Referee Clinic Level II Referee on the Water

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Referee Clinic Level IIReferee on the Water

Referee Commission, 2005
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Thank You!
The Referee Commission wishes to acknowledge the
contributions of the following referees who
generously donated their time and expertise to
compile this presentation.
Robert Appleyard, Lombard, Illinois Terry Ryan,
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Larry Tolle,
Atlanta, Indiana Nikola Vajda, Buffalo Grove,
Illinois
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About This Presentation

• This presentation is one of a series being
  developed for Referees.
• These presentations are an effort on the part
  of the Referee Commission to expand the available
  training materials currently available to
  Referees.
• These presentations are developed for the purpose
  of Referee education they may be duplicated and
  distributed freely for the use of referees and
  any other member of the rowing community.
• The Referee Commission hopes to continue to
  develop additional presentations.
• We welcome your input and comments on this, as
  well as all other, presentations. Please
  contact your regional representative or your
  nearest clinician with your comments.

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Clinic Presentation Level

• 
  
• This Clinic illustrates the proper skills the
  Referee must use at all rowing events

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Agenda

• Attributes of a Competent Referee
• Safety Fairness
• In-Between Races
• At the Start
• General Guidelines for the Referee
• Launch Positioning
• At the Finish
• Protest

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Referee Mission (rule 2-104)

• The Referee has general supervision of the race
  and follows the race from start to finish.
• The Referee ensures that crews and competitors
  comply with the Rules of Rowing and have a safe
  and fair race.

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Developing competency as a Referee

• All sports officiating is more craft than
  science, but none more so than rowing.
• While characterized by a fairly stable set of
  activities, crew officiating is not readily
  analyzable.
• Crew officiating requires extensive training and
  experience.

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Developing competency as a Refereecontinued

• Referees are asked to respond to intangible
  factors in developing situations based on wisdom,
  intuition, and experience
• No where is this more evident than on-the water
• No where is the old adage experience is the best
  teacher more true
• On the Water skills are best learned in the
  Referee launch

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Developing competency as a Refereecontinued

• The purpose of this presentation is to provide
  an overview of the principles and guidelines that
  collectively define the duties and
  responsibilities of an On-the-Water Referee

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Attributes of a Competent Referee

• Awareness
• As the race unfolds, a competent referee is fully
  aware of what is happening from moment to moment
• Anticipation
• A competent referee develops the ability to
  anticipate what will be happening a few strokes
  further into the race

• Knowledge and Understanding
• All decisions and actions made by the referee
  should be based upon the principles of safety
  and fairness
• Decisiveness
• Based upon his or her awareness of the moment,
  coupled with anticipation of what shall unfold, a
  competent referee will
• Make decisions Take
  appropriate actions

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Referee Attributes

• First foremost
• Develop a practical and working understanding of
  the principles of safety and fairness
• Maintain good familiarity with the USRowing Rules
  of Rowing
• Have at least some technical understanding of
  rowing, and competitive race strategies
• Become comfortable and confident in your judgment
  and decision making

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Referee Attributes continued

• Possess an appropriate knowledge of the mechanics
  for each of the following tasks
• Traversing the race course before and after the
  race
• Duties and responsibilities while following the
  race
• Communicating with the crews
• Launch positioning guidelines
• Stopping a race
• At the finish

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Referees Position(2-403)

• Take whatever position places you to best
  protect
• 1) Safety
• 2) Fairness of competition
• Dont wake crews (fairness) unless higher
  consideration (safety) requires

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Safety The Deciding factor (rule 2-101)

• Referees must be concerned with the safety of all
  crews within the designated boundaries of the
  race course and training areas
• Concern for safety extends to the individual
  athlete
• While safety is a primary concern of all
  officials, responsibility for safety rests with
  the individual crews and athletes
• Regatta safety extends to posted crew practice
  sessions prior to race day - requires safety
  monitors (Chief Referee consideration)

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SafetyThe Deciding factor(rule 2-101)continued

• The Referee
• Prevents accidents from occurring, whenever
  possible
• Serves as the first-responder to an athlete or
  crew in distress
• Serves as the primary observer for unsafe
  conditions
• Serves as the primary advocate for safety to
  regatta organizers (LOC)
• An obligation to safety requires that referees
  remain attentive the entire time they are on the
  water

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Safety considerations (rules 2-203, 2-204,
2-205, 2-206, 2-207)

• The Chief Referee has many safety considerations
• Equipment
• Launch design.
• Reliability maneuverability
• Capacity for additional passengers
• Capability to approach a shell
• Capability to recover someone from the water
• Water displacement/wakes
• Safe for the Referee?
• Supplies for the launch
• PFDs
• Paddle
• Supplies
• Extra water
• Blankets -Regatta Heat Bag

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Safety considerationscontinued (rules 2-203,
2-204, 2-205, 2-206, 2-207)

• Race Course
• Traffic patterns warm-up/warm-down areas
• Proper course markings buoys
• Obstacles on or near the racecourse, or in
  training areas
• Currents and local water conditions

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Safety considerationscontinued Logistics and
Weather

• Logistics
• How many referee launches are there?
• Are there support personnel or safety marshals?
• Are there rescue/safety boats (in addition to
  referee launches)?
• Is the race course open or closed to other boat
  traffic?
• How good is the communication system?
• What are the on-shore emergency and medical
  assistance capabilities and procedures?
• Weather
• Wind, rough water, and storms
• Heat or cold
• Contingency plans

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Incident Response

• Referees have an obligation to provide direct
  assistance to rowers or crews in distress
• First Evaluator/Second Evaluator system
• First evaluator takes charge, provides direct
  assistance or coordinates assistance
• Second evaluator acts as administrative
  assistant
• Rower(s) in Water
• Stay with boat, near seat position
• Athletes first, Equipment second
• Weather conditions?
• Temperature transfer of water is 20 times greater
  than that of air
• Spring - out of water
• Fall - keep in water
• Always use Regatta Heat Bag or body wrap

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Incident Response

• Alert other officials via radio
• What happened?
• What is the location?
• What type of assistance is needed?
• Follow-upImmediate
• Medical assistance is implemented, if needed
• Equipment is accounted for
• What about the race?
• Follow-upLong Term
• Chief Referee and/or Regatta Director is briefed
• Notes made and reports filed (if needed)
• Check with coach or team representative
• Attend to your own needs
• Note accidents on USRA Safety Form

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What Constitutes fairness?

• The only factors that should determine the
  outcome of any one race, or group of races within
  an elimination class (heats, reps, or semis), are
  the skill and abilities of the athletes and crews
• At the same time, all crews should have equal
  chances as they progress through an individual
  race, as well as, through any system of
  elimination races to reach a final
• In general, conditions and circumstances between
  lanes within a given race, as well as between
  races within an elimination class must remain
  equally fair or equally unfair

Each referee must develop an intuitive sense of
what constitutes fairness
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Referee determines fairness of race (rule 2-404)

• Two standards can be applied to judge whether or
  not the fairness of the race has been compromised
  or invalidated
• Was a crew disadvantaged relative to the others
  in the race, for reasons outside of their own
  skill and ability?
• Did a crew gain an unfair advantage over others
  in the race?
• The Referees sense of fairness must apply
  equally to all crews within a race
• Any form of assistance that is provided to an
  individual athlete or crew should be readily
  available to all athletes and crews within a race
• A bad break to an individual athlete or crew
  does not necessarily constitute a breach of
  fairness

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Defining fairness while on the water
Interference (rule 2-404)

• Interference is any outside circumstance acting
  within a crews protected water (i.e. lane) that
  hinders its progress relative to other crews in
  the race
• Interference by another crew
• wake or wash
• clashing or interlocking oars
• collision between boats
• Collision with an obstacle
• flotsam and jetsam (geese, sailboards, paddle
  boats, and the like)
• Unfair conditions within a lane, relative to the
  other lanes
• wind or current
• waterfowl, swimmers
• seaweed, etc.

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Defining fairness while on the waterUnfair
Advantages

• An unfair advantage is typically viewed as one
  crew rowing a shorter distance, or taking
  advantage of favorable water or conditions,
  relative to the other crews
• Pre-established criteria
• doglegs
• current
• lee shore
• Dynamic conditions
• wind
• shifting advantage currents

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The Referee is to protect the fairness of the
race

• The Referee must think and act proactively
• The Referees responsibility is to anticipate and
  attempt to prevent interference from negating a
  crews equal chances, as well as one crew from
  gaining an unfair advantage over the others.

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The Referee is to protect the fairness of the
racecontinued

• If interference or outside circumstances impact a
  crew during a race, the referee must render an
  immediate judgement as to whether or not the
  crews equal chances to have been negated
• If the impact is minimal, take no action
• If the crews equal chances have been
  compromised or eliminated, the referee must
  determine
• whether actions can be taken to restore equal
  chances to the crew, without having to stop the
  race
• whether the competitive value of the race has
  been eliminated, in which case the race should be
  stopped

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The Referee is to protect the fairness of the
racecontinued

• Unlike other sports, the primary focus of the
  rowing referee is not to call fouls and
  penalties
• Rather, we are called upon to play an active
  role to ensure that each crew experiences a safe
  and fair race.

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Launch Team Driver and Referee

• Key topics to review with your driver at the
  beginning of your relationship
• Hand Signals
• Launch position at Start
• Race Position
• Return to Start procedures

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Why Hand Signals

• Minimize Referee presence
• Maximize race contact
• Build Team work

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Hand Signals
Move in that direction.
.
O.K. Keep that position.
Straighten out.
Straighten out.
Slow Down.
Stop.
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• Referee At The Start
• Preparing for the race

• Be with the crews in the start area five minutes
  early
• Monitor the traffic pattern around and on the
  course
• Help position the crews into the platform or
  stakeboats, 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 with other referees

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Referee At The StartTwo minutes to go

• Stand up in the launch
• Stopwatch, flags, megaphone, launch, and driver
  all ready
• Watch crews and hands (bow or cox?)

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Referee At The StartAttention, Go! -- The first
100 meters

• The clock is running
• Hand up at start/did not start
• Watching the Judge-at-Start False starts
• Collisions or major interference
• Rower in the water or overturned boat

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Breakage(rules 2-311 and 2-407(d))

• If a boat stops rowing within 100 meters of the
  start, STOP THE RACE!
• First 100 meters (AKA the breakage zone) are
• Marked with flags at the side of the course or
• Change in bouy colors or
• Defined as the first 20 seconds of the race
• Approach the boat to determine if they have
  breakage
• What does not constitute breakage?
• Failure of the Cox-box or other rowing aids
• Breakage due to crabs or jumped slides
• Equipment failure due to poor maintenance

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Breakage(rules 2-311, 2-406, 2-405)

• Check boat for broken equipment.
• The affected crew may restart with no penalty if
  there was legitimate breakage
• The crew may be penalized (e.g. warning) if they
  stopped with no breakage
• Inform the Starter ASAP

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Primary Duties of the Refereeonce the race is
underway (rules 2-403, 2-404)

• Maintain the safety and fairness of the race
• Safety always
• Fairness maintain and protect equal chances
  for all crews in the race
• Warn crews to
• Prevent interference
• Prevent a crew from gaining an unfair advantage
• Prevent an accident
• Do not steer the crews !!
• Proper steering is part of the skill of racing
• Mentally record a factual record of the race

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Rights and Responsibilities of crews during the
race (rules 2-401, 2-402, 2-404)

• Each crew has the right to an unobstructed use of
  its own lane
• Each crew is responsible for its own steering
• Each crew may leave its lane if ....
• It does not interfere with another crew that is
  within its own lane
• It does not gain an unfair advantage slack
  water, etc
• It does not violate traffic rules of the course
  e.g. cross into warmup lane
• It does not create a safety issue

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Communicating with crews during the race

• What does the Referee communicate to a crew?
• For one crew to move either port or starboard, to
  avoid interference
• For two crews to keep apart
• For one crew to stop rowing to avoid interference
  or an accident
• For all crews to stop rowing
• The Referee uses both verbal and visual
  indications when communicating with a crew
• The verbal command is to get the crews
  attention
• The visual command gives the indication for what
  action the crew should take

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Megaphone and flag use(rule 2-407)

• For one crew to move either port or starboard, to
  avoid interference
• Get the crews attention by calling its name
  while holding the white flag vertical
• Direct the crew to move to the port or starboard
  by holding the white flag in that direction
• For two crews to keep apart
• Get crews attention while holding the white flag
  vertical
• While still holding the white flag vertical,
  announce to the crews Keep apart!

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Megaphone and flag use(rule 2-407)continued

• Racing cadence
• Get the crews attention by calling its name
  while holding the white flag vertical
• Announce race cadence! to the crew while
  continuing to hold the white flag vertical

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Megaphone and flag use(rule 2-407)continued

• For one crew to stop rowing
• Get the crews attention by calling its name
  while holding the white flag vertical
• Announce Stop rowing! to the crew while
  continuing to hold the white flag vertical
• For all crews to stop rowing (stopping the race)
• Raise red flag
• Sound wistle, horn or bell
• Use verbal commands to Stop rowing !

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To Avoid unsafe conditions(2-408)

• Previously known obstacle Name crew, call
  Obstacle or Stop, no steering
• Previously unknown Name crew, call Obstacle or
  Stop, indicate direction to alter course,
  restore opportunity
• Return to lane crews seeking sheltered water or
  otherwise gaining advantage

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Effective communication

• The objective is to give a clear and unambiguous
  indication to just the particular crew that the
  Referee is attempting to warn
• Proper launch positioning is the key to achieving
  this objective
• Getting the crews attention means getting the
  stroke to look up at the Referee
• Crew(s) must be able to clearly see the Referee,
  before any indications are given
• Always minimize the disturbance to other crews in
  the race.
• In some situations, non-verbal commands can be
  given to an individual crew
• Private communication between the Referee and
  one particular crew means that other crews can
  concentrate fully upon their own race
• This requires good launch positioning, coupled
  with appropriate body language from the Referee

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SummaryReferees Instructions (2-407)

• Alter course white straight up, call crew, move
  flag in direction sought
• Keep apart white flag straight up, call crews,
  Keep Apart
• Crew(s) to stop rowing White straight up,
  Stop resume has white straight up, Resume
  rowing, drop flag forward
• All Crews stop Red straight up, Stop, sound

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Strategic Launch Positioning

• Experience hones sense of anticipation
• How well will the crews respond?
• novices and juniors
• seasoned racers
• masters
• Are all boat classes the same?
• infamous straight pairs
• everything else
• What type of a race are you following?
• Heats versus finals
• progression system
• Where in the race are you?
• straight ahead at the start
• mid-race power 20s
• do or (and) die sprint to the finish

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Strategic Launch Positioning

• Anticipation is the name of the game!
• Get into position before something happens
• Dont get boxed into one location

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The Referee is always in control of the Launch
(rule 2-403)

• Effective communication with your driver
• Change lanes
• Slow down or speed up
• Everything OK
• Position relative to specific crews or lanes
• There is no out-of-bounds for the referee launch

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Launch position within the lane

• Never follow directly behind blind boats (1x, 2x,
  4x)
• A good practice is to always stay alongside a
  buoy line

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Launch position relative to crews in the race

• Know the priorities of each race
• The type of race (heat, rep, semi, final)
  determines the key place
• Be aware of races within a race between
  trailing crews

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Launch position relative to another Referee

• Look at the other Referee
• Always work as a Referee team!
• Take advantage of the extra help to fully cover
  the race

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Changing launch position

• Keepappropriate distance between yourself and
  the crews
• Dont get so close so as to disturb the rowers
  concentration and focus
• Dont trail so far back that the race gets away
  from you
• Make lane changes crisply
• Dont wander all around behind the field

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Launch PositioningAvoid Waking the crews

• Surfin wakes sometimes solves the problem

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Launch Positioning Waking a crew (rule 2-403)

• Sometimes, it has to be done
• There is no rule that prohibits the Referee from
  passing a crew within a race
• However, pass crews only when the priorities of
  the race dictate that this must be done

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Launch PositioningThe Right Way to Wake a crew

• Wake a crew only once !!
• The wake should pass once through the crew
• Dont cause a crew to surf in your wake for any
  distance

• Warn the Crew
• Be considerate, but dont loose control of the
  race
• As the launch turns call the name the crew and
  call Wake! - no flag

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Common Launch Positioning Errors

• Getting into position too slowly after the start
• Not watching the entire race
• Focusing on just a single boat
• Blocking the view of boats that are racing
• Not watching or working with the other Referee
• Loosing contact with the medal or advancing crews
• Drifting back as the finish approaches

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Unfair conditions during the race Interference
(rule 2-404)

• Prevent by instruction before interference
  happens
• Interference cant happen unless a crew enters
  another crews water
• Consists of
• Physical contact
• Washing
• Causing course alteration to avoid contact

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Unfair conditions during the race Interference
(rule 2-404) continued

• A crew is outside of its allowed water when any
  part of the boat or oars crosses the lane
  boundary
• Interference includes both physical contact, and
  forcing another crew to change course to avoid
  collision
• If both crews are out of their lanes, always act
  to prevent an accident, and a crew cannot be
  blocked from returning to its proper lane

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Reacting to Interference

• Always anticipate before the foul is committed!
• Instruct the offending crew to alter course to
  prevent interference
• Instruct the offending crew to stop only when
  absolutely necessary

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Resolving the consequences of Interference (rules
2-406, 2-602)

• Interference has occurred whenever a crew in
  contention has been unfairly deprived of its
  chance to place or advance
• If the purpose of the race has been irretrievably
  compromised due to interference, the Referee
  should stop that race
• Penalties are imposed after the race has been
  stopped or has reached the finish
• The goal of any actions or decisions by the
  Referee is to restore the opportunity of the
  aggrieved crew to place or advance

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Penalizing Interference (2-406)

• The Rules state that the presumed penalty is
  exclusion
• However, what if
• Interference slight (no lost opportunity)
• Interference severe or intentional (DQ)
• Interference occurred before instruction
• Interference _at_ start (maybe warn)

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Unfair conditions during the race Obstacles
(rules 2-405, 2-407, 2-408)

• Always protect the safety of the crews
• In general, crews are not to be steered around
  known obstacles on the racecourse
• for example a bridge abutment
• Crews may be given assistance if the obstacle was
  unknown before the race
• For example a dock breaks loose and floats into
  one of the lanes
• If the obstacle was not identified before the
  race, the opportunity for a crew to place or
  advance should be protected and restored
• Crews must not gain an unfair advantage by being
  steered around an obstacle

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Unfair conditions during the race Race Cadence
(rule 2-409)

• Limited Application
• This rule applies to heats with a repechage and
  row-overs
• The purpose of this rule is fairness, to ensure
  that all crews face similar conditions as they
  advance towards a final
• A minimum cadence (stroke rate) should be
  announced to all crews before the race starts
• This rule applies specifically to crews which do
  not advance or win
• Advancing or winning automatically indicates that
  the race cadence was acceptable

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Unfair conditions during the race Outside
Assistance (rule 2-410)

• Other than shouting from the shore (with the
  unassisted voice) crews may not receive coaching
  or outside assistance during a race
• Coaches or other team members may not follow a
  race in a launch
• Race commentary which is audible to the crews
  shall be stopped during the last 250 meters

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Stopping a race(rule 2-405)

• A race should be stopped for one of two reasons
• Conditions become unsafe
• When there is concern over the safety or health
  of an individual rower
• When unsafe conditions occur for one or more
  crews
• The race becomes unfair
• Opportunity to win, place, advance affected
• No further competitive value in continuing
• Practical considerations
• Distance into the race 500 m. vs. 1500 m
• The type of race heat versus final
• Options for remedying the situation advance crew
  to lane 7 instead of a rerow

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Stopping a race(rule 2-405) continued

• Be Certain! There is no going back (usually) once
  the red flag is waved!
• Be Decisive! Dont waste the crews energy if the
  race should be stopped

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Returning to the start between races

• Low speed approach
• Used when there are sufficient referees and/or
  long race centers
• Staggered return to start, usually with several
  intervening races
• Allows for safety and backup coverage along the
  entire racecourse
• Sometimes called the FISA return system

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Low speed Return How to

• Stay in the agreed upon pattern dont all bunch
  up at one spot
• Monitor progress of starts and races visually and
  via the radio
• NO wakes (exhaust, noise, etc.) when a race
  passes by
• Stay awake! Stay alert!

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Returning to the start between races continued

• High speed approach
• Used when there are short race centers and/or not
  enough Referees
• Depending upon the rotation
• May need to return all the way to the start (next
  race)
• Return part-way, then wait for next race to pass
  by
• Creates potential wake problems
• Minimized by following proper procedures
• Watch for crews to side of course

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High speed Return How to

• Dont plow through the water, try to plane your
  launch
• Always move up a center lane in a direction that
  is parallel to the lanes
• Monitor start zone activity (visual and radio)
• There is only one correct way to stop and leave
  the course
• Be sure to take the weight off the launch before
  the turn !

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Returning to the start between races continued

• Is the Referee off duty in-between races?
• No! Duty of the Referee in-between the races
  is to
• Inspect the course
• Monitor traffic patterns off the course
• Monitor race in progress
• Always be prepared to become backup referee or
  safety/rescue boat

Always stay engaged while on the water!
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Referee at the finish (rules 2-501, 2-502, 2-503)

• At the finish of the race
• Time the first place crew
• Wait for all crews to cross the finish line
• Check condition of all crews
• Check for coxswain or boat weights
• Secondary Referee signals to Primary if it is a
  fair race

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Referee at the finish (rules 2-501, 2-502,
2-503)continued

• Anticipate protests! Check once more
• Signal the race status to Chief Judge as
  appropriate
• white flag
• red flag
• red flag followed by white flag
• Report time to Chief Judge
• Wait for acknowledgement from Chief Judge (white
  flag)

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Finishing the Race(rule 2-504)

• Crews that do not finish are not placed
• Unless excused from finishing by the Referee
• Crews must finish with their coxswain
• Monitor traffic around the finish area
• Stop your launch before crossing the finish line,
  and wait for all crews to go past
• Distribute water if no finish line Marshal

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Finishing the Race(rule 2-504)continued

• Record a factual account of the race and the
  finish on your heat sheet
• Always record the winning time
• And the boat ID, if you know it
• Note any crews that did not finish
• Note any accompanying Referees
• Note any incidents which occurred during the race

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Handling a Protest at the Finish of a Race

• The first step is to listen to the complaint
• Approach the crew with a neutral posture and
  appearance
• Position your launch so that you and the crew
  member you are speaking to can comfortably look
  at one another
• Avoid unnecessary yelling - it is much better to
  speak in a natural tone and volume
• If possible, turn off the engine on the launch,
  especially if it is belching out fumes and
  exhaust
• Momentarily turn down the volume on your radio

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Handling a Protest at the Finish of a
Racecontinued

• Allow only one spokesperson - normally the
  Coxswain or Captain
• Your objective is to listen to the specifics of
  the crews complaint
• What happened?
• Where or when did the incident occur?
• How did the incident affect the crew?
• Ascertain specifically what is the protest
• Do not coach the crew!

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Initial Response (rules 2-603, 2-604)

• First and foremost, dont enter into an
  argument!!
• Ask questions to clarify your understanding of
  what the crew has just told you
• It may be helpful to summarize to the crew what
  you heard them say
• Now (and not before) is the time to weigh in with
  your own observations
• If you disagree with any portion of the crews
  factual account, clearly state the discrepancy
• If you agree with their factual account, say so
• If you cannot render a definitive assessment
  because you require additional information from
  other officials, say so
• Perhaps confer, but dont convene a jury meeting
  on the water
• Think fast, but with clarity and wisdom!

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Judging the validity of protest(rule 2-604)

• Race awareness is critical!
• Do you agree with the facts reported by the crew?
• The Referees findings of fact are final and are
  not subject to protest or review (rule 2-604c)
• Was the crew unfairly disadvantaged by the
  claimed incident?
• This is typically a judgement call that must be
  made by the Referee

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Judging the validity protest(rule
2-604)continued

• Did the incident have any consequence or bearing
  upon the final outcome of the race?
• This is also a judgement call
• The nature of the race is a critical factor e.g.
  a heat versus a final
• Is the complaint valid within the context of the
  Rules of Rowing (rule 2-604a)?
• The fairness of the race must have been
  compromised
• There must have been a violation of one or more
  specific rules

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Matters Subject to Protest

• The race was not fair or was not properly
  conducted
• The Rules of Rowing or the Regatta Rules were
  not followed
• The opportunity for winning was unfairly denied

81
Matters Subject to Protest continued

• The protest must affect the substantial rights
  of the crew i.e., arguably affected their final
  placement in the race
• Harmless errors that did not impact the outcome
  of the race are to be ignored

82
Matters Not Subject to Protest (rules 2-603,
2-604)

• Findings of fact by the Referees
• Whether or not a crew was in its correct lane
• Whether or not the start of the race was fair
• The final order of finish as determined by the
  Chief Judge

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Rendering assessment concerning protest(rule
2-606)

• If you concur with the crew
• Say so (I agree with what you have just said )
• Inform the crew what recommendation you will
  offer to remedy the situation
• Report your finding and assessment to the Chief
  Referee
• If you do not concur with the crew
• Say so (I do not believe this warrants any
  actions )
• Explain (succinctly!) the basis for your
  assessment
• Ask the crew if they nevertheless intend to file
  a protest on shore
• Advise the crew on procedures for filing a
  protest

84
Rendering assessment concerning protest(rule
2-606)continued

• You agree with the crew, but do not believe that
  any actions should be taken to alter the order of
  finish, to penalize another crew, or to declare
  the race invalid
• Inform the crew that you agree with their factual
  account of the race
• Explain the reasons why you think that no actions
  should be taken

85
Considerations for respondingto a Protest

• First listen -- what is the nature of the
  protest?
• Does the crews account agree with your own
  observations from the race?
• Was the crew disadvantaged?
• Did the incident have any consequence upon the
  final outcome of the race?
• Is the protest valid?

86
Considerations for respondingto a
Protestcontinued

• How could fairness be restored?
• Change the order of finish?
• Exclusion of the offending crew?
• Recommend advancement to lane 7?
• Re-row the race?
• What instructions should be given to the crew?
• When necessary, consult with the Chief Referee
• Always inform the Chief Judge and Chief Referee

87
Considerations for respondingto a
Protestcontinued

• The objective is to state clearly and without
  ambiguity your assessment concerning the validity
  of the complaint just lodged by the crew
• Referees MAY NOT discourage a crew from
  exercising their rights within the Rules to make
  and file a protest
• However, the Referee should strive to ensure that
  only valid complaints and protests are brought to
  the shore for jury consideration

88
Penalties(rules 2-601, 2-602)

• The focus of any penalty is restoring a crews
  opportunity to win or advance
• Reprimand is an informal caution, but if the
  action is repeated it may be treated as flagrant
  or intentional
• Warning is a formal penalty, two warnings in a
  race result in exclusion of the crew, regardless
  of the reason for the warning. Warnings carry
  over to rerows

88
89
Penalties(rules 2-601, 2-602)continued

• Exclusion removes the crew from the event, but
  the crew may compete in other events
• Disqualification removes the crew or competitor
  from the regatta
• Assumed where crews act flagrantly or
  intentionally in violation of rules related to
  safety or fairness
• Does not extend beyond the duration of the
  regatta
• Chief Referee must report to the Referee
  Commission

89
90
Penalties(rule 2-603)

• Restoring the opportunity to win by altering
  results, consult with the Chief Referee
• Order a rerow of a race with some or all of its
  original participants
• Advance the aggrieved crew into an extra lane in
  a semifinal or final
• Place a crew guilty of interference behind the
  crew they interfered with in the order of finish
• Declare (Chief Judge) a dead heat between the
  crew interfered with and the crew immediately in
  front of them in the order of finish

90
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Developing competency as a Referee

• The purpose of this presentation is to provide an
  overview of the principles and guidelines that
  collectively define the duties and
  responsibilities of an On-the-Water Referee
• It is only a starting point
• The Referee launch is the best classroom
• On-the water experience is the best teacher