RegattaCentral

Location

The 2009 Essex Rowing Indoor Invitational will be held Sunday, March 15 at Andover High School, Andover, MA, located at 80 Shawsheen Road.  **Note** This location has recently changed and is no longer at Methuen High School.

Parking

Parking is available at Andover High School.

Online Registration

Registrations will be accepted at RegattaCentral through March 8, 2008 at midnight.  Please direct all specific inquiries about the online registration process to RegattaCentral.  For general Indoor Sprints inquiries, please contact the Regatta Director.

Entry Fee

$15 for all athletes.  No Refunds.   Full payment required before raceday, otherwise your entry will not be recognized.

Team Entries

Teams wishing to compete in the 2009 event should contact the Regatta Director prior to entering.  Each participating program will be required to enter at least 5 boys and/or 5 girls in order to be eligible.

At-large Entries

The Essex Rowing Indoor Invitational is a primarily a competition for invited teams.  However, we encourage individual athletes that meet our posted qualifying standards to compete as an at-large (or non-team) entry.  Inclusion of these athletes is intended to enhance the quality of competition for our team entries.  Racing as an at-large athlete does not prohibit athletes from racing under their current team affiliation, it simply means that their team is not among those competing for team points.  At-large athletes may also race as Unaffiliated.

Qualifying Times

At-large entrants will be expected to meet posted time standards in order to race at the Essex Rowing Indoor Sprints.  Your estimated current 2k erg score will be used to determine qualification, regardless of race distance you are entering.  There are no qualifying standards for athletes entering with a team.

Boys; 6:40 or under (7:05 or under, Lightweight)

Girls; 7:45 or under (8:15 or under, Lightweight)

Entry Restrictions

Athletes may enter only a single event.  This is with the exception of the 500m, 80m, and 260m/300m events, of which athletes may enter two.  For example, an athlete may contest both the 80m and 260m events, but may not contest both the 4000m and 80m events.

Athlete Classification

Junior participants must have been born on or after January 1, 1991 or are currently enrolled in a secondary school.

All other participants may enter as Exhibition.

Exhibition Entries

Athletes that do not meet the criteria for a Junior competitor will be allowed to race as an Exhibition entry.  Exhibition entries will compete and be seeded as normal, but their times and placement will not be recognized in the calculation of team scores and individual results.

Entry Confirmation and Race Schedule

Entry confirmation will be posted on RegattaCentral in real-time.  A final race schedule will be provided to at-large entrants and coaches no later than 10 pm on Friday, March 13.

Athletes/Team Check-in

At-large competitors and coaches may check-in on race day at the Field House at Methuen High School. 

Race Day Registrations

Registrations will be accepted on race day.  Entries will be limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis.  On-site registrations will be located at the check-in table. 

Cost to enter on race day will be $30 cash.  No other forms of payment will be accepted on race day.

Lightweight and Novice Categories

At-large entrants and team coaches will be asked to identify lightweight and novice athletes following registration.  A categorical note will be made for each of these athletes in the final results, but no distinction will be made in placement or results categorization.  This is simply for informational purposes.

Event Order

1.  Boys Open 4000m

2.  Girls Open 4000m

3.  Boys Open 80m

4.  Girls Open 80m

5.  Boys Open 1000m

6.  Girls Open 1000m

7.  Boys Open 8000m

8.  Girls Open 8000m

9.  Boys Open 500m

10.  Girls Open 500m

11.  Boys Open 2000m

12.  Girls Open 2000m

13.  Boys Open 300m

14.  Girls Open 260m

Warm up

Separate warm up ergs will be on the gymnasium floor in a designated area.  Priority should be given to competitors whose event is next on the schedule.  It is recommended that you complete your warm up no later than 5 minutes prior to your race's start time.  Proceed directly to the race area and your assigned machine when your race is called.  It is your responsibility to be on time for your race.  Please follow the instructions of the regatta volunteers.  Athletes should check in with the nearest regatta volunteer once seated at your erg to confirm your name, event, and erg number. 

Results

Results will be posted as quickly as possible following your event.  Complete results will be up on the Essex Rowing, RegattaCentral, and Row2k websites after the races.

Erg settings/coxswains

You may not change the damper setting on the ergometer during the race; set it wherever you like BEFORE the race.  Note that athletes should set their resistance based on drag, not damper number.  Each athlete may have a single individual act as coxswain for their event.  This individual will be provided with a seat slightly behind and to the side of the athlete racing.  Coxswains may stand but are not permitted to walk around the athlete when the race is in progress. 

Regatta volunteers will record scores manually following the event.   DO NOT TOUCH YOUR MONITOR UNTIL YOUR SCORE HAS BEEN RECORDED.  Athletes or coxswains that touch their monitor without receiving permission from a regatta volunteer may be disqualified.

Facilities

The (gym) has the following facilities: bathrooms, locker rooms, and water fountains.  There will be a food vendor outside the gym.  Athletes are not allowed to bring food into the arena.  Food consumption is NOT allowed on the gym floor.

Concept 2 Model C and D ergometers will be used.

ERG Scores (Seeding)

Athletes or coaches must submit their most recent 2000 meter ergometer score or a best guess prediction of what that would be if an actual score is not available.  These scores will be used to seed athletes beside competitors of similar ability  Be honest!  2000 meter scores will be used for seeding regardless of the distance of the race you are entering.

No Pseudonymns or False Names

The use of Pseudonymns or False Names is strictly prohibited.  Athletes found in violation of this rule will be banned, along with their team, from competition at the regatta for two years and all associated athletes in the 2009 event will be disqualified.  In the event of an emergency it is imperative that regatta volunteers and safety personal can accurately identify athletes.  Athletes may not row for someone else, under their entry.

Substitutions

Substitutions are allowed but must be cleared by the regatta director at least 2 hours prior to the race being contested.

Shirts/Uniforms

Shirts must be worn during competition.  Team entrants must wear a uniform clearly identifying them with their team.

Finals Only

We have a finals only format in ALL events.  Participants will be seeded, based upon 2000 meter erg scores submitted at the time of entry, so that each rower will compete beside other rowers of comparable (reported) speed.  The best time will win each event.

Interpretation of Rules

The meaning and application of these rules will be determined solely by the Regatta Director.  All decisions and deliberations will be secret, arbitrary, and final.