) can only race in:

• Primary events. These are for newcomers who haven't won a qualifying event. They're raced over courses of no more than 800m, with at least two races per entry.
• Stable (recreational) boat competitions.

Members of affiliated clubs can't race in other rowing competitions unless the competition runs under British Rowing rules, or those of a body recognised by British Rowing or World Rowing, or the Sport Committee approves it in advance. Festivals, river pageants and charity rows are allowed.

Under the Rules of Racing:

• Coxes of junior crews must be juniors themselves. Coxes aren't split into age bands.
• Lifejacket: coxes must wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid correctly and know how it works. In front-loader (bow-loader) boats, coxes must wear a manually inflated gas lifejacket.
• Minimum weight:
  • 45kg for coxes of J15 and younger crews
  • 55kg for all other crews
• A lighter cox carries dead-weight to make up the difference. It's placed as near to the cox as possible, but not on them and not anywhere that would slow their exit from the boat. The crew provides it.
• Coxes are weighed each day before their first race, in the clothing they expect to race in, including any buoyancy aid. A cox who doesn't make the weight can't race.

J14 and younger juniors can't race in sweep-oared boats as rowers, but they can cox them.

RowSafe expects every rower to:

• Dress for the conditions. In cold weather that includes hats and pogies (hand covers). In hot weather, wear thin breathable clothing, a hat, covered arms and sunscreen.
• Not wear a Dryrobe, denim, jeans or heavy cotton at any time on the water.
• Not wear a hoodie when rowing or sculling, because thumbs catch in the pocket. Coxes in bow-loaders shouldn't wear one either, as it could get tangled and slow their exit.

RowSafe also suggests clubs include these in their safety rules:

• wear high-visibility clothing when afloat, except when club kit is required for racing
• don't roll leggings down to the ankles in boats that could capsize, because it makes swimming difficult
• don't wear earphones on the water, so warnings can be heard

At races, coxes don't have to wear club racing kit but should be dressed for the weather.

RowSafe warns that falling into cold water unexpectedly can cause cold shock, which affects coordination and the ability to float or swim, however good a swimmer you are. Heat loss can quickly lead to hypothermia, and either can lead to drowning. Being able to swim in a pool doesn't mean a rower can swim in cold, exposed water.

Everyone, including juniors, is expected to:

• complete British Rowing's online Cold Water & Hypothermia module and read the "Cold Water Kills" safety alert
• know the early signs of hypothermia: feeling cold and tired, poor concentration, confusion, disorientation or irrational behaviour
• dress for the conditions

Clubs are expected to:

• include cold water in their risk assessments and emergency plans
• have facilities for the initial treatment of hypothermia

Coaches should watch for signs of severe hypothermia, such as pale skin, blue lips and nails, rapid breathing and slurred speech, and know how to respond.

In cold weather, RowSafe suggests shorter outings, keeping crews active, and watching coxes in particular.

Under RowSafe, each club sets its own rules on when outings can go ahead. These cover local weather, wind, temperature and lightning, adjusted for boat type and the rowers' ability. Each club also names the people who can allow, restrict or stop boating. Clubs are expected to suspend or cut short outings when conditions are unsafe, and to tell members which activities are currently restricted.

Coaches are expected to:

• check the weather for the length and type of each outing
• respect each crew member's concerns and limits
• make sure the whole crew, including the cox, is dressed for wet, hot or cold conditions

Lightning: the 30:30 rule. If the gap between the lightning flash and the thunder is 30 seconds or less, get off the water and shelter in a large building or a car. Stay sheltered until 30 minutes after the last thunder. Don't shelter under trees.

RowSafe's rule for suspected concussion is "If in doubt, sit them out."

• Concussion can come from any blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that jars the head. Coaches are expected to teach crews to handle boats carefully on land to reduce the risk of head injuries.
• Exercising while concussed can make it worse. All sport should be avoided for 7–10 days, or longer if the concussion is severe.
• Report head injuries that happen outside rowing to the coach.
• Children often take longer to recover than adults. Many recover in under two weeks, but some still have symptoms after a month or more.
• Coaches are expected to recognise the signs and know the need for a graduated return to activity, following the UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport.

If in any doubt, get advice from a healthcare professional and follow it.