Parent's Guide to Rowing Canada Under 17 and Under 19 Rowing 2026

Who can enter: to take part in an RCA sanctioned regatta, every rower and coxswain must be a registered member in good standing of an RCA rowing club (which is itself in good standing with its provincial or territorial association), and must compete for that club or for their province or territory. A rower may compete for their club and/or university and/or province and/or school at the same regatta where the regatta allows it, but not for two different clubs at the same regatta.

Novice: novice competitors are those in their first year of racing, unless the Regatta Package defines it differently.

Composite: where the Organizing Committee allows it in the Regatta Package, a composite crew has members from more than one club.

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, sections 2.1 and 2.3.

The standard racing distance for Seniors, Under 23, Under 19, Under 17 and Para rowers is 2000 metres straight away. (Masters race 1000 metres.)

The course is marked from the start ("0") with each 250 metres indicated, and a standard course normally has six numbered lanes at least 13.5 metres wide.

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, section 4.1.

The minimum weight of a coxswain of an Under 17 or Under 19 crew, wearing a racing uniform, is 45 kg. (For all other categories it is 55 kg.)

A coxswain under the minimum must carry deadweight to make up the difference. The deadweight shall not exceed 15 kg and must be placed as close as possible to the coxswain in the boat, without being attached to the coxswain. Coxswains need weigh in only once each race day, and a coxswain who fails to weigh in causes the crew to be excluded.

Age categories apply to coxswains in the same way as to rowers (except in Masters events).

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, sections 2.4 to 2.6.

From 1 April 2028, the Rules of Racing define weight-restricted events as events for athletes 19 years of age and older on the day of competition, where a maximum weight is set for the rowers.

The recognized maximum weights are men 72.5 kg and 64 kg, and women 59 kg and 52 kg, although an Organizing Committee may set different limits in its Regatta Package. Rowers in these events weigh in wearing their racing uniform and must show government-issued photo identification showing their date of birth.

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, sections 2.10 and 2.11.

For flat-water rowing, Rowing Canada Aviron's Rowing Safely document strongly recommends that rowers be able to swim 50 m in light clothing and be at ease enough in the water not to panic and to keep afloat. If a person cannot meet this, RCA says an approved inflatable PFD should be worn on the water.

For coastal rowing (Coastal Endurance and Beach Sprints regattas), the 2026 Rules of Racing require each rower to have a basic swimming ability, including being able to swim 50 m and keep their head above water unassisted for three minutes. The Organizing Committee of a coastal regatta may require a rower to certify this.

Sources: RCA Rowing Safely (effective 29 April 2022); RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, section 13.1.3.

RCA's Rowing Safely document summarizes the Transport Canada Small Vessel Regulations (SVR) as they apply to rowing shells:

• At a sanctioned regatta, or training at the regatta venue, a shell is not required to carry the safety equipment the SVR otherwise requires.
• A shell training under RCA safety guidelines does not need to carry PFDs if it is attended by a safety craft carrying a correctly sized PFD or lifejacket for each person on the shell (or for the shell with the most people, if the craft attends several).
• A shell with no safety craft must carry a correctly sized PFD or lifejacket for each person on board (rowers and coxswain), plus a sound-signalling device, and a watertight flashlight if used after sunset, before sunrise or in restricted visibility.
• Inflatable PFDs carried on board do not have to be worn, because rowing is exempt from the requirement that inflatable PFDs be worn.
• If any crew member is under 16, the PFDs carried must be inherently buoyant, not inflatable.

Source: RCA Rowing Safely, effective 29 April 2022, quoting the SVR.

Rowing Canada Aviron's Rowing Safely document says submersion in cold water is extremely dangerous: a swimmer loses heat far more rapidly than in cold air, and loss of muscle function and mental confusion can occur within minutes.

• Rowers should wear protective clothing suited to the conditions, in materials that keep the body dry and insulated but allow the rowing motion.
• Clubs should create a protocol for a water temperature of 15 degrees Celsius or below, or other adverse weather.
• If a boat capsizes, rowers should be told to stay with the boat rather than try to swim to safety, because the boat can be used as a buoyancy aid.
• In cold water, rowers should get as much of their body out of the water as possible by draping themselves over the upturned hull, and should "buddy-up", holding on to each other until rescued.
• RCA strongly recommends that all active members learn and practise capsize and accident drills.

Source: RCA Rowing Safely, effective 29 April 2022.

At an RCA regatta, the Chief Umpire takes all decisions on any delay, postponement or cancellation of races, or changes to the course, caused by adverse weather or other matters affecting the safety of competitors and Umpires on the water. The Chief Umpire does this after consulting the Regatta Chair and the Organizing Committee.

If squalls or other deterioration of conditions happen on the water, the Race Umpire decides whether a race may start, continue or be stopped. The Rules of Racing say the safety of the competitors is more important than any other provision in the rules.

At National Regattas a Fairness Committee (the Chief Umpire, Regatta Chair, Safety Advisor, a representative of team managers or coaches and an RCA Technical Representative) may recommend program changes if weather makes conditions unfair or unrowable, but the Chief Umpire decides on the changes.

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, section 9.8 and the Race Umpire's adverse weather duties.

Under the 2026 Rules of Racing, the regatta's Organizing Committee must:

• Appoint a Safety Advisor, who makes sure appropriate safety measures are in place (including an emergency plan, traffic patterns for practice and racing, safety launches and weather monitoring) and watches for breaches of safety practice.
• Appoint a qualified Medical Advisor, who makes sure appropriate medical support is accessible.
• Have first aid facilities on land and a rescue service on the water available at all times.

If a competitor falls into the water or a boat capsizes, the Race Umpire must make sure the on-water rescue service is aware and attending to the situation.

Source: RCA Rules of Racing, January 2026, sections 8.2 and 8.3 and the Race Umpire's safety duties.

Rowing Canada Aviron's Rowing Safely document says each club is responsible for assessing the risks in its own environment and setting safety procedures. It expects every club to:

• Appoint a Safety Advisor to develop and run the club's safety program.
• Develop and display a local safety code covering the traffic pattern on the water, when a safety boat must attend, weather conditions in which rowers should not go out (such as high wind, poor visibility and ice), cold water rules, and rules for rowing before sunrise and after sunset.
• Keep first aid and safety equipment at the clubhouse: a stocked first aid chest, thermal blankets or exposure bags, life rings or a buoy and line, and an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Every rowing shell must have a white ball of at least 4 cm diameter on the bow (unless the boat's construction already protects the bow), heel restraints for hands-free release of the feet, and working single-handed release mechanisms where fitted shoes are used.

Coaches are responsible for the safety of those in their charge and should check the forecast and conditions before deciding whether rowers go on the water. Rowing before sunrise or after sunset is discouraged and should not happen without a safety boat.

Source: RCA Rowing Safely, effective 29 April 2022.

Under Rowing Canada Aviron's Rowing Safely guidelines, coaches, participants and parents or guardians should review concussion awareness tools before the season begins.

• A suspected concussion means the person, regardless of age, is removed from the activity.
• They should be seen by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to determine whether they have a concussion.
• Someone diagnosed with a concussion must follow the Return to Rowing Guidelines under medical supervision, and must provide written medical clearance before returning to any water activities.
• RCA recommends the Canadian Guidelines on Concussion in Sport (July 2017, Parachute Canada) for the step-by-step return to sport and learning.

Source: RCA Rowing Safely, effective 29 April 2022.