Umpire's Guide to Rowing Australia Regattas 2026

Becoming an RA Umpire (Rule 95): any umpire who has held a Member Association licence for at least three years may become an RA Umpire if they have normal sight and hearing and pass the examination held by the RA Umpires Committee. The Committee sets the theoretical and practical examinations, runs them and keeps the register of licences.

Length: the RA Umpire's licence is valid for four years. If the holder takes part in an Umpires seminar organised by RA, it is automatically extended for the next four years. An umpire whose licence has expired and who wishes to umpire must take and pass a fresh examination.

Renewal (Appendix 4): the Committee may renew a licence if the holder has:

• been an active umpire at regattas held under a Member Association;
• officiated at no fewer than one RA regatta (not counting the one where the licence was issued or renewed) in the four years before the renewal request is considered; and
• taken part satisfactorily in a seminar held by the Umpires Committee in the preceding four years.

Review and lapse: the Committee may review a licence at any time and revoke it if the holder is deemed not competent. A licence automatically lapses if the renewal requirements are not met, if it is revoked, or if the holder no longer holds a current licence to umpire regattas in the State that issued it. Disputes go to the RA Board, whose decision is final.

According to Rowing Australia's officiating page:

• Experience: prior rowing experience is beneficial but not a requirement, and training is provided.
• Roles: volunteers can work on the water, run the starter box, help with regatta administration, or work at the finish line and race control.
• Code of Ethics: officials must sign the Official's Code of Ethics agreement.
• Level 1: complete the Officiating Course, available through Rowing Australia's learning portal (https://education.rowingaustralia.com.au/).
• Level 2: Official Accreditation, managed by State Associations.
• Level 3: Rowing Australia manages these umpires in consultation with State Associations.
• World Rowing umpires: nominations are handled by the Rowing Australia Umpires Commission.

Source: https://rowingaustralia.com.au/officiating

Rule 96 says the Control Commission ensures that the composition of crews is correct and that their equipment is in order. It includes Jury members and appointed technical officials and works in the boating area and at the boating pontoons. Where possible it is responsible for (Appendix 13):

1. Weighing coxswains correctly, and checking their deadweight before and after the race.
2. Weighing lightweight competitors correctly.
3. Receiving notification of crew changes before the race.
4. Checking competitor identity so the crew matches the official entry and any approved changes. At RA regattas where no other arrangement exists, this includes checking registration status, the ages of Under 17, Under 19, Under 21, Under 23 and Masters competitors and, where applicable, the average ages of Masters crews. It also supports anti-doping officials in identifying rowers selected for testing.
5. Boats and equipment: safety requirements, correct bow numbers or other identification (and an official GPS unit where required), possible unauthorised equipment, minimum boat weights where applicable, advertising and identification rules, and blade colours and design where required.
6. Uniform clothing against the rules on identification.
7. Receiving and deciding objections to sanctions given during cool-down, training or other times. These must be lodged with an umpire before the crew embarks for the race the sanction applies to.
8. With RA technical officials, checking that para-rowers meet the equipment and strapping requirements in Appendix 6.

Rule 97 says the Starter and the Judge at the Start ensure the correct starting procedure is followed. Under Appendix 13, the Starter must:

• Check equipment: before starting duty, satisfy themselves that the start and course equipment is present and working, including radio or telephone links with the Judge at the Start, the President of the Jury, the Judges at the Finish and the Control Commission. Also make sure crews on the water are obeying the traffic rules.
• Communicate: in principle use visual signals with the Umpire; speak to rowers in English, and the Jury member may repeat information in another language if that helps a crew understand.
• Watch the weather: consider whether it is likely to create unfair or unsafe conditions and consult the President of the Jury (and the Fairness Committee where applicable). The President tells the Starter of changes in principle at least two minutes before a start.
• Inform crews: tell crews their lane when they first enter the start zone, and the time remaining, including when five, four and three minutes remain. Check competitors' equipment and clothing.
• Sanction: award a Red Card and exclude a crew with two Yellow Cards applying to that race. They may award a Yellow Card to a crew arriving less than two minutes before the start time or not ready at the start time, and may exclude a crew arriving after the start time.
• Leave lanes vacant: if a crew is excluded at the start or does not arrive, the lane stays empty.
• Markers: instruct the platform official to place a yellow marker (red for exclusion) beside a sanctioned crew's position.
• Delays: for an equipment breakage or event such as lightning, consult the Umpire if possible, then the President of the Jury, then tell the crews the new start time, and inform the Control Commission and Judge at the Finish. Crews must ask a Jury member about changes before getting out of the boat.

Normal start (By-Law to Rule 76):

1. Crews attach to their start pontoons at least two minutes before the start time. The Starter announces "Two Minutes", which puts crews formally under Starter's orders and means they must be ready to race within two minutes.
2. Where an Alignment Control Mechanism is used, the Starter announces "Raising Start System" once all crews are attached.
3. The Starter checks the Umpire and the Judge at the Start are ready, and the boats are aligned, then makes a roll-call of the crews in lane order. From then on each crew is responsible for being straight and ready by the end of the roll-call.
4. The Starter finishes the roll-call without regard to any crew saying it is not ready, checks the Judge at the Start still shows correct alignment, and says "Attention".
5. The Starter shows the red flag (or changes the traffic lights to red).
6. After a clear pause, which is variable from race to race, the Starter drops the red flag quickly to one side and says "GO!", or presses the button that turns the light green, sounds the signal, starts timing and releases any alignment mechanism.

Quick Start: for adverse weather or another valid reason, after "Two Minutes" the Starter tells the crews a Quick Start will be used instead of the roll-call, then says "All Crews", pauses, and says "Attention", and continues as above.

Other points:

• The first 100 metres of the course is the start zone. Crews may enter it if the Starter permits, but not the racing lanes until the previous race's crews have left the zone and the Starter has given the crew a lane (Rule 75).
• The Starter may start the race without reference to absentees and may award a Yellow Card to a crew arriving late.
• If the procedure is interrupted, the Starter may begin again from the roll-call.

Judge at the Start (Appendix 13):

• Sits at the front of the aligner's hut, in line with the start line, and checks the radio or telephone link with the Starter and the aligner.
• The aligner instructs the officials on the starting platforms to adjust boats until they are correctly aligned; the Judge at the Start checks that all bows are exactly on the start line, then raises the white flag to the Starter (or uses the white light). If alignment is lost during the procedure, the flag is lowered or the light switched off until boats are realigned.
• Makes contact with the Umpire before the start to be sure they are ready.
• Alone decides whether boats are correctly aligned or a crew has committed a false start (Rule 76.2).

False start (Rule 77): a crew has false started if its rowers begin rowing and its boat crosses the start line after the red flag or red light is shown and before the start command. It is indicated by a Yellow Card. If several boats move, only the crew or crews the Judge at the Start decides actually caused it receive a Yellow Card.

Procedure (By-Law to Rule 77):

1. After the start command the Starter looks to the Judge at the Start. If the start was not good, the Starter stops the race by ringing the bell and waving the red flag from side to side (or flashing the red light and sounding the audible signal with a traffic-light system).
2. The Judge at the Start tells the Starter which crew or crews to sanction, and once they are back at their starting position the Starter announces "(Name of Crew), False Start, Yellow Card!".
3. A yellow marker (red for a Red Card) is placed beside that crew's starting position.
4. A crew awarded a Red Card or excluded leaves the course and returns to the boating area as directed.
5. The Starter restarts the procedure from the roll-call, without announcing "Two Minutes" again.

A crew causing two false starts, or getting two Yellow Cards applying to the same race, receives a Red Card and is excluded from the event.

Under Rule 74 a member of the Jury may impose these sanctions for a breach of the rules:

• Reprimand: a formal admonishment that may be taken into account for any further breach at that regatta.
• Yellow Card: a formal warning that applies to the crew's next race at that regatta and lapses only when that race is concluded (so it still applies after a postponement or re-row). Two Yellow Cards applying to the same race become a Red Card and exclusion from the event.
• Relegation (REL): last place in a race, where the rules specifically provide.
• Red Card or Exclusion (EXC): out of all rounds of the event, for a serious or repeated breach.
• Disqualification (DSQ): out of all events in the regatta, for the most serious breach.

Announcing (By-Law to Rule 74):

• The crew is informed immediately or as soon as possible.
• The Starter announces a Yellow or Red Card before the crew's next race, giving the sanction, the nature and timing of the breach, any other important facts, and the name and function of the Jury member who awarded it. If the crew is not yet on the water, the Jury member announces it at the outgoing pontoon where in principle the crew boats.
• A crew given a Red Card, excluded or disqualified does not take part in the race once notified.
• Results show DSQ, EXC, REL or BUW (Boat Underweight).
• A sanction for conduct of a race is valid only if awarded and communicated no later than one hour after the race concludes. Sanctions from the Control Commission after the race, the Board of the Jury, Rowing Australia or the Para-Rowing regulations are not subject to that limit.
• The President of the Jury also reports the breach and sanction to Rowing Australia.

Rule 98 says the Umpire ensures the proper conduct of the race and the safety of the rowers, and endeavours to ensure that no crew gains an advantage or suffers a disadvantage from its opponents or outside interference. Under Appendix 13:

• Precedence: except for their own specific duties, the Starter and the Judge at the Start are subordinate to the Umpire.
• On the way to the start: inspect the course installations, check there are no obstacles or wash from motor boats on the course, and check crews on the water follow the traffic rules. Defects go to the President of the Jury (by radio if needed) and to any crews concerned.
• During the start: the launch is in principle beside the Judge at the Start or behind the crews in the centre of the course. If the start is faulty for a reason other than a false start (which is the Judge at the Start's call alone), the Umpire may order the Starter to stop the race or stop it by ringing a bell and waving the red flag.
• During the race: follow the crews down the centre of the course, position the launch to act effectively, and make sure crews they want to address can hear them. Avoid hampering crews with the launch's wash.
• Type of race: the decision may take into account whether it is a heat, repechage, quarter-final, semi-final or final.
• Steering indications: not given, except to avoid accidents or stop interference by opponents (Rule 98.2).
• Coaching devices: check the area beside the course regularly, because coaching with electric, electronic or other technical devices is not allowed during racing.
• Dress: stand upright in the launch and wear the prescribed clothing.
• Zonal umpiring: at RA events the Technical Delegate may advise that some races are umpired from stationary boats, or from the land beside the course. The President of the Jury designates where umpires are positioned, and zonal umpires keep in radio contact with each other and the President.

What counts: a crew interferes if its oars, sculls or boat encroach into the opponent's lane and cause a disadvantage by contact, wash or other distraction. The Umpire alone decides whether a crew is in its own lane or interfering (Rule 80).

Steps and signals (By-Law to Rule 80):

• Alert: if a crew is about to interfere by wash or leaving its lane, the Umpire shows the white flag, calls the crew by name and lowers the flag to the side it must steer towards. Otherwise the Umpire may not give steering indications unless there is an obstruction in the lane.
• Stop: to protect competitors and equipment, the Umpire raises the white flag vertically, names the crew and says "Stop". The crew may row on to finish only if the Umpire permits.
• Remedy first: if a crew is disadvantaged, the priority is to restore its chances; a sanction is secondary. The Umpire may stop the race, sanction and order a re-row, or let the race continue and announce the decision afterwards. The Umpire may not sanction the crew at fault while the affected crew's chances are not restored.

Powers:

• A crew that causes interference that, in the Umpire's opinion, affected another crew's finishing position may be excluded.
• After a collision of boats, oars or sculls, the Umpire may exclude the crew causing it even without prior warning.
• Sanctions may be imposed without prior warning (Rule 98.2).
• The Umpire may decline to order a re-row if the impediment did not affect the result or its effect was not significant (Rule 98.4).
• The Umpire may allow the race to continue and exclude crews after it has finished.
• In no case may the Umpire alter a placing.

• Finishing: a crew has finished when the bow of its boat reaches the finish line. The race is valid even if the crew is incomplete, but a coxed boat finishing without its coxswain is excluded.
• Race in order: the Umpire checks that no crew is objecting, then shows a white flag to the crews and then to the Judge at the Finish, who acknowledges with a white flag or white light. After that, no further objections are accepted from the crews in that race. The race is concluded when the Umpire so indicates or otherwise confirms the result.
• Race not in order: the Umpire shows a red flag to the crews and then the Judge at the Finish, and tells them the decision. The Judges do not announce the official result until the Umpire has decided.
• Judges at the Finish: they determine the order in which the bows cross the line, list the crews in finish order, check the result sheet and announce "race (number) official", which authorises publication. The senior Judge signs the official record. There should generally be at least two judges, one of them senior.
• Photo-finish: in a close finish the Senior Judge decides the order from the photo-finish picture. Systems under 100 frames per second are not suitable.
• Times: recorded to 1/100th of a second in principle.
• Dead-heat: declared when the order is too close for any difference to be determined; the By-Law to Rule 83 sets the re-row or draw procedure by round.
• Exclusion call: an excluded crew is told "(name of crew) - (reason) - red Card - Exclusion!"

Sources: Rules 82, 83, 99 and Appendix 13.

Objection to a sanction (Rule 84): a crew can only object when the sanction is awarded, by telling the Jury member, Starter or Umpire who notified it. That person decides without delay and tells the crew, the Starter and the other race officials. A crew sanctioned during cool-down, training or another time must object before it embarks for the race the sanction applies to.

Objection to the conduct of a race: a crew member raises an arm to the Umpire immediately after the finish, before the crew leaves the immediate area of the finish line and before the Umpire shows the white flag to the Judge at the Finish. The crew must stay at the finish until the Umpire has heard it. The Umpire may:

• reject it and show a white flag;
• accept it and show a red flag, then go to the Judges at the Finish with the decision and explanation; or
• seek more information, showing a red flag and consulting other officials or the President of the Jury.

The Judges at the Finish do not announce the official result until the Umpire has given a decision.

Protest to the Board of the Jury (Rule 85):

• Who: a crew whose objection was rejected, whose ranking was affected by an accepted objection, that was ruled DNS or DNF, that was excluded or disqualified, or that disputes the published results.
• How: in writing to the President of the Jury, no later than one hour after the race concludes (or after the official results are published for a disputed result), with a $100 deposit that is refunded if the protest is upheld.
• Decision: in writing, before the next round of the event and no later than two hours after the last race of the day.
• The Board is the President of the Jury plus two Jury members; no one directly involved (for example the Umpire or Starter) sits on it.

Sources: Rules 84, 85, 94 and 82 By-Laws.

The Rules say the safety of rowers must be the prime concern of the Jury at all times (Rule 91).

• Capsize or swimmers: if a competitor falls in or a boat capsizes or sinks, the Umpire must satisfy themselves that the rescue service is in action. If it is not, they remain with the capsized crew until all members are safe and the rescue service is present.
• Squalls or sudden bad weather: the Umpire decides whether a race may be started, continue or be stopped. The By-Law states that the safety of the competitors is more important than any of the provisions of the Rules of Racing.
• Stopping a crew: the Umpire may raise the white flag, name the crew and call "Stop" to protect people and prevent damage to boats and equipment.
• Unsafe crews: any member of the Jury may prohibit a crew from going on the water if they consider it a danger to itself or other crews. If there is a dispute, the President of the Jury decides.
• Unsafe conditions generally: the President of the Jury may take any necessary decisions and pass changes to the Starter and the Umpires on the course.
• Zonal umpiring: if it is about to put crews' safety at risk, the President of the Jury may revert to dynamic umpiring (following the race) for the rest of that racing session.

Sources: Rules 63, 91, 98 and Appendix 13 By-Law to Rule 97.