How are false starts handled, and what does the Judge at the Start do?
Rule- Australia
- Rowing Australia
- Regattas
- Rules of Racing
- 2026
- Umpires
- Officials
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):
- 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).
- 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!".
- A yellow marker (red for a Red Card) is placed beside that crew's starting position.
- A crew awarded a Red Card or excluded leaves the course and returns to the boating area as directed.
- 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.
Added 24 Oct 2026