Rules and regulations

2. RACING and COMPETITION CLASSES and CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISIONS
2.1. Racing Classes. For the AusDBF Dragon Boat Racing Championships or sanctioned competitions, races may be
organised for the following Racing Classes, based on age and gender.
2.1.1. Open Class – the primary class of racing. There are no restrictions on crew composition, or age except that
competitors (including drummers) must be 12 years of age or older.
2.1.2. Women’s Class – for all female crews, of any age except that competitors (including drummers) must be 12
years of age or older. A drummer and steerer, sweep, or helm must be female.
2.1.3. Mixed Class – That a Mixed crew must consist of:
a) 20’s standard crew – a minimum 5 male paddlers to a maximum of 10 male paddlers
(excludes drummer and sweep)
b) 10’s small boat crew – a minimum 3 male paddlers to a maximum of 5 male paddlers
(excludes drummer and sweep) .
All competitors (including drummers) must be 12 years of age or older. A drummer and steerer, sweep, or
helm can be either.
2.2 Racing Divisions for AusDBF Championships or sanctioned competitions, races may be Organised for the
following Racing Divisions.
2.2.1 Junior Division – Races may be held for single or mixed gender crew. All paddlers including drummer with
the exception of the steerer (sweep or helm) must be a minimum of 12 years of age to 18 years of age as
at the 1st January in the year of the competition.
Note: This means that a competitor whose 18th birthday falls on or after the 1st January, in a given year, can
compete in that year only.
2.2.2 Youth Division - Races may be held for single or mixed gender crew. All paddlers including drummer with
the exception of the steerer (sweep or helm) must be over 17 and under the age of 23 years as at the 1st
January in the year of the competition.
2.2.3 Premier Division – Must be a minimum of 12 years and up to any age group
2.2.4 Masters Division - Races may be held for single or mixed gender crew. All paddlers including the Steerer
(sweep or helm) must be aged 40 years at the year of the competition. With the exception of the Drummer
who does not need to be over 40 year but must be a minimum of 12 years of age. As of 2011 Australian
Dragon Boat Racing Championships, you must be aged 40 years as at the 1st day of racing.
2.2.5 Grand Masters Division - Races may be held for single or mixed gender crew. All paddlers including the
Steerer (sweep or helm) must be aged 50 years at the year of competition. With the exception of the
Drummer who does not need to be over 50 year but must be a minimum of 12 years of age. As of 2011
Australian Dragon Boat Racing Championships, you must be aged 50 years as at the 1st day of racing.
2.2.6 Great Grand Dragons Division - Races may be held for single or mixed gender crew. All paddlers including
the Steerer (sweep or helm) must be aged 60 years and over at the year of the competition. With the
exception of the Drummer who does not need to be over 60 year but must be a minimum of 12 years of age.
As of 2011 Australian Dragon Boat Racing Championships, you must be aged 60 years as at the 1st day of
racing.
2.27 Regional Representation- open age to be considered for mixed, open, women rather than Premier, Master and
Grand Master
Adopted: 3 December 2009 AusDBF Competition Rules & Regulations Page 6
Updated: 25 April 2011
2.3 Racing Distances For AusDBF Championships or sanctioned competitions, races may be organised over the
following race distances:
· 200m
· 500m
· 1,000m straight race
· 2,000m turn race
At an AusDBF Australian Dragon Boat Racing Championships, each combination of Racing Class and Category
shall be known as a Division and Category:
Division – Junior, Youth, Premiers, Masters, Grand Masters, Great Grand Dragons
Category – Open, Women and Mixed
2.4 Additional Classes Other Racing and Competition Category’s may be introduced at the discretion of the
AusDBF Board, who may implement category’s, or not, as they see fit, from time to time.
3. CREW and TEAM COMPOSITION
3.1 Crew Numbers – Dragon Boat Crews competing in AusDBF Championships will normally consist of: -
(a) For the Standard Racing Boat (DB22) a minimum of eighteen (18) and a maximum of twenty (20) paddlers;
one (1) Steerer, (sweep or helm) and one (1) Drummer and four (4) reserves; giving a minimum total of
twenty (20) and a maximum total of twenty-two (22) Racers in a boat, and total twenty six (26) on a crew list
(b) For the Small Racing Boat (DB12) the crew shall consist of ten (10) paddlers one (1) Steerer, (sweep or
helm) and one (1) Drummer and four (4) reserves; giving a maximum total of twelve (12) Racers in a boat
and total sixteen (16) on a crew list.
Variations to these numbers can only be made with the approval of the AusDBF Board.
3.1.1 State v State Team Compositions – State Members are eligible to:
(a) Enter up to 2 crews per Category and Division
Enter 2 crews per Category and Division in the Regional Championships. Teams in the Regional
Championships must consist solely of paddlers who are individual members of clubs that are located
further than 100 km from the GPO of the capital city of the relevant State.
c) In addition to the Squad numbers as per 3.1 Crews State members may appoint Team Managers and
Coaches as part of their team.
3.1.2 Club Championships
Rationale of Club Championships Rules
As a general rule it is expected that paddlers will actively train and compete with a single club during a
particular season. It is recognized that:
State Members may apply different rules with respect to Club Membership in their State competitions.
These rule does not impact on competitions held within States, or on IDBF Club Crew Competitions.
Competitors in these competitions should ensure that they comply with the relevant rules pertaining to these
Competitions.
Adopted: 3 December 2009 AusDBF Competition Rules & Regulations Page 7
Updated: 25 April 2011
In order to compete at the AusDBF Australian Championships a Club must:
(a) Be a registered member/affiliate/associate of the relevant AusDBF Member (where possible);
(b) Ensure all Competitors competing for this club are a member of their AusDBF Member, and be able to
demonstrate membership if required with a current and valid membership card;
(c) Ensure that their Competitors are bona members of, and compete for, only the club in question for the
duration of the AusDBF Australian Championships club racing competition.
(d) Ensure that their Competitors are bona members of only one club from 1 January of the year of the
relevant AusDBF Australian Championships.
(e) Ensure that Competitors have been a bona fide member of the club and registered with their State
Member through the club (if applicable) prior to 1 January of the year of the relevant AusDBF
Australian Championships (“the qualifying period”). Competitors who do not satisfy the qualifying
period requirement, but who are bona fide members of the club they are seeking to represent, may be
permitted to represent this club at the discretion of the AusDBF Board based on the following broad
guidelines:
i. Competitors will not be permitted to represent a club where they have been a previous member
of another club and have not been a member of their current club for the qualifying period.
ii. Competitors who have not previously paddled competitively shall generally be permitted to
represent their current club.
iii. Other factors may be taken into account, particularly the extent to which a Competitor has
trained and raced with their current club.
iv. Competitors who have not paddled competitively in any paddling discipline, who have taken up
dragon boating relatively recently (within the qualifying period) but who have nevertheless
trained with their club and represented their club at State Titles shall, all other things being
equal, be permitted to represent their club at the AusDBF Australian Championships.
v. Competitors who have paddled extensively in dragon boating or any other paddling discipline,
have not dragon boated extensively with their current club and who have not, or rarely, dragon
boated with their current club will not be permitted to race with their club at the AusDBF
Australian Championships.
vi. Other situations between these two extremes will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Note: DBNT has been granted an a ‘Grandfather clause’ for exemptions which is to be reviewed
annually.
(f) Ensure that Competitors who are representing their club in the Club Championships can provide proof
of actual residency of that State and have been an active paddling member of the relevant club during
the current season.
(g) Competitors who live in “border towns” as defined in the AusDBF Border Town Policy are entitled to
compete with their club, notwithstanding that they may reside in a different State to which their club is
domiciled, without the requirement for an exemption being granted.
(h) Competitors who are seeking to represent a club that is not domiciled in the State in which the paddler
resides and who do not live in a relevant “border town” may be permitted to represent this club at the
discretion of the AusDBF Board using the following broad guidelines:
Adopted: 3 December 2009 AusDBF Competition Rules & Regulations Page 8
Updated: 25 April 2011
i. The paddler must be able to satisfy all other club representation requirements above except
residency.
ii. The paddler must be able to show that they have competed with their club on a minimum of 2
(two) occasions during the racing season in question. One of these must have been at the
relevant State’s State Championship (if applicable).
iii. The paddler must be able to show that they have trained with their club on a minimum of 10
occasions prior to the AusDBF Australian Championships.
iv. The paddler must not, during the racing season in question, have been a member of another
club.
v. The paddler must have an additional connection with the State in which their club is domiciled
and must not be travelling to this State solely for the purpose of training or racing. For example,
if a paddler resides in one State but works extensively in another State all other things being
equal they will be allowed to represent a club domiciled in the second State.
The above single club requirements do not apply to registered financial members of Dragons Abreast
Australia Limited to the extent that such paddlers may be validly members of a Dragons Abreast Club
and a non-Dragons Abreast Club at the same time, but must compete solely with one Club for the
duration of the AusDBF National Championships. The intention of this exemption is to allow Breast
Cancer survivors the option of competing with a non-Dragons Abreast Club whilst still maintaining
membership with Dragons Abreast Australia Ltd.
3.2 Crews at an International Regatta. In Club Crew International Regatta’s, sanctioned by the
AusDBF, crews shall consist of the numbers of paddlers (crew members) as laid by the Controlling
Association or Organising Committee concerned. Other crew members may be present in a crew,
depending on the design of the Dragon Boat being used. In some types of Dragon Boat a Gong Beater
(which is self explanatory) is used in addition to a Drummer. In Others a Flag Catcher, is positioned in
the front of the boat, who has the task of retrieving a flag (one for each boat) which is placed on a buoy
on the Finish Line. (The retrieving of the flag from the buoy signifies the finish of the race for that
particular boat).
3.3 Crew Reserves Reserve Competitors up to a maximum of four (4) may be nominated for each crew, at
all AusDBF Championships. Such Reserves may compete without further reference to the Event
Organisers or Competition Committee provided that their names are shown on the Competition Entry
Form (or Crew List).
3.4 Restrictions Only those competitors entered on the Entry Form (Crew List) will be permitted to race
in an AusDBF Championship or sanctioned regatta.