Enhancing the Maadi Regatta experience: the case for the new FISA ‘no repechage’ system

Supporters of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championship, widely known as the Maadi Regatta, will be aware of the World Rowing Federation (FISA)’s new “no repechage” system. This would see a new progression format for racing and the removal of repechage races to free up time in the regatta for other races and new events. The format is intended to maximise student participation in divisional finals, while reducing the time spent on preliminary races. Implementing the system could create a more exciting and inclusive regatta while increasing the efficiency of regatta management and reducing youth dropout rates in our sport.

During the 53 hours of on-water racing time at Maadi 2025, 35 hours were spent racing 369 preliminary races, compared to 18 hours racing 107 finals. The “no reps” approach is intended to offer a more inclusive regatta, adding 91 additional finals without increasing the regatta’s length. Adopting this system would be substantial, having the potential for all crews to race a graded final. In contrast, during the March 2025 six-day regatta, 1,955 out of 4,818 (41%) individual youth seat entries were eliminated within the first three days. Currently, the regatta’s progression system and 52 time-constrained events result in the need for many premature eliminations.

Like many countries, maximising participation is a major focus of junior sport in New Zealand, with the aim of continuing this involvement into adulthood. Recent New Zealand data reveals that young people who participate in any recreational physical activity, but particularly organised sport, have better well-being outcomes than those who do not. 

As the largest youth sporting event in New Zealand, the Maadi Regatta features just over 2,000 students competing from over 120 schools. Given that the majority (90%) of participants are developing teenage athletes between the ages of 13 and 16, this seems like an encouraging example of flourishing youth sport. However, despite thriving entry numbers and relatively equal numbers of male and female athletes participating, attrition rates in school rowing are disturbingly high, and significantly worse than those of other NZ sports. In rowing, there is an average dropout from age 14 to age 17 of approximately 70%, and the percentage of rowers who stay on from age 14 to after high school is only about 10%. Clearly, the sport has a serious issue.

Applying FISA’s new “no repechage” progression system to 2025 Maadi Regatta data, the aim is to have all students in a graded final against peers of similar boat speed. Figure 1 below demonstrates that this could result in a potential 2,271 additional graded finals racing seats for students; that’s 81% more than the regatta completed in March 2025. Simultaneously, seats required for preliminaries would decrease by 1505. Essentially, discarding repechage races provides time for additional graded finals. By ensuring that all crews race in graded divisional finals – similar to the Olympic model – the FISA system aligns with best youth sport practices, revolutionising this iconic regatta.

Implementing the FISA system would allow a regatta schedule that could include three days of preliminary races instead of four, and three days of finals instead of two. This would provide sufficient time for all young rowers to compete in events with up to seven graded divisional finals, creating a far better experience for both competitors and spectators than denying 635 crews further racing as in the current structure. This shift is critical, as the current regatta format may unintentionally discourage youth participation by eliminating still-maturing athletes early on in the regatta. Their best rowing years may be ahead of them. The FISA model encourages broader inclusion and a more positive experience for all competitors, in all probability to the relief of all coaches and teachers-in-charge.

The primary motivation for young people to play sport is enjoyment, followed by hanging out with family or friends, and nurturing a sense of achievement. Many youths see sport as a way to have a great time, especially with their mates. If the fun goes because of the pressure, fewer opportunities to compete against their peers, or the sport’s time demands, they are more likely to leave. So why not enhance the regatta to align it more with their perspective?

In a New Zealand study exploring the reasons why High School students row, and why they stop, it was found that the main reasons for rowing were a ‘sense of family’ and ‘the feel of the boat’, therefore a sense of competence, improvement and belonging. Unfortunately, reasons for dropping out occurred when the fun was no longer present, often from inadvertent pressure placed on them by parents, school leaders, and some coaches.

Though any competition inherently creates pressure, it is vital to discern when it is beneficial or detrimental.

As World Champion and long-time coach Tony Brook said: “Winning is doing the best that you can and enjoying the experience.” It should be up to the athlete to determine their priorities. Even Tony O’Conner, ex-international rower and coach of the men’s Gold medal Tokyo eight, has stated that winning medals is far down his list of priorities. It’s incredibly challenging to “win” if the regatta structure is set up to have so many “losers”.

Unlike other sports, New Zealand has a rowing system where few can succeed, despite such a large number competing. It does not offer the majority of youth an opportunity to compete against those of a similar ability, such as through graded competition like many other sports. 

The new FISA-endorsed approach has already been successfully implemented in other junior rowing circuits. For instance, the British Junior Rowing Championships utilise time trial heats and semifinals without repechage rounds. This strategy accommodates up to seven divisional finals per event. In 2024, 82% of their entries advanced to a graded final, far more than any recent Maadi Regatta.

Compared to the traditional method of determining advancement based on finishing position in heats, repechage heats, and quarterfinals, there is a case to use electronic timing with confidence. Data from the British Juniors demonstrates that 79% of time-trial winners ultimately won their event, and a staggering 90% of winners placed in the top three during the time trials. Additionally, 80% of the top three time-trialists won a medal, with only four crews from outside the top eight claiming a bronze. Every gold and silver medal came from the top eight trialists. The stopwatch is an excellent predictor of future performance, so let’s use it. We all know boat speed is what counts.

The British Juniors experience confirms that FISA progression places the fastest and most competitive crews in medal contention. More importantly, it allows many more athletes outside the top 16 to advance directly to suitable divisional finals, where they can race against similarly skilled competitors instead of pursuing a remote path to the main event. This restructured format ensures that all students have a rewarding regatta experience. 

An additional, yet not to be underestimated, benefit of this new format is that it would see students racing all week. This would make it easier for schools to negotiate the value of having large numbers of students away from the classroom, as they would be competing as opposed to having been eliminated from the regatta on the opening days.

It would also provide more certainty for families who sacrifice their time attending the event, as they would be guaranteed to see their family member race later in the week’s schedule. A rower attending the regatta who is eliminated by the end of the third day pays the same amount as those who race the whole week. If the regatta is restructured to have racing for all those who enter for the entire regatta period, not only would it seem better value for money, but also fairer for all those who enter.

Importantly, there is the opportunity to provide tangible recognition for all divisional winners of their own competitive and appropriate graded final, in keeping with the ideals of school sport.

If implemented at the 2026 Maadi Regatta, the FISA system would structure races as follows:

• In 40 of the 52 events, traditional eight-lane heats would determine 16 semifinalists.
• The remaining 12 events would have crews progress directly from heats to Division One or Two finals.
• The new layout would allow up to seven divisional finals, with an average of four finals per event across the entire regatta programme.
• As seen in Figure 2, adding extra finals results in a significant 81% increase in finals participation while reducing student numbers in preliminaries by 17%.

The case for the FISA “no repechage” system is compelling. The Maadi Regatta benefits from a six-day schedule that provides time for innovation. Figure 3 highlights how adopting a system that results in many more final participants can reshape students’ regatta experience.

Though many coaches welcome the new proposed system, some have doubts. When everyone makes a final, some claim it lessens the achievement of those that have actually performed the best. At the most prominent junior sport event in the country, competition should be paramount. However, looking at the Olympic Games, does the fact that all crews race a divisional final diminish from the achievement of winning overall? Of course not, winning is still the ultimate accomplishment. The same applies here.

Furthermore, some coaches or school heads have questioned the point of investing the time, money and effort in attending the event if not to fight for victory. Yet, only sending athletes with winning potential would decimate the sport as New Zealand currently knows it. Judging success solely on something as superficial as ‘first over the line’ is the easiest way to destroy NZ rowing culture. What makes Maadi Regatta great is not just the competitors; it is just as much the supporters, if not more. 

There may be doubts about whether the proposed system will significantly reduce the youth dropout rates. Dropping out is a universal phenomenon often caused by external factors like academic demands, jobs, and social lives. Rowing has exceptionally high time demands, so it should be expected to have an unusually high dropout rate. Even so, the rate seems extraordinary, and the sport should do everything possible not to be a contributing factor.

Implementing the system may be necessary to ensure the continued success and widespread support for NZ rowing. It is time to address the shocking dropout rates of our sport. Ultimately, the decision to implement FISA’s approach will reflect the philosophy of regatta organisers. If the objective is to enhance student experience and participation, the FISA system offers multiple benefits:

• Living up to the inclusive ideals of the New Zealand education system.
• Increased student engagement.
• Greater reward for months of training in a sport that does not have weekly competitions.
• More meaningful finals for a larger number of rowers.
• Greater efficiency in regatta management. 
• Enhanced appeal for spectators, supporters and students.

By embracing this system, the Maadi Regatta can provide a fairer, more rewarding experience for all competitors, whilst enhancing its status as a premier sports event. We must do all we can to improve the retention rate of young students. Aotearoa’s diverse group of young developing rowers deserve to benefit from the experience the new FISA system provides during their valuable and often contested week out of school.

Written jointly by Sarah-Kate Millar and Nick McMaster

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