NCAA

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...

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)

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, l...

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

Race: lowest finish time wins; ties co-place; NCAA Championship team scoring: cumulative points across all boats and all races; Heat / repechage / final structure at championship for full bracket

False start (2nd by same crew): DQ; Lane infringement causing impedance: DQ; Equipment standard violation (un-approved shell/oars): DQ

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.