Safety, Rules and Policies
Rowing Canada Safety Course
The RCA Safety Course promotes and demonstrates safe practices for rowers. All participants must complete the RCA course annually before being permitted on the water.
The RCA safety course can be accessed HERE.
In addition, participants may review the RCA Safety Video if desired. Video link HERE.
Concussion Policy
Kingston Rowing Club (KRC) has adopted the ROWONTARIO Concussion Management Policy and Procedures.
Resources related to concussions, including the policy, concussion awareness resources, codes of conduct, and information for individuals with suspected concussions can be found on the ROWONTARIO Concussion Management Information website
Prior to beginning a KRC program, athletes must print and fill out or complete our Concussion Code of Conduct form online.
Safety Rules and Regulations
The following document outlines the safety rules that apply to all KRC members (coaches, rowers, coxies) and those who use the KRC facilities. These rules include, but are not limited to, the Canadian Coast Guard Regulations. It details information regarding launch times, cold water rules, buddy boating, adverse weather, first aid, and other emergencies.
Rowers must familiarize themselves with the traffic pattern below prior to rowing.
Read the Safety Rules & Regulations.
Watch the Capsize Safety Instructions here.
Emergency Action Plan
Read the EAP.
Other Rules and Responsibilities of Members
Travel Code of Conduct
All rowers under the age of 18 planning to travel with the club must read and sign, with their guardian, the Kingston Rowing Club's Travel Code of Conduct before before being allowed to travel.
Read the Travel Code of Conduct.
Image consent
All participants (athletes, coaches, volunteers, etc.) must read and sign the image consent form.
Read the Image Consent Form.
Payment of fees
Fees must be paid in full or rowers will be denied on water access.
Refund policy
KRC offers a variety of programs to its members to suit all ages and abilities. Unfortunately, events beyond the KRC’s control can prevent the delivery of or participation in scheduled programming. In some cases, participants may be eligible for a full or partial refund of their program fee.
Read the KRC Refund Policy.
Boat storage policy
Boat storage fees are available on the Boat Storage service page under that programs section of our website.
Read the KRC Boat Storage Policy.
RCA Safe Sport
As of April 1, 2025, the Canadian Safe Sport Program (CSSP) replaces Abuse-Free Sport, and Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) has adopted it to foster a respectful, inclusive sport environment. RCA’s updated Safe Sport policies reflect this change, and impacted participants will be informed and given access to required e-learning and consent forms. The Independent Third-Party (ITP) mechanism remains for matters outside CSSP’s scope. Please update all platforms to remove references to Abuse-Free Sport and OSIC, and direct members to RCA’s Safe Sport complaint page.
Click here for the complete Rowing Canada Aviron 2025 Safe Sport policy manual.
Click here for the complaint management mechanism for Rowing Canada Aviron.
All other information regarding Safe Sport in Canada and continued updates on the new governing body of safe sport can be found here.