Tuesday, February 10, 2004
To: Interested ECAC Rowing Coaches, Guest Coaches, and Administrators
From: Gary Caldwell, ECAC Director of Rowing
Re: Event information for the 2004 ECAC National Invitational Rowing and ECAC/Metro Championships
As in past years the ECAC Rowing Office in consultation with various coaches and administrators has attempted to fine tune regatta structure and format. After careful consideration and lengthy discussions the following policies were approved for the conduct of the 2004 Regatta:
Championships Dates and Venue: The Championships will return to Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts after a three year absence. The regatta's opening heats will start in the mid afternoon on Saturday, May 8, 2004 and conclude with a full day of racing on Sunday, May 9, 2004.
Regatta Entry fees: We will make every attempt possible to maintain the fee structure for the 2004 championships at $150.00 per boat accepted into the regatta. As in past years, payments for unaccepted entries will be refunded. We anticipate fees for schools participating in the ECAC/Metro portion of the regatta will pay a flat entry of $750.00/school. Final decisions regarding entry fees will be made prior to distribution of the entry package on or about March 1, 2004.
Tentative Championships Race Schedule (Subject to change): Preliminary heats will be conducted on Saturday, May 8, 2004 from approximately 3:45 to 7:30 PM. All finals will be conducted on Sunday, May 9, 2004 from approximately 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Exact starting time of racing on Saturday will be determined by the size of the ECAC/Metro field. If the number of Metro entries exceeds 12 schools, the Varsity Eight event may adapt the heat-semi-final progression employed in the other two Varsity Eight events. A copy of the proposed tentative schedule will be distributed with the entry package.
Women's Events - Eligibility: No changes will be made in the eligibility for the women's events for the 2004 Championships. Institutional eligibility vis-à-vis scholarship issues will remain the same as they were in 2002 and the same five events for women's crews will be offered, (Varsity Women's Eight, 2nd Varsity Eight, Novice Eight, Varsity Four, and Lightweight Varsity Eight). Lightweight Crews from the Metro schools will be eligible to row in the Women's Lightweight Eight Event.
Expansion of Events for Division I Scholarship Schools (ECAC/Metro): Up to 18 ECAC Division I Scholarship Schools will be invited to compete in the NCAA events, Varsity Eight, 2 Eight, and Varsity 4, and also Novice eight. If enough interest is shown, additional events may be offered. (Note: EAWRC Schools will not be eligible to participate). As of today the following have been issued invitations: UMass, URI, Buffalo, St. Joseph's, Delaware, Villanova, West Virginia, Fordham, Drexel, Lehigh, LaSalle, Marist, Boston College, Colgate, UNH, Holy Cross, and USMMA.
Men's Events - Eligibility and Format: Eligibility restrictions previously imposed against non-sprints scholarship schools (Men's programs only), were lifted prior to the 2002 championships to be consistent with the regatta rules as they existed prior to 1997. Non Sprints schools that offer athletic aid to their men's programs, (GWU, Rollins, Charleston, etc.), are once again be eligible to compete in the regatta. The same six events for men's crews will be offered as in 2003; Varsity Men's Eight, 2nd Varsity Eight, Novice Eight, 2nd Novice Eight, Varsity Four, and Lightweight Varsity Eight.
Womens Varsity Eight and Men's Varsity Eight progression: The race progression for the Womens Varsity Eights and the Mens Varsity Eight in the 2004 Championships as follows: Three heats of six crews each will race at the beginning of the Saturday afternoon program. The top four finishers in each heat will progress to two six boat semifinals to be raced during the Sunday program. Fifth and six place winners will move directly to the third level final on Sunday. Place winners 1-3 in each semifinal will move to Sunday's grand final, place winners 4-6 will move on to Sunday's Petite Final.
The ECAC is continuing its commitment to providing a season ending championship opportunity to those Division I ECAC member schools that are not currently members of the EAWRC Sprints League. The viability of this new championship is at least in part contingent upon the NCAA Division I Competition Committee recognizing this new regatta, the EAWRC Championships, The Western Sprints, and the South Central Championships as viable Regional Championships with at least one team automatic qualifying berth to the NCAA Division I Championships from each regatta.
The intention of the ECAC is to continue to represent our traditional constituency, REGIONAL and NATIONAL, as best we can, while at the same time trying to continue to provide exciting competitive racing opportunities in a championship setting and format for ECAC Division I, Division II, and Division III schools.
Pertinent policy changes outlined above will be incorporated into the 2004 ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships entry package. 2004 Entry materials will be available via e-mail and online at http://rowing.ecac.org/site/ on or about March 1, 2004.