General Umpire Resources
At the RCA Semi-Annual Meeting on January 25, 2026 the membership approved the 2026 RCA Rules of Racing.
As per the RCA Umpire Licensing Policy and the RCA Umpire Evaluation Policy and Procedure, all licensed umpires will need to attend an annual seminar delivered by RCA. The 2026 annual seminar covers the new RCA Rules of Racing.
If you did not already attend the live Zoom version of this training in early February, this training can be accomplished by reviewing the recording of the 2026 Rules of Racing Umpire Seminar through the button below (1 hr 14 min total).
Once you have completed the recording, you must submit the form below which will confirm you have met the licensing requirements for 2026. Umpires should plan to review the recording before they attend their first regatta in 2026. If an umpire attended the seminar live, they are not required to complete the form as their attendance has already been recorded.
Watch the Rules of Racing Training HERE.
Record your completion of the training HERE.
- Umpire Minimum Standards (.pdf) – updated January 2018
- Objection Handling Process – flowchart
- RCA Rules of Racing (Rowing Canada Aviron 2022)
- Rowing BC Expense Claim Form and Reimbursement Policy are on the Governance and Policies page
Weather Protocol
The weather in Canada can change at a moments notice so RCA has developed a Weather Protocol to ensure the safety of everyone on the water.
Radio Protocol
To ensure effective radio communication it is important to have an understanding of radio protocol.
- Umpire Radio Usage Protocol (.pdf)
Umpire Equipment Manuals
Megaphones
Radios
- ICOM IC-M36
- ICOM IC-M37
- Standard Horizon HX280S
- West Marine VHF155
- West Marine VHF200
- West Marine VHF255
Stopwatches
Personal Floatation Devices
Umpire Equipment Bags
Regatta Equipment
Considerations for Para Athletes
Click here to access the para presentation made to umpires in June 2020
Umpire Seminar Reference Materials
Full Powerpoint presentation (.pdf)
Including:
- Lived Experience: Making a Safe Sport Complaint
- Understanding the new RCA Rules of Racing
- What to expect from the RCA Global Evaluations model
- Changes in 2026: Requirements of LOCs and New Jury Feedback Opportunities
- Operational Updates/Reminders: Expense Policy and Communications
Managing Complaints presentation from Now What Facilitation (.pdf)
Reports
- Rowing BC Annual Report – Umpire Committee Report on p. 21
- RCA Safety and Events Committee
- Clinicians’ Report
Training Sessions
- 2022 Rowing BC Umpire Conference Agenda
- In Memoriam – Don Arnold
- RCA Umpire Committee Report
- RCA Safety and Events Committee
- Rowing BC Umpire Committee Report
- Rowing BC Umpires recognized by RCA
- Rowing BC Report
- RCA Clinician’s Report
- Safe Sport Presentation
- Rowing BC Regatta/Sanction Report
- National Regatta Applications and Local Regatta Signups
- Rules of Racing Changes
- Mentoring Assistants and Associates
- Announce Successful UC Candidates
- 2021 Annual Umpire Conference Agenda (.pdf)
- In Memoriam – Herb Challier (as communicated July 7, 2020)
- 2020 Rowing BC Annual Awards (including Umpire of the Year)
- RCA Umpire Committee Report (.pdf)
- RCA Safety and Events Committee Report (.pdf)
- RCA Umpires, Regattas and COVID-19 (in-person oral report)
- Return to Regattas – Umpire Perspective (in-person discussion)
- Rowing BC Umpire Committee Report (.pdf)
- Rowing BC Operational Updates (in-person oral report)
- Rowing BC Regatta Committee Report (.pdf see page 32)
- Brown Cup Officiating Considerations (.pdf)
- Transition to RCA Seminar Packages (.pdf)
- Umpire Community Building (in-person discussion)
- COMPLETE 2021 Rowing BC Annual Umpire Seminar Presentation (.pdf)
- 2019 Umpire Recertification Seminar Agenda (.pdf)
- Attendance and Regatta Sign-Ups (.pdf)
- Rowing BC Umpire Committee Report (.pdf)
- RCA Umpire Committee Report (in-person oral report)
- RCA Safety and Events Committee Report (in-person oral report)
- Updates from the Rowing BC Office (.pptx)
- National Regattas (.pdf)
- Awards and Recognition (.pdf)
- Dealing with Difficult People in Difficult Dynamics
- Coastal Rowing (.pptx)
- Staggered Starts (.pdf)
- Race Umpire Boat Positioning (in-person report with video examples)
- New Education Levels Revisited (.pdf)
- Marshalling Crews to a Floating Start (.pdf)
- Implementation of Rule 3.5 (.pdf)
- Communication from RCA re: Implementation of Rule 3.5 (.pdf)
- Cold Water Immersion and Protocol (.pdf)
- Gender Sensitivity (in-person discussion)
- 2018 Umpire Recertification Seminar Agenda (.pdf)
- Rowing BC Umpire Committee Report (.pptx)
- Rowing Canada Aviron Umpire Committee Report (.pptx)
- Minimum Standards Revisions/Observations (.pdf)
- Umpire Minimum Standards (.pdf)
- Mentoring (.pptx) – Source: Rowing Canada Aviron Umpire Education Program Mentor Module
- New Umpire Education and Levels (.pptx)
- Executive Director’s Report (.pdf)
- RCA Rules of Racing Proposed Changes and Implications (.pptx)
- Equipment Anomalies (.pptx)
- Awards and Recognition (.pptx)
- 2018 National Regattas and 2017 Feedback (.pptx)
- National Regatta Jury Policy (.pptx)
- 2017 Recertification Seminar Agenda (.xlsx)
- RBC Umpire Committee Report (.pdf)
- Skills Events (.pptx)
- Can-Row Skills Handbook (.pdf)
- Clinicians Report
- Safety (.pdf)
- Wake control and progression (.pptx)
- RCA Safety and Events Report (.pdf)
- Minimum Standards (.pptx)
- Techniques and Tips (.pdf)
- Regatta Data System and Computerized Results
- 2016 Recertification Seminar Agenda (.pdf)
- In Memorandum – Paul Baylis (.pdf)
- RBC Umpire Committee Presentation (.pdf)
- Objections and Protests Presentation (.pdf)
- Umpire Boat Positioning Presentation (.pdf)
- Starting With A Traffic Light System Presentation (.pdf)
- Associate Retention Presentation (.pdf)
- RCA Umpire Committee Presentation(.pptx)
- Para-Rowing Presentation (.pdf)
- 2016 National Regatta Nominations (.pdf)
- Heel-Tie Presentation (.pdf)
- RCA Safety and Events Committee Presentation (.pdf)
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact the Rowing BC Umpire Committee to find out more.