National Association of Amateur Oarsmen

The National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, organized in 1872, was the first national governing body of the sport of rowing in the United States, and the first American sports organization to publish a definition of "amateur".

Before the NAAO, regattas across the country used different definitions of amateur, making it impossible to hold a national amateur championship regatta.

[1] The NAAO's first national championship regatta was held in 1873 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

The following regattas were over one and one half miles (except the 1891 regatta in Washington, DC, which was one quarter mile) Spalding Athletic Library issued Official Rowing Guide in May 1896.

Frederick R Fortmeyer (secretary of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen) compiled the 86 page guide.