In sweep rowing, each oarsman handles one oar. In sculling, the rower uses two smaller oars. Sweep oared races are contested in two-, four- and eight-person boats (known as pairs, fours and eights, respectively). Sculling races are contested in one-, two- and four-man shells (single, double, and quad).
Steering in sweep oared boats is accomplished with the use of a movable rudder. It is handled by either a steersman who sits at the bow or stern of the boat or a rower at the bow or stroke seat using a foot-controlled rudder. Singles and doubles are usually manoeuvred by a change in pressure between the port and starboard oars. A quad is typically controlled with a foot rudder.
International rowing is contested in two weight categories for men and women, lightweight and open. Lightweight oarsmen are restricted to a body weight of 72.5 kilograms (men) and 59 kg (women). The average weight of the open class (heavyweight) in international competitions is about 92 kg and 79 kg respectively.