Racing Guidelines for CRI Programs

Racing at CRI is prioritized for our youth and adult competitive teams.   We strongly encourage participants who are interested in racing for CRI to reach the competitive coaches and/or try out for the appropriate competitive programs.  

If there are others in the CRI community who wish to enter races on an ad hoc or occasional basis, they must reach the Director of Youth programming (for youth) and the Director of Program Administration (for adults) to coordinate these activities according to these guidelines and in some cases, get approval to compete under the CRI banner.    

Please Note:   

• Recreational rowers or individuals who wish to register as CRI may only do so according to these guidelines - they may not create separate “competitive” programs outside of our existing programs or register for races without approval or expect that their interests in racing will be prioritized at any time or in any way.   

• The only athletes permitted to race for CRI are those who have registered in a current CRI program

YOUTH

If youth rowers wish to compete for CRI, they must be a registered member of the appropriate youth program and be selected to compete by the coaching staff.

Competitive Youth and Youth Development Programs 

• The coaches of Youth Competitive programs coordinate racing schedules and planning with the Director of Youth Programming. 

• The only categories CRI Youth Competitive rowers will row are by age, e.g., U-15, U-17, U-19, etc.  

The categories CRI Youth Competitive rowers do not prioritize for racing include:

• Youth Lightweight - CRI does not race in lightweight youth categories.   

• Novice - Novice eligibility is not  a consideration for any youth rower interested in racing.  While, there may be opportunities for our coaches to create boats that are eligible to compete in the Novice category, rower eligibility will not be preserved nor considered in the shaping of a young person's racing experience.

Recreational Programs

• The coaches of Youth Recreation programs must coordinate racing with the Director of Youth Programming. 

• Recreational youth rowers may only race on the Charles River from the Harry Parker boathouse and will not be provided boat usage offsite.  

Unenrolled Youth:  

e.g., Car Toppers; Small Class program participants and/or Private Lesson rowers

Youth not enrolled in CRI competitive or recreational programs may not compete for CRI nor represent CRI at any races without approval of the Director of Youth Programming.  

ADULT

Competitive Adult Programs

• The coaches of Adult Competitive teams must request approval from the Director of Program Administration. 

  • The only programs in which CRI Adult Competitive rowers will row are 

    • Competitive Women

    • Competitive Men

    • Military

    • Para

    • Two Legacy Small Class Programs

• Important

  • Coaches of the above programs must communicate general roster information, boat requests and trailer needs to the Director of Program Administration before registering for races.    

  • Under no circumstances, may coaches or athletes in these programs register for racing on behalf of CRI without written approval (text or email) with the Director of Program Administration prior to completing any race registrations.   

• Each competitive teams racing expenses are managed by the respective coaches and athletes

Recreational Programs 

General Sweeps

• The coaches of General Sweeps programs must request approval to race from the Director of Program Administration.

Small Class Programs

• The coaches of adult small class programs must request approval to race by reaching the Director of Program Administration.

Sculling

Captains tested and PBO Scullers:

• May enter races on the Charles River and for captains test scullers, they must coordinate with the CRI Equipment and Scheduling Manager to reserve a boat if available

• Car topping a CRI single may only be done with approval of the Equipment and Scheduling manager and the CRI shop approval of their car top setup 

• PBO scullers who wish to request a rack on a trailer must reach out to the CRI Equipment and Scheduling Manager directly for approval

• CRI is not obligated to include additional boats or equipment on any trailer, regardless of availability 

PARA

• The coaches of all para programs must request approval to race from the Director of Program Administration

MILITARY

• The coaches of all military programs must request approval to race from the Director of Program Administration

Racing equipment

• All CRI equipment for racing will be assigned by the Scheduling and Equipment Manager

Costs of Racing for Rowers Not Registered in Youth Competitive or Youth Development Teams 

• Groups or athletes requesting to race must pay CRI  for all charges for each regatta 

• These fees are non-negotiable - CRI will make every practical effort to keep racing costs down

Trailering Expectations

• The CRI Scheduling and Equipment Manager solely approves all equipment usage and access whether at CRI or traveling to races.  

• Note:  Because space may available on a trailer does not obligate CRI to include additional boats or equipment on any trailer

• CRI is not obligated to include additional boats or equipment on any trailer, regardless of availability

Trailer Loading / Unloading Guidelines 

• To minimize disruption to rowers not traveling who may have interest in boats or equipment that is being loaded for racing, coaches of the traveling teams must ensure that boats are ready to row and in their assigned racks at the time and date assigned by the Equipment and Scheduling Manager

• When trailers are departing or arriving back at the Harry Parker Boathouse:

  • All loading and unloading times are determined by the CRI Scheduling and Equipment Manager (and not coaches or participants).   

  • It is the responsibility of the coaches to follow all instructions from the Scheduling and Equipment Manager to have boats rigged or derigged as determined by the Scheduling and Equipment Manager.

• Cooperation and helpfulness with every other participating program is the baseline expectation for all individuals and teams both for rigging and derigging at the boathouse and while traveling.  

• We expect there to be a commitment by everyone to help and support each other in all aspects of loading, unloading and overall race conduct.

Trailer Driving 

• Approved trailer drivers are determined by CRI.   These drivers must follow all CRI and DOT requirements and expectations

• Only CRI will determine whether to approve sending any trailer to any regatta and whether there is an available driver.  

• For youth regattas

  • Coaches determine specific trailer drivers for every regatta subject to the approval of the Director of Youth Programming 

• For adult regattas

  • Programs are not guaranteed trailer driving to any race; coaches of all adult programs must reach the Director of Operations for approval for trailer drivers as well as use of a CRI trailer (or any trailer)

    • If they haven’t already, the coach must get approval for team travel from the Director of Program Administration

    • Please note:  CRI is not obligated to include additional boats or equipment on any trailer, regardless of availability

• Coaches of all programs must coordinate loading, unloading, rigging, and de-rigging all boats with the Scheduling and Equipment Manager.  See the above Trailer Loading / Unloading Guidelines