Rowing “Officials” Explained

Welcome to rowing! If this is your first time acquainting yourself with being an official, you may feel like “a fish out of water.” 

There are many terms used exclusively to rowing and as your athlete grows in the sport you will begin to hear them at races, at the dinner table and on trips home from practice. No worries – you’ll pick up the vernacular quickly.

We’ve put together the Rowing Officials 101 section with information and definitions on who’s who in the zoo to help you on your way to a better understanding of becoming an official.

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ON LAND

President of the Jury (POJ – On Land)

THE BOSS

Ensures smooth running of the regatta – typically a very senior rowing official

• Monitors race schedule and timing, revising start times where necessary
• Authorises holding of races
• Convenes Jury meetings for any protests
• Participates in Fairness Committee
• Monitors On Land and Water Rescue/ Medical services
• Monitors weather conditions (especially lightning)

Safety Officer (On Land)

Ensures safety of all athletes, coaches, officials and spectators

• Monitors On Land and Water Rescue/ Medical services

Gathers weather inputs from all sources, including lightning detectors

Control Commission 1 – Co-ordinator (On Land)

USUALLY, TEAM OF TWO

• Keeps a record of all boats checked out onto the water
• Confirm identity and eligibility of athletes and clubs / schools, incl. age categories
• Weigh coxswains and lightweight rowers
• Administer crew changes and withdrawals, confirming that the changes are within rules

Disseminate changes to all officials

Control Commission 2 – Checkers (On Land)

USUALLY, 8-10

This is a typical parent role – uncompromising on safety whilst encouraging the kids. 

Check EVERY boat launched per race for:

• Safety of boats (bow ball, heel strap release, bung covers and water worthiness)
• Eligibility of boats (correct bow number)
• Correct, consistent athlete dress code

Record time of each boat’s departure

Control Commission 3 – Boat Weighing (On Land)

USUALLY, TEAM OF TWO

Escort (randomly selected by POJ) selected boats to weighing area and weigh them against their boat class requirement

“ON the WATER”

Marshalls (On Water)

ONE AT EACH OF 1000M AND 2000M START, PLUS PILOT

• Keep track of any crew changes per race
• Find crews per race, and line them up for umpires to take onto the racecourse (this can be like herding cats, especially U14s!)
• Check for safety/ traffic violations

Umpire (On Water)

TYPICALLY, FIVE

Responsible for ensuring the safety and fair racing for all rowers in his/her race

• Ensure the right boats/ crews are in the right lanes for the race
• Once aligner has lined up all the boats, start the race and immediately follow crews down the course
• Ensure fairness and safety of racing throughout the race
• Deal with objections, should there be any
• Clear race at the end (or indicate not if the objection is escalated to POJ; race results will be held until resolved)

Pilot (On Water)

AS MANY AS THERE ARE UMPIRES

• Gets the boat ready for the shift – all safety equipment, enough fuel
• Acts as umpire’s second pair of eyes in each race and monitors the radio
• Calls in the race to the Tower

Pilots the boat in each race, as per the umpire’s requirements

Aligner’s duties (On Water but static)

ONE AT EACH OF 1000M AND 2000M START

• On umpire’s request, align all boats for start

Check for false starts as umpire starts race

Assistant Aligner’s duties (On Water but static)

ONE AT EACH OF 1000M AND 2000M START

• Start the backup stopwatch for each race and press the electronic start button

Keep track of any crew changes per race

FINISH TOWER

Judge at the Finish/Timekeepers (On Land in Timing Tower)

AT LEAST FIVE

• Sit in the air-conditioned tower with a view of the entire regatta
• Record start and finish of all boats in each race on stopwatches; record finishing order of crews (hooting when they do)

Acknowledge umpire’s clearing of race or hold the results if the umpire doesn’t

Electronic timing and results (On Land in Timing Tower)

AT LEAST FOUR

• Operate the Regatta Master to process changes, progressions, handicaps
• Publish Results on www.regattaresults.co.za
• Monitor automatic timing system

Monitor Photo finish camera (1/1000thsecond