Rowing Canada Rowing (RCA) has undertaken a review of the possibility of having a lightweight rowing category in the under 19 age group. In 2022, RCA launched an Under-19 Taskforce to deliver on this mandate, with the aim of providing the RCA Board with recommendations for consideration to inform a safe, fair and inclusive path forward for address risks and concerns raised about weight. rowing categories restricted for bicycles under 19 years old.

The working group conducted a consultation including an online survey. The working group provided the RCA Board of Directors with a final report including seven (7) recommendations.

The full report can be viewed here.

The recommendations are as follows:

Recommendation 1: Collect data to inform future risk-based health and safety initiatives.
Recommendation 2: Develop, fund and require mandatory training for all coaches regarding the safe management of lightweights; nutrition; mental health of athletes; and prevention and identification of eating disorders.
Recommendation 3: Create an environment where Canadian lightweight athletes feel equitably supported, included and valued.
Recommendation 4: Create a guideline, specific to the sport of rowing, regarding the prevention, identification and management of eating disorders, eating disorders and REDs.
Recommendation 5: Develop and launch an educational, body-positive campaign aimed at all athletes.
Recommendation 6: Provide access to health practitioners and experts in nutrition, eating disorders, sports psychology.
Recommendation 7: In the under-19 age group, adopt size categories to support inclusion, equity and health while providing a meaningful racing experience for athletes.

We encourage anyone interested in this important topic to review the full report as it contains information and context that informs the recommendations above.

After careful consideration of the information gathered by the task force and review of the recommendations put forward, the RCA Board of Directors has accepted recommendations one-six (1-6).

Regarding recommendation seven (7), the RCA Board of Directors agrees with the intention to adopt alternative categories instead of the weight-restricted categories for participants under the age of 19 and wishes to explore all options that will support inclusion, equity and health while providing a meaningful running experience for athletes. As a result, the RCA Board of Directors passed a motion to discontinue U19 lightweight rowing and replace it with alternatives at a date yet to be determined. This will not take effect during the current 2024 competitive season.

The work done to establish the approaches (e.g. categories) and corresponding implementation processes and timelines will be overseen by a new working group: the CAR Working Group on Fair and Meaningful Competition for Under-19s. We plan to publish a call for expressions of interest before the end of June 2024.

Lightweight rowing, including at U19 level, has a deep place in our history and culture and we understand that this change will have a profound impact on individuals, organizations, programs, pathways and our structures. We are committed to having a balanced approach, moving away from identified risks, while implementing alternatives with the aim of limiting disruption to the community.

Next steps

As we prepare to release information on how to join the ‘CAR Working Group on Fair and Meaningful Competition for Under-19s We encourage community members to start thinking about whether this work might be of interest to them.