19, or are no longer seeking a secondary school diploma. After the year in which athletes turn 21, they are considered "masters" athletes. USRowing rules include 11 age-based masters categories and handicaps for each category, representing time that may be subtracted from the crew's finish time. The average age is used for the crew. Coaching education USRowing offers three levels of coaching certification, an annual convention and other continuing education opportunities. The USRowing Coaching Education Certification Program is designed to help coaches get the information they need to run a safe and successful program. The Initiation Level (Level I) is designed for someone who has never coached rowing before, the Foundation Level (Level II) is for a coach with about one year's experience and the Intermediate Level (Level III) is for the new varsity coach or an assistant with five years of experience. For coaches whose experience goes beyond what is offered in the certification program, USRowing offers the Advanced Coaches Series at the USRowing Annual Convention. This program brings together expert speakers from around the rowing world, as well as other sports-related disciplines. Continuing education clinics are presentations designed by the USRowing staff and a local host organization. USRowing works with the local host organizations to provide information on topics of their interest. The continuing education clinics are not "certification clinics" but can be used as continuing education credits. References External links US Rowing Rowing in the United States 1982 establishments in the United States Sports organizations established in 1982