2019 Rules Update

As you know the FISA Rules and Statutes can be changed by the FISA extraordinary Congress within the year after the Olympics. Bye-Laws to the Rules and Event Regulations can be amended anytime during the 4 years period between 2 Olympic Games.  The Bye-Laws can  even be changed more than one time during a year. The changes to the Bye-Laws and Event Regulations can be due to specific requirements or simply to correct single mistakes in the existing text.

In  FISA Circular No. 1 of 2019, you will find a summary of the amendements to the Bye-Laws and Event Regulations which were approved by the FISA Council In January and go into effect in 2019 (http://www.worldrowing.com/mm//Document/General/General/13/54/74/2019Bye-LawtoRulesandEventRegulationsChangesThree-columnformat200219_Neutral.pdf).   With the exception of some grammatical amandments, we would like draw your attention the following approved changes:

·         Bye-Law to Rule 39 Boats & Equipments:  

–          Failing to comply with the Bye-Law may result in a sanction up to disqualification;

–          Defining an oar as having all parts fixed;  and 

–          New section stating the Bye-Law describes minimum safety requirements and the NF and rowers’s responsiblity in compliance.     

·         Appendix 11- Bye-Law to Rule 50          

–           Clarifications concerning shirts worn under the racing uniform when FISA does not require a FISA undershirt, allowing old FISA Event undershirts (without comercial logos) or undershirts with national identification but all athletes must be identical.

·         Appendix 12 FISA Progression System

–           Correction of  mistakes in Case 6 (19-20 entries) and in Case 11 (37-40 entries); and

–          Reintroduction of pre-2016 system concerning TT which is not used now (effective 2019) until 49+ entries: as a consequence reintroduction of Case 12 (41-48 entries)

·         Appendix 18  Para Rowing         

–         Inclusion of world Rowing Indoor Championship in Competition Regulations Events list.

 ·        Appendix 19 Para Rowing Classification Regulations           

–         Even if the Umpires are not involved in Classification process  is appropriate to  inform that all the Amendements in this Appendix reflect the new structure of the Classification Panel.     

 ·         Appendix 22 World Rowing Coastal Championships           

–           New Event (which was already added in Victoria 2018 WRCC) Mixed (mix) C2x.

–           Definition of “key turning marker” and who should decide on which are the “key turning markers”.

FISA has established a Rules Working Group.  This group evaluates and proposes changes to the FISA Rules of Racing and Bye-Laws.  This is an ongoing process and proposals are accepted from all FISA stakeholders, including Umpires.  If you have an suggestion for a change in the Rules of Racing, please forward the suggestion to the Rules Working Group.

FISA Rules Working Group:

• Mike Tanner
• Patrick Rombaut
• Lee Spear
• Mike Williams
• Kris Grudt
• Colleen Orsmond
• Cameron Allen