Rowing·Water Sports

NCAA

🏛️Official — NCAA

NCAA Women's Rowing Rules of the Game· 2025-26 NCAA Women's Rowing Rules Book (USRowing base + NCAA Championships, 2000m race, 8+/4+/4- shell classes)Open source

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2–8 players

Players

Outdoor

Environment

oar, scull

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Section 1: Introduction

NCAA Rowing is the collegiate variant of women's rowing contested by NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions in the spring semester. NCAA Women's Rowing is the NCAA-sanctioned discipline (men's collegiate rowing is contested outside the NCAA framework via the IRA — Intercollegiate Rowing Association). NCAA Women's Rowing uses the USRowing + World Rowing technical baseline with NCAA-specific modifications around shell classes contested, championship qualifying, and team scoring. The current edition is the 2025-26 NCAA Women's Rowing Rules Book. The NCAA Rowing Championship is contested over Memorial Day weekend (late May) at varying venues. For the international framework see the sibling World Rowing Rules entry.

Section 2: Equipment

Shell (boat): light carbon-fiber composite hull per World Rowing/USRowing weight + dimension specs

Oars: sweep oar (one per rower, used in pairs/fours/eights) or sculling oars (two per rower, used in singles/doubles/quads)

NCAA primarily contests sweep events: 8+ (eight with coxswain), 4+ (four with coxswain), 4- (four without coxswain)

Riggers, slides, foot stretchers per individual rower

Splash guards at the bow + stern

Coxswain electronic equipment (microphone, stroke watch) per NCAA spec

Section 3: Playing Area

Standard race distance: 2000 m (NCAA championship)

Conference dual races may use 1500 m or 2000 m

Course: straight 2000-m water-course with 6-8 lanes (lanes typically 13.5 m wide for safety)

Buoy markers at each end + at 500 m intervals

Starting platforms at the start line; finish line marked by aligned banks/structures

Course must be sheltered from significant wind/wave conditions for fair racing

Section 4: Players & Officials

Crew composition per shell class (8 rowers + 1 coxswain for 8+; 4 rowers + 1 coxswain for 4+; 4 rowers + no coxswain for 4-)

NCAA Championship: each program enters multiple boats — Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ (and additional boats per division)

Officials: starter, finish judges, lane judges, course umpires, jury

Coaches in launch boats observe but cannot coach during the race

Section 5: Rules of Play

Crews approach the start line; align via the aligner ("aligner" official sets the bows even on the start line)

Starter announces the start sequence: "All ready... attention... GO" (or starter pistol)

False start: 1st = warning; 2nd by same crew = DQ from the heat

Crews row in their lane the full 2000 m

Crossing into another lane impeding another crew = DQ (race umpire's discretion)

Equipment failure (broken oar, broken shell): crew may stop and request a re-row at the umpire's discretion

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Course safety: launch boats with safety crew (coxswain, EMT) on the water during all races. Each crew member required to demonstrate swimming ability per USRowing protocol. Race-day weather thresholds: race may be cancelled for high wind, lightning, fog, or unsafe water conditions. Concussion protocol: removal + graduated return-to-play assessment. Heat exposure managed via hydration breaks pre-race; cold-water exposure (early-season) requires safety launches with thermal blankets. Required: certified athletic trainer + EMT/ambulance + AED at all NCAA-sanctioned regattas. Emergency action plan including water-rescue procedures.

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Full Rulebook(7 sections)

Overview

How to win

The game

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Equipment

Section 3: Playing Area

Section 4: Players & Officials

Section 5: Rules of Play

Section 6: Scoring

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Playing the ball

Fouls & penalties

Equipment

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Version History(1)

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Variations of Rowing(1)