Can a rowing crew replace a rower during a regatta?
A · Advanced · Boats, crews and the course · 11 of 12Before the draw a crew may replace up to half of its rowers, and its coxswain too. A single sculler cannot be replaced except for illness or injury before the first heat. Once a crew has raced its heat, a rower can be changed only for illness or injury, with a medical certificate.
How it works
- Before the draw: a federation may substitute up to one half of the rowers in a crew, as well as the coxswain. At the top regattas this must be sent in writing at least three hours before the draw. At an international regatta the notice is at least one hour before the first heat of the event.
- Illness or injury before the first heat: a rower or single sculler may be replaced, in principle no later than one hour before the race.
- After the first heat: no change to a crew except a medical substitution. No substitution at all for a single sculler who has raced the heat.
- The procedure at the top regattas: a written request with a medical certificate, and the World Rowing Doctor declares the rower unfit to compete.
- The limit: up to half of the rowers plus the coxswain.
- Coming back: at the top regattas a substituted rower may return to the same crew once the World Rowing Doctor declares them fit. At an international regatta the replaced rower may not compete again in the same event.
- Who may come in: a rower eligible for the event and for that federation, or from the same club at an international regatta.
Tricky cases
A single sculler falls ill after winning the heat. Can a teammate take the place?
No. No substitution is permitted for a single sculler who has already raced in the heat.
Can a coach swap a rower after the heat to make the boat faster?
No. After a crew has raced its heat a change is allowed only for illness or injury.
A lightweight crew brings in a substitute. Does the substitute need to weigh in?
Yes. If the reserve was not weighed with the crew, the replacement is weighed before the crew's next race, and the crew average is worked out again with the recorded weights of the others.
A rower is disqualified. Can the crew replace them?
It depends on the timing. If the disqualification comes when only medical substitutions are allowed, the rower may not be replaced and the crew is excluded from the event.
Why the rule exists
A crew of eight should not lose its regatta because one rower falls ill. The limit of half the crew and the bar on replacing a single sculler stop a federation entering one crew and racing a different one.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Rowing rules | As above | RR 49; RR 50 |
| International regattas | The organising committee approves a medical substitution. The replaced rower cannot return in that event | RR 50 (1 c) |
| Top regattas | The World Rowing Doctor approves, and may clear the rower to return | RR 50 (2 c) |
From the rule book
World Rowing Rules of Racing and Related Bye-Laws (Overall and Classic Rowing), Rules 23, 49, 50 and 66 and the bye-laws to Rule 23. Last updated 1 July 2025. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Rowing Rules of Racing (PDF).