Prizes and Eligibility

Everyone can accept prizes, but depending on your status, you may need to consult with your coach and governing body of any institutions you belong to (School/Club), as accepting awards and prizes may affect your eligibility to partake in High School & Collegiate athletics.

Please look over the drop downs and literature at the bottom of the page as it pertains to you.

• The Ferryman's Challenge has put together a prize pool of both product and cash prizes. If a youth or collegiate athlete wishes to collect product prizes, their value must be considered when calculating their "incurred event costs" to be compensated by the The Ferryman's Challenge.

• If you are awarded $600 or more from The Ferryman's Challenge as an individual, you will be issued a Form 1099-MISC to be reported on your end of year taxes.

There will be special buoys placed between the 100-250M mark on the race course. Before the start of each race, the starting official will announce if there is a prime for that race. If there is a prime, the first crew to cross said buoy markers, they will win the prime (pronounced preem)

High School or Junior Athletes may accept prizes, only if it is less than or equal to their "actual and necessary expenses", while participating in the event, and the expenses were incurred by the athlete. These expenses can include:

• Meals, Lodging, Transportation

• Apparel, equipment, supplies

• Coaching and instruction

• Medical treatment and physical therapy

• Facility usage

• Entry fees

Please visit the links at the bottom of this page for more information concerning awards for youth and collegiate athletes.

NCAA rules state that college athletes can accept prize money from non-NCAA events, but only if it covers their actual and necessary expenses, and the expenses were incurred by the athlete. These expenses can include:

• Meals, Lodging, Transportation

• Apparel, equipment, supplies

• Coaching and instruction

• Medical treatment and physical therapy

• Facility usage

• Entry fees

Please visit the links at the bottom of this page for more information concerning awards for youth and collegiate athletes.

If you are a college athlete rowing for a club that is completely separate and not governed by typical regulations, you likely have more flexibility (i.e. ACRA Clubs). However, it's important to ensure that accepting these prizes does not violate any rules of the competitions you participate in or your institution's policies.

If you have finished school and are a club or masters athlete, you have the most flexibility.

For the most accurate guidance, consult your club's governing body.

FISA (International Rowing Federation):

• At the international level, FISA (also known as World Rowing) governs rowing competitions, including the World Championships and the Olympic Games. FISA does not impose strict amateurism rules, and rowers can accept prize money.

National Championships & Trials:

• USRowing National Championships do not have specific restrictions against prize money. However, the focus is on amateur competition, and many participants are amateur athletes.

• Rowers participating in Olympic Trials are often amateur athletes, but there are no explicit restrictions on accepting prize money from other events.

If you decide that you do not want to accept or cannot accept a prize from the event, you may elect to do one of the following alternatives.

• The Ferryman's Challenge will pay or donate to your club/organization.

• You may pass your prizes to another event category (i.e. Masters or Open) or to the next eligible athlete.

• The Ferryman's Challenge will donate your prize or prize money to one of our non-profit partners.

• The Ferryman's Challenge will keep your prize to cover expenses for the regatta and provide a better event next year.