Ergo Submissions

British Rowing acknowledges the complexities surrounding the weighing of rowers and coxes and that we have a duty of care to safeguard the physical and mental health of the individuals. 

Through the season the British Rowing U19 programme collects, or asks to be submitted, a number of anthropometric measurements.  Typically, these are standing height, arm span, and athlete mass.  Though in some cases the physios that work with the U19 programme may take other anthropometric measurements as part of their assessment of an athlete. 

One or all of these measurements could be collected at Early ID Trials, February Water Assessment, J16 Crew Sculling Camp, with the submission of the U19 trial ergo submissions, and during camps or competitions as part of the athlete readiness to train or complete the morning monitoring process. 

Standing height is measured with the rower wearing no footwear and standing so that their heels, back, and head all touch a wall or equipment designed for the measuring of height.  The rower should look directly forward and be asked to breathe in and ‘stand tall and relax’.  The measurement is then taken from the top of the rower’s head.  Arm span is measured in the same position as standing height but with the rower’s arms stretched out at shoulder height.  The measurement is taken across the back of the rower’s shoulders, from the tip of each middle finger.  Athlete mass is conducted using the key recommendations which are laid out in the British Rowing Weighing Rowers Guidance.

Providing anthropometric data helps provide further understanding of trial and ergo performances with respect to growth spurts etc. in the young developing rower. It also allows the U19 Programme to better advise coaches and athlete support personnel in the support and development of their rowers.  The data also helps with the identification of rowers who have the anthropometric attributes that fit trends shown further along the British Rowing Olympic Pathway. 

Providing anthropometric data is not compulsory and it is not used as a selection tool.  Rowers or programmes that choose not to submit this data are not penalised in any way. 

All anthropometric data falls under GDPR regulations and is stored digitally and password protected.  The only people who have access to this data are British Rowing staff who have direct involvement with the running of the U19 programme. 

For further guidance on the topic of weighing rowers, we recommend reading the British Rowing Weighing Rowers Guidance below.

If there are any concerns please get in contact with Dan Cooper (dan.cooper@britishrowing.org - U19 Programme Manager).