What safety features must my child's racing shell have?

The Rules of Rowing (Article III) require every racing boat to have:

• A bowball (3-105): a supple or plastic ball, white or fluorescent, at least 4 cm across, firmly fixed to the bow, unless equivalent visibility and puncture protection is built into the boat.
• Quick-release footgear (3-108): shoes or foot stretchers must let rowers get their feet out fast if the boat flips. Where shoes stay fixed in the boat, each shoe needs a heel restraint so the heel can't lift more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) above the footboard.
• A safe coxswain's space (3-109): where the coxswain's body is fully or partly enclosed in the hull, the opening must be at least 70 cm long, and the inside must be smooth and free of anything that would slow a quick exit.

USRowing's Safety Guidelines also ask every athlete to check before launching that rigging nuts are tight, heel ties are attached and 3 inches long, clothing can't snag on the seat or oar, and the bowball is secure.

Racing in an underweight boat or one that breaks strapping rules can lead to relegation to last place (2-602).