Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Race Format
Olympic regattas use a multi-round progression system:
- Heats: Initial races where the top finishers (typically 1st–3rd) advance directly to the semifinals or final.
- Repechage: A second-chance round for crews that did not advance from heats. Top finishers in the repechage advance to the semifinal.
- Semifinals: Used when the number of entries requires further elimination. Top finishers advance to the A-Final.
- Finals: A-Final (1st–6th place, medal race), B-Final (7th–12th), and C-Final if needed.
5.2 Starting Procedure
All boats are aligned at the start. The starter polls each lane by country abbreviation. Once all crews are ready and aligned, the starter commands "Attention" (a pause of approximately 1–2 seconds) followed by "Go!" or an electronic buzzer. All crews begin racing simultaneously.
5.3 False Starts
If a crew moves before the start command, the starter raises a red flag and rings a bell to stop the race. The offending crew receives a yellow card (warning). A second false start by the same crew results in exclusion from the race. Under the quick-start protocol used at major championships, all crews are given one collective false start warning; any individual false start thereafter results in immediate exclusion.
5.4 Lane Discipline
Crews must row within their assigned lane throughout the race. A crew that encroaches on another lane and either gains an advantage or impedes another crew may be penalized or excluded. The umpire raises a white flag as a warning and may escalate to a red flag (exclusion) if the interference is material.
5.5 Lightweight Weigh-In
Lightweight athletes weigh in on World Rowing-certified scales, 1–2 hours before their race. Each athlete must meet the individual maximum and the crew must meet the crew average. Athletes who fail to make weight are withdrawn. No sweat suits, saunas, or extreme dehydration methods are permitted in the weigh-in area.
5.6 Race Substitutions
Crews may substitute a rower between rounds (e.g., between heats and finals) due to injury or illness, provided the substitute is registered in the team's accredited athlete list. A substitute coxswain must also meet the minimum weight requirement. Substitutions must be approved by the regatta organizing committee before the crew boats for the next round.
5.7 Stroke Rate and Technique
There are no rules governing stroke rate or rowing technique — crews are free to adopt whatever style maximizes their speed. Typical race stroke rates range from 34–38 strokes per minute during the body of the race, rising to 40–44 during the start and sprint. The rowing stroke consists of the catch (blade entry), drive (leg push and body swing), extraction (blade exit), and recovery (return to the catch position).