Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships Brief

Welcome to the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships! The 2008 championship races will be held May 10 and 11 on Lake Harsha, East Fork State Park, 3294 Elklick Road, Bethel, Ohio 45106. Cincinnati Country Day School and Clermont High School Crew will host the event. All races are 1500 meters. Events are offered in singles, pairs, doubles, quads, coxed fours and eights for students in novice, lightweight and varsity categories. The course is fully buoyed with starting platforms. The course is a no wake area and is patrolled by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The 2008 MSRA Championships will be a USRowing registered regatta. All races are conducted under Midwest Scholastic Rowing Association (MSRA) and USRowing rules of racing.

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Eligible Organizations: The Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships is restricted to member, single high school (scholastic) rowing programs in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the western half of Pennsylvania.

• Teams must only represent their high school during the spring season (March-May).
• Teams must submit an annual information update to the association by April 1, 2008. Schools that have never been a member of the Association must submit a statement regarding its status at the school (varsity team, recognized school club, ...) on school letterhead in addition to the information update and dues, for consideration.
• Teams must become organizational members of USRowing. This year, if the only USRowing registered regatta you are going to enter is the Midwest Scholastic Championships, then your dues requirement is only $150.  If you choose to enter another USRowing sanctioned event later or qualify and choose to attend the USRowing Youth Invitational, you would then need to upgrade your membership at that time to the $350, $1,100 or higher level.

Regatta Information: Regatta information packets are available online through regattacentral.com

Forms and Fees: The forms noted below must be submitted to Clermont Crew's regatta registrar by May 4, 2008 @ 11:59pm, deadline for rowers to compete in the event.

• Competitor eligibility roster: A typed, alphabetical listing of all competitors and alternates, their names, date of birth and grade in school, on school letterhead or a form sanctioned by your state, and signed by an athletic director or principle of the school. Handwritten list, or lists on plain paper are NOT acceptable.
• Release waivers for each competitor and alternate: Unless waivers are on file by April 27 with Regatta Central, please send signed waivers in alphabetical order, along with signed school eligibility list to:

  Leila Spriggs
  1413 Lake Allen Rd.
  Batavia, OH 45103

• If waivers and eligibility list are sent by overnight carrier, please indicate that the recipient need not sign.

Entries and line ups: Boat entries and line ups must be registered through the regattacentral.com site. Coaches may identify alternates for up to half each boat's line up. No changes to a boat's lineup will be allowed beyond those identified as alternates.

• Rowers may be entered in at most two events in the boating line-up.  Substitutions (up to one half of the rowers of the crew as well as the coxswain) may be submitted, in writing, at registration.
• Entry Form (boating line-up) must be signed by the team’s Head Coach.
• Eligibility/Team List certifying the students’ attendance at a particular school, current grade level , number of semesters previously completed and date of birth. This form must be signed by the Athletic Director or Principal/Headmaster of the school.
• The Eligibility/Team List must be typed and may be on a form sanctioned by your state, the form provided in your entry packet or on your High School letterhead. Handwritten Eligibility Lists or lists on plain paper are not acceptable.
• Checks for Entry Fees must accompany all entries.
• Release Waivers may also be required by the host organization.
• "C" entries are not allowed in any event, each school may enter a maximum of two entries or less per event.

The entry window on regattacentral.com will close @ 11:59pm May 4, 2008.

Entry Fee Payment: Crews are strongly encouraged to pay online through regattacentral.com. If this is not practical, a check may be sent with a regattacentral.com generated invoice to the Clermont Crew registrar at the address noted above for waivers and eligibility list. Whether writing a physical check or paying online via regattacentral.com, payments must be received by May 4, 2008.

Entry Fees: Eights $35; Fours $25; Doubles/Pairs $20; and Singles $15, with a cap of $390/school. An additional plaque fee of $30/school is to be paid with the entry fee.

Entry Errors: The coach of any entry that contains an error will be notified by phone or email and given 24 hours to correct the error. If the time limit passes without resolution satisfactory to the registrar and the regatta committee, the crew's entry for that particular event will be dropped, and will become subject to the late entry rule should the coach subsequently correct the error and reenter the crew.

Late Entries: Any entry made after the deadline of May 4, 2008 will be accepted at the discretion of the regatta committee based on the availability of a lane, and only with a $25 late boat entry fee. A late entry will not be accepted if it creates a heat.

Scratch Fees: Any team that scratches an entry after May 4, 2008 will forfeit its entry fee. Those scratching after the start of the regatta (including those that are late to start or do not make weight) will forfeit their entry fee and be assessed a $25 scratch fee to be paid prior to completion by any other boat from that team in subsequent races.

Hot Seating: Neither rowers, coxswains nor equipment may hot seat in events less that 50 minutes apart on the schedule.

Lane Draws: Crews may review their lane draws on regattacentral.com late on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

On Site Registration: The on site registration desk will be open Friday, May 9, 2008, from 5-8pm, and Saturday, May 10, 2008, from 6-10am.

Coaches and Coxes Meeting: A coaches and coxes meeting will be held under at the Maupin Pavilion near the registration desk at 6:30am Saturday, May 10, 2008. Please be sure your coxswains and crews have practiced using a starting platform.

Competitor Age: Rowers in this event must not have reached their 19th birthday unless they were retained in a grade prior to grade 9. Students must be currently attending high school grades nine through twelve.

Gender: Only males may row in Boys events.  Only females may row in Girls events.

Coxswains: Coxswains may be of either gender, and of any skill or age classification (not withstanding the age maximum).  There is no weight minimum for coxswains.

Event Limits: Rowers may be entered in no more than two events. Coxswains are exempt from this limit.

Definition of Terms:

• SCHOLASTIC - entries must be comprised of students in grades 9 through 12 who attend the same school and row representing that school during the spring season (March-May).
• NOVICE - a novice rower began rowing after the Midwest Scholastic Championships in 2006.
• FRESHMAN - an athlete currently enrolled in grade 9.
• JUNIOR - an athlete currently enrolled in grades 9, 10, or 11.
• 2nd VARSITY -in order to enter a 2nd varsity event, the team must also be entering a 1st boat in the corresponding varsity event.
• LIGHTWEIGHT - boys weighing 150# or less, no averaging of weights will be allowed;  girls weighing 130# or less, no averaging of weights will be allowed.

Weigh in Rules:

• All lightweight competitors must weigh in the first day (Saturday) of the regatta.
• Crew members must weigh in wearing their crew uniform, identical in color and style to others on the crew; no one will be weighed in wearing more or less clothing.
• Members of each crew must weigh in together and be accompanied by their coach or a club official.
• Crew members are to step on the scales in the order in which they row in the boat, bow to stern.
• Coxswains do not need to weigh in.
• Clerk of the scales will communicate only with the coach or club official.
• Weigh in scales will open 2 hours before and close 2 hours after the time of the first scheduled lightweight event of the day.
• Athletes must weigh in and meet the required weight at least one hour before the start of their race.
• No one will be allowed to check weight on the official scale during the official weigh in times.
• Priority on the scale will go to those entered in earlier races.
• A trial scale will be available in the weigh in area.
• There is no limit to the number of trial weigh-ins.
• Rowers making weight will be given wrist bands, bands must be worn throughout the competition.

Coxswains: Coxswains may cox in any boat, regardless of gender, novice, or varsity status. There is no weight minimum for coxswains.

Quick Release: Check your equipment for race readiness, including the proper tying of heels (3 inches). Releases will be checked at the dock as the boats approach the launch area.

Weighing Boats: Boats will not be weighed.

Bow Balls: Bow balls must be secured to shells before launch. Shells without bow balls will not be allowed to race.

Bow Numbers: Bow numbers will be supplied at the launch area and must be returned to the dock master on return to the beach following a race.

Lane Numbers: Lanes at the regatta site are numbered from 1-7, with lane 1 being closest to the beach.

Boat Storage: Boats are to be stored in marked areas only. Please provide your own boat stands and secure all boats not in use. Trailers will not be allowed on the lawns or beaches. Once your equipment is unloaded, please move your trailers and tow units to the areas marked. Security will be provided overnight Friday and Saturday. All equipment must be removed from the regatta site by sunset Sunday evening.

Practice Sessions: Crews will be allowed to practice at their own risk on Friday. May 9, 2008, from 2pm to sunset. All crews must follow the traffic pattern noted on the course map. Crews heading to the start must row in lanes 5-7 or outside the course on the north side (farthest from the beach). Crews heading from the start to finish should be in lanes 1-3 (closest to the beach). Lane 4 is to remain open.

Starting Platforms: All crews must be able to align with starting platform. Please be sure your coxswains and crew know how to back up to a platform and maintain a good point while locked on by the holder. Crews will be expected to know how to scull to keep their point (seat 2 sculling with bow oar, etc.) and execute a clean platform start.

Late to Start: All crews must be on time to the start area. Crews late to the starting line marshalling area will be assessed one warning.

Protests: Protests will follow the USRowing rules of racing. Any crew wishing to protest should raise their hands after completing their race. Coaches should formally register their written protest with the registrar and pay the protest fee. Protests will be adjudicated by USRowing officials.

Race Results: All results will be posted near the registration desk.

Awards:

• Medals will be awarded for FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD place finishes in each event.
• An event must have at least three entries from different teams to constitute a race.
• AWARD PLAQUES will be given to the winning team for each event.
• Team points trophies will be awarded for 1) boy's events, 2) girl's events, and 3) combined boy's and girl's points for those schools that enter both boy's and girl's teams.
• The Barnes scoring system will be used to calculate team points. Points are awarded in each event, regardless of event category (varsity, second varsity, junior, novice, lightweight, and freshman).
• Original trophies will be engraved and maintained by the regatta host.
• In accordance with USRowing rules, the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships is a qualifying event for USRowing's Youth National Championship for all varsity events (except pairs) and the boy's 150# and girl's 130# events. Crews or scullers finishing in first place will receive an invitation, others may petition.
• The Midwest Scholastic Championships is a qualifying event for the Scholastic Rowing Association Championship in Varsity 8+{4 slots}, 4+{4 slots}, 4x{2 slots}, 2x{2 slots}, and 1x{2slots}; 2nd 8+{2 slots}, Lightweight 8+ and 4+ {3 slots}; Junior 8+ and 4+{3 slots}, 4x{1 slot}; and Freshman 8+{2 slots}.

On Site Concessions:

• Food will be available at the park concession stand under the portico.
• Regatta shirts will be available for purchase.

Pre Registration Information Available:

• Regatta brief (this document). Download this brief as a PDF.
• Release waiver form from regattacentral.com.
• Entry invoice from regattacentral.com.
• Heat list and lane draws from racetrak.com (after May 7, 2008).

On Site Information Packets:

• Lane draws (one packet per team).
• Competitor roster.

ELIMINATION HEATS: Progression system:
 
<New in 2008> Events that require SEMIFINALS will be raced first on Saturday, then all events that are not Finals-only will run Heats with those that raced Semifinals running their Semifinal in the event progression order along with the Heats.

Novice 4+s might race 1000 meter (floating start) elimination heats [beginning 2006], depending on weather and number of entries.

Seeding based on two heats (or two semifinals) for one final:
            H1-3             H2-2             H1-1             H2-1             H1-2             H2-3
Seeding based on three heats for one final:
            H1-2             H2-1             H3-1             H1-1             H2-2             H3-2
Seeding based on four heats for two semifinals (22 to 28 entries):
            H3-3             H2-2             H1-1             H3-1             H4-2             H1-3
            H4-3             H1-2             H2-1             H4-1             H3-2             H2-3
Seeding based on six heats for two semifinals (29 to 42 entries)
            H1-2             H2-1             H4-1             H6-1             H3-2             H5-2
            H6-2             H1-1             H3-1             H5-1             H2-2             H4-2

Barnes Scoring System:
Team of the first place crew receives:

If more than six boats raced in heats in an event, points shall be awarded as if six boats raced in the final, regardless of the number of crews that actually race in the final.

Points awarded for the second (or subsequent) crew from the same high school with a higher finish order in a final are not awarded, but count as the place order (thus blocking the awarding of those points to any team) in awarding points to other high schools.