Basics Training for USRowing Officials

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Basics Training for USRowing Officials
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Why officials??

• two quotes from a recent Rowing News 15(9) Nov
  2008
  
• Race without officials launches does your
  memory of the most fun youve had racing involve
  mandatory pre-race meetings, false starts,
  traffic pattern violations, officials launches,
  or regatta time? Probably not. Topher
  Bordeau, Eight Things Every Rower HAS to Do!
• in athletic competitions, its essential that
  every competitor lining up at the start has an
  equal chance to win. A level playing field keeps
  competition interesting human effort gained
  through training and displayed by skill,
  motivation, and physical performance under
  pressure is the only thing that should determine
  who wins and who looses. Volker Nolte, A
  Shortcut to Nowhere

2008 USRowing Annual Convention
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Trained and certified officials provide the best
assurance that competitors will consistently
experience fairness (and safety!) in their racing

• consistent fairness
• the rules are the same, everywhere
• there is a common basis for the application of
  the rules
  
• there is a common interpretation of the rules

The standards for training and certifying
licensed USRowing officials establishes the
level playing field that serves as the
foundation for fair competition.
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The standards by which all USRowing officials are
trained and certified are established through the
Rules of Rowing
Rule 2-101 Primary Duties of Officials ()
to provide for the safety of competitors and
officials to ensure that all crews have a fair an
d equal opportunity of winning or placing
where a crew has been affected by unfair
advantage or disadvantage to restore fair
racing conditions
Our job is to always ensure that these
fundamental intentions of the Rules are always
applied and met.
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The rules for rowing are really quite
straightforward

• the equipment is safe fair
• like competes against like
• start each race fairly
• race fairly
• judge the results with certainty
• settle disputes equitably and fairly

was each individual race, and the competition
overall, fair and safe?
basics training there are specific procedures
to accomplish each of the above
consistency implies everyone using (about) the
same procedures
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Trained and certified officials

• have a knowledgeable familiarity with the Rules
  of Rowing
  
• and, agree to heed to a common and consistent
  interpretation of the Rules
  
• understand and respect the purpose of the
  competition itself, in addition to the
  motivations of all who take part in the
  competition
• and will draw from a communal sense of tribal
  knowledge when confronted with judgment
  decisions in the application of specific rules in
  various venues and at various levels of
  competition

Articles II through IV provide a means to an end,
that being, competition that is consistently safe
and fair to achieve this end, we start by e
stablishing a common foundation of individual
knowledge and understanding of how these rules
are to be applied
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Todays objectives for basics training

• control commission
• procedures for weighing athletes and boats
• referee
• preparations and awareness at the start of each
  race
  
• responsibilities and awareness at the conclusion
  of each race

2008 USRowing Annual Convention
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Control CommissionWeighing Competitors
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Lightweight Weigh-Ins - Rules

• Men
• Average weight must be 155 lbs or less
• Max weight is 160 lbs
• If juniors, max weight is 150 lbs
• Women
• Max weight is 130 lbs
• Coxswains arent counted

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Coxswain Weigh-Ins - Rules Issues

• For womens events, min weight is 110 lbs
• For mens events, min weight is 120 lbs
• Lighter coxswains must carry weight
• Close to the coxswains torso
• May not distribute throughout boat
• Extra weight may be checked by Starter and at
  the end of the race, by the following referee
  
• Tools, cox-boxes, clothing dont count

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Weigh-Ins - Process Issues

• How often? Once each day
• When? During the time prior to the event
• One-hour long
• Window starts no more than 2 hours before and no
  less than 1 hour before scheduled time of first
  race in which weight is relevant
  
• In what? Racing uniform, without shoes
• How many times can competitors weigh-in?
• Does it matter how heavy they are? How heavy is
  too heavy?
  
• Do you round? NO!
• Can a protest be filed? If so, when?

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Weigh-Ins - Prepare and Manage the Area

• Check scales
• Are they correct?
• Use certified weight to verify scales
• If more than one, equalize the scales
• Check volunteers and equipment
• Logs, stamp pads, stamps, wrist bands
• Clock, radio or other communication devices
• Be ready when window opens!!!
• Think finish-line decorum!
• One crew at a time, Have coxswain prepare
  paperwork
  
• Coaches welcome, Quiet is beautiful, Prioritize
  re-weighs
  
• De-mystify the process!!!
• If possible, post the weigh-in procedure for the
  crews to follow
  

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Weigh-Ins - Respect the Competitors

• Dont have food lying around
• Dont coddle dont be officious
• Dont make weight jokes
• Watch what you say and how you say it
• Remember the competitors are preparing for a
  race, most may be very worried about not making
  weight, thereby disappointing the other crew
  members
• Substitutes/spares can be included in the crew
  weigh-in group
  

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Weigh-Ins - Communicate the Results

• Mark with stamp or wrist band competitors who
  make weight
  
• Report boats that dont make weight
• Report boats carrying ballast and amount
• Who needs to know?
• Dockmaster
• Control commission
• Finishline Marshal
• Start (and following referees)

Inform the Chief Referee of a crew not making
weight or missing the event weigh-in time
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Control CommissionWeighing Boats
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Boat Weigh-Ins - Process Issues

• Rules are not asterisked
• Limited guidance regarding process
• National team trials and major championship
  regattas may have boat weigh-ins. These
  weigh-ins may apply to all crews or just the
  winning crews.
• The equipment of any crew may be checked at any
  time during the regatta, and the LOC should
  provide a facility for a crew to check the weight
  of its boat prior to racing
• The boat weigh-in requirements will be in the
  regatta packet and/or instructions to the
  competitors. Boat weighing after finals MAY BE
  determined by random draw or specific direction
  from LOC and Chief Referee

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Boat Weigh-Ins - Process Issues

• The weight of a boat does not include oars,
  detachable loudspeaker, or electronic equipment
  
• Items that are not permanently affixed to the
  boat are not included
  
• Seats, rudders, skegs, fins, and riggers are
  included in the boats weight
  
• If a crews equipment does not comply (on check
  weight attempt), use a permanent method to attach
  additional weight, then reweigh the shell
  
• If a crews equipment is found not to comply, the
  crew will not be placed
  
• The Jury will decide whether to accept the race
  results without the offending crew
  
• Inform the Chief Referee at once when a shell
  does not make weight
  

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Boat Weigh-Ins - Process Issues

• The following are minimum weights
• Category Weight (lbs) Weight
  (kgs)
  
• 1x 30.86 14
• 2x, 2- 59.53 27
• 2 70.55 32
• 4- 110.23 50
• 4 112.44 51
• 4x 114.64 52
• 4x 116.85 53
• 8 205.03 93
• 8x 213.85 97

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Boat Weigh-Ins - Prepare Manage the Area

• Check scales
• Are they correct?
• Use certified weights to ensure that they are
  correct
  
• If more than one, equalize scales
• Ensure scales are steady enough to hold the
  weight of a shell
  
• Think finish-line decorum
• One crew at a time
• Coaches welcome
• Do not announce boat weight
• Give the weight to Chief Referee or Trials
  Director
  
• Give the weight to the crew and/or coach

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Boat Weigh-Ins - Respect the Competitors

• Dont make jokes about racing or the rules
• Watch what you say
• Be respectful. As referees, we should remember
  to respect all levels of competitors.
  
• Boats not making weight result in medals being
  taken away the person responsible may not
  acknowledge the issue
  
• The thing to know is that you are there to ensure
  that everything is done within the rules and that
  the fastest boat, given all the conditions are
  equal, advances. The boat weight is included in
  keeping races fair. Weigh each boat on the same
  scale, or make sure you keep the scales equalized
  at all time. This will prevent any protests on
  the basis of boat weight

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Preparing for the Start of the RaceWhat Should
the Referee Do?
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Preparing for the Start

• Be with the crews in the start area a few minutes
  early
  
• Monitor the traffic pattern around and on the
  course
  
• Help position crews into the platform or stake
  boats, if needed and requested by starter
  
• Be patient!
• Use proper instructions and tone of voice
• Identify each crew in the race
• Double-check the progression of the upcoming
  race
  
• Watch the crews, listen to commands
• Check your equipment
• Check for the other referee

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Preparing for the Start

• Are you standing up?
• Informs Starter YOU are ready to take the race
• Is your watch clear?
• Are your flags ready? Separated? Which one is
  where? (Red flag accessible, but hidden?)
  
• Megaphone ready?
• Do the crews have a problem with the start?
• Are you holding on? (How well did you go over the
  start procedure with your driver?)
  
• What happens if someone does not start? Broken
  equipment?
  
• What might go wrong? What is the risk?

2008 USRowing Annual Convention