Training for the Chief Referee

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Training for the Chief Referee
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Why chief referee??

• Rule 2-102 requires that a chief referee be
  appointed
• Rule 2-103 Duties of the Chief Referee ()
• assign the functions of all other race officials
• shall be President of the Jury
• shall verify the existence of safety requirements
  at the regatta site, and shall execute an
  appropriate document reporting his or her
  findings
• shall perform such other functions as are
  assigned under these Rules

Our focus is the chief referee for a USRowing
registered regatta
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The USRowing registered regatta program is the
means to providing the level playing field that
is created by having licensed officials
administer the Rules of Rowing

• Aside from insurance, registered regattas provide
  that
• certain officials (starter, referee, etc.) must
  have a USRowing license ? providing assurance of
  a consistent application and interpretation of
  the USRowing Rules of Rowing
• jury decisions can be appealed to USRowing via
  the Referee Committee

The chief referee serves as the on-site
administrator who must assure that the
competition satisfies the intent of the Rules for
fairness and safety.
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Todays objectives for chief referee training

• role and importance of the chief referee
• decision-making when confronted with adverse
  conditions
• conflict resolution

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Role Importance of the Chief Referee
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What is a successful regatta?

• Obviously - safe fair
• Are there other elements to a successful regatta
  Yes!
• How about making sure its fun?
• Advances the sport the participants
• Athletes
• Referees Candidates
• Assignments, scheduling welfare
• Local Organizing Committee
• Volunteers
• Assignments, scheduling welfare
• Spectators
• Everybody was a newbie once!
• Contributes to the community (or at least doesnt
  detriment)

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Chief Referees Consistency
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Chief Referees Rule 2-103()

• (a) The Chief Referee
• (1) shall assign the functions of all other race
  officials at the regatta
• (2) shall be President of the Jury
• (3) may act individually as a race official as
  described in Rule 2-104 (Officials)
• (4) shall verify the existence of safety
  requirements at the regatta site, and shall
  execute an appropriate document reporting his or
  her findings and shall send it to USRowing
  headquarters
• (5) shall perform such other functions as are
  assigned to him or her under these Rules.
• (b) If these Rules call for a decision by the
  Chief Referee, the Chief Referee may refer such
  matter to the Jury for resolution.
• (c) Assignment or appointment of race officials
  made by the Chief Referee, including members of
  the Jury, shall be subject to review and revision
  by the USRowing Referee Commission but shall not
  otherwise be subject to challenge, review or
  protest before the Jury or another race official.

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Chief Referees Rule 2-103()

• (a) The Chief Referee
• (1) shall assign the functions of all other race
  officials at the regatta
• (2) shall be President of the Jury
• (3) may act individually as a race official as
  described in Rule 2-104 (Officials)
• (4) shall verify the existence of safety
  requirements at the regatta site, and shall
  execute an appropriate document reporting his or
  her findings and shall send it to USRowing
  headquarters
• (5) shall perform such other functions as are
  assigned to him or her under these Rules.
• (b) If these Rules call for a decision by the
  Chief Referee, the Chief Referee may refer such
  matter to the Jury for resolution.
• (c) Assignment or appointment of race officials
  made by the Chief Referee, including members of
  the Jury, shall be subject to review and revision
  by the USRowing Referee Commission but shall not
  otherwise be subject to challenge, review or
  protest before the Jury or another race official.

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2-103 (b) If these Rules call for a decision by
the Chief Referee,

• Non-Decision Making
• 2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 2-202, 2-302, 2-503, 2-605,
  2-606, 2-607, 3-201, 5-301, 6-103, 6-104, 6-106,
  6-301, 6-309, 8-104, 8-105

• Decision Making
• 2-201 Suspending Racing
• 5-206 False Entries
• 5-208 Illness of Competitors
• 5-310 Masters Nationals
• 6-108 Substitutions (Trials)

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Local Organizing Committee Rule 5-102(excerpts)

• Each regatta shall be sponsored by a local
  organizing committee, which shall be responsible
  for its operation. The duties and powers of the
  local organizing committee shall include
• (d) determining the events to be offered at the
  regatta, establishing the applicable progression
  system, and where necessary, devising a
  progression system where the number of entries is
  beyond the capacity of existing systems
• (e) establishing the racing schedule
• (h) providing for the course as described in
  Article VII of these rules
• (i) providing for the comfort and convenience of
  competitors, teams, race officials, and
  spectators
• (j) appointing a Regatta Director (Rule 5-103), a
  Regatta Secretary (Rule 5-104), a Control
  Commission (Rule 5-105)

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Chief Referee Characteristics

• Safety
• Demonstrated commitment to having a safe regatta
• Rules of Rowing
• Knew the Rules (local rules, too) and enforced
  them
• Planning
• Proved to be prepared and organized
• Teacher
• Provided Referees the chance to learn and develop
• Accessible
• Located himself/herself to be easily seen or
  found

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Chief Referee Characteristics

• Temperament
• Kept an even temper
• Communication
• With Referees before the regatta
• Feedback
• Received and used feedback from the Referees
• Supervision
• Supervised the Referees
• Referee Assignments
• Made fair Referee assignments
• Problem Resolution
• Solved problems

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Chief Referee Characteristics

• Local Organizing Committee Relations
• Positive interactions with the LOC partners
• Referee Assignments
• Rotated and, where practical, allowed time off
  the water
• Referee Duties
• Explained Referee duties and provided training
  where needed
• Conflict
• Handled protests, resolved conflict

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Results of Participant Survey

• Top 3
• Interacted w/LOC
• Enforced the Rules of Rowing and the local rules
• Demonstrated commitment to having a safe regatta

• Bottom 3
• Supervised the Referees
• Rotated the Referee assignments
• Kept an even temper
• Communicated with Referees before the regatta

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What is tone?

• the prevailing or predominant style, character,
  spirit, trend, morale, or state of morals of a
  place or period

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What tone isnt

• Yelling at crews
• Penalizing crews
• Excluding crews
• Its not about sending messages!

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Examples of Regattas with Good Not so Good Tone

• What were the characteristics you noticed?
• What about issues related to how the Referees
  worked together or didnt?
• What can you do to foster a good positive tone
  within your Referees?

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In conclusion
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Preparing for, and managingadverse situations
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Regatta Risk ManagementComponents of the
Environment
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Regatta Risk Management
Safe
Unsafe
Weather Skill Level of Crews Type of Boats on the
Water Referees Volunteers Venue Logistical
Support Time of Year Experience Level of
Chief Experience Level of LOC Emergency Response
Support
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Weather
it happens, we cannot control it, but we can
certainly plan for it.

• Season and Geography ? general expectations of
  how expected conditions will affect
• the safety and comfort of the participants,
  officials, and other technical staff
• the fairness of the competition
• Local Forecasting ? necessary to plan specific
  contingencies
• reaction plans and facilities for severe weather
  responses
• prioritization of events and races
• alternate schedules

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Predicting the future forecasting the weather
for the regatta

• Season Geography
• either rely upon your own knowledge and
  experience, or that of other trusted experts
• Local Forecasting
• monitor 3-5 days in advance, e.g.
  www.wunderground.com

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Planning for Weather-Related Contingencies

• Anticipated disruptions to the schedule
• re-order to ensure priority events
• compress centers and/or seed to a final only
• eliminate non-priority events
• Decisions start with pre-regatta consultation
  with other interested parties
• organizing committee
• coaches
• sanctioning organization

Major regattas should, nowadays, have a weather
contingency plan in their hip pocket that can
be used to guide rational and defensible
decisions when confronted with unsafe or unfair
conditions.
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Implementing a weather contingency plan
re http//www.culcom.net/weaserg/WEATHERCONT.HTM

• In the event of bad weather that could jeopardize
  the safety of competitors, the MSRA has
  established the following contingency racing plan
  for the regatta.  Safety and fairness are of
  central importance.
• The decision of the Chief Referee, the members of
  the Executive Committee and a representative from
  the LOC on races will be final.  Discussion from
  school administration, coaches, parents
  organizations, or athletes will not be
  permitted.  It is the responsibility of each
  program to inform their rowers, parents and
  coaches of the rules which could be put into
  effect.
• In the event that 1 to 4 cannot be implemented,
  the Chief Referee, the members of the Executive
  Committee and a representative from the LOC
  reserves the right to select events that can be
  run depending on the time, weather, and safety.

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Managing acute threats to safety or fairness,
e.g. unsafe water conditions, storm cells or
fronts, etc.

• Decision time
• stop some event classes (e.g. 1x or 2x) while
  continuing with others (e.g. 4 and 8)
• clear all competitors and personnel from the
  water
• 2,000 meter sprint course vs. 6,000 meter head
  race
• The Chief Referee can, and when necessary,
  should, make these decisions unilaterally
• when is it necessary for the Chief to act
  unilaterally?
• Practical considerations
• how to implement once a decision is made
• how to make a good decision

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Rules of Rowing 2-201()

• If the Chief Referee finds that either of the
  requirements of safety or fairness described in
  Rule 2-101 (Primary Duties of Officials) cannot
  be met under then existing conditions, he or she
  shall stop or suspend all racing until such time
  as safe and fair conditions are restored. The
  Chief Referee, if possible, shall consult with
  the local organizing committee either before
  suspending racing, or as soon as practical
  thereafter. If the Referee or Starter

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Implementing a decision to stop racing (whether
some events, or all events)

• First decision is typically stop launching
  crews communication is to the control
  commission and dockmaster
• Second decision is whether to implement a staged
  shutdown vs. an immediate evacuation of the
  racecourse
• a staged shutdown of the schedule is preferred if
  conditions will allow the safe completion of
  events already launched
• must determine whether to recall any events just
  launched ahead of the stop
• an immediate evacuation of the racecourse is
  implemented if conditions will not allow
  completion of racing for the crews already on the
  water
• recall crews in the traffic pattern for warm-up
  and approach to the start
• bring down crews staging for the start

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clearing the racecourse have a plan!!

• who needs to be informed of the decision to clear
  the racecourse, and how will this decision be
  communicated?
• e.g. dockmaster, marshals, start officials, and
  umpires
• will the various personnel who will manage the
  order to clear the course all do so following
  the same script?
• as necessary brief officials, staff, and
  competitors of the plan
• are there alternate beach and take-out sites
  that can and should be used?
• what information will be required to gain
  assurance that the course has been cleared of all
  competitors and personnel?

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Make a good decision to either continue racing,
or to call a halt

• the safety of each and every competitor who is
  entered in the event is the paramount concern
• if one crew cannot handle the conditions, then it
  must be considered unsafe for all
• the capability to respond quickly and efficiently
  if a crew is in distress enters into equation
• e.g. adequate rescue capabilities may justify
  tolerating a higher risk for a crew swamping in
  rough water while otherwise continuing racing
• aside from unsafe water conditions, evaluate
  whether a combination of wind, temperature and
  rain pose a risk for hypothermia

when challenging weather conditions are present,
everyone appreciates a decisive Chief Referee,
even if they do not agree with the decision
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In conclusion
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Chief Referees Conflict
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Causes

• Disappointment
• Embarrassment
• Frustration
• Perception of injustice
• Lack of knowledge of the rules
• Life ruined/future destroyed

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Dos

• Defuse express a desire to learn all of the
  facts
• Address head on
• Stay calm
• Take time if you need it to determine the facts
• Set a time to reconvene
• Allow doors to stay open (e.g. protest)

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Donts

• Yell
• Say things like grow up, give me a break,
  are you kidding me? or how much air is there
  on your planet?
• Place blame
• Duck responsibility
• Make the situation a win or lose proposition

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Decision Making

• If you feel your knee jerking you may be headed
  toward a mistake.
• Never forget the law of unintended consequences
  and that no good deed goes unpunished.
• Remember where you are you must vary your style
  and approach to conflicts based on the
  environment.
• In the many instances you are dealing with people
  who are at a significant disadvantage to you
• Dont know the rules coaches included
• Are younger, in some cases significantly
• They are often upset while you are coolly
  rational
• They have never been in this situation and you
  have
• They have no training to handle these situations
  and you do

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The Chief Referees version of presumption of
innocence.

• Let them row!

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Case Studies

• Weigh-ins
• rules based, threats
• Direct to finals without heat
• rules based
• Overweight
• Medical Intervention
• Lane violation
• Weather delay/termination
• creative solution

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Weigh-ins

• Conflict A coxswain missed the weigh-in window
  for the final by 12 minutes.
• The coxswains grandfather objected to the
  exclusion of his granddaughters boat from the
  race.

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Finals, no heats

• Conflict A competitor missed the heat and wanted
  to be included in the final.
• She missed the heat because she checked the
  schedule on the internet over the weekend before
  traveling to the regatta. At that time, the heat
  was scheduled for Thursday morning. The final
  schedule had the heat on Wednesday morning. She
  arrived Wednesday evening and requested inclusion
  in the final.

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Overweight

• Conflict At the end of the weigh-in window for
  the heat, the competitor was half a pound
  overweight.
• The competitor asked to race anyway. She said
  that it was her last race, her children were
  there to watch her and she wasnt competitive
  anyway.

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Medical Intervention

• Conflict The coach/father of a competitor wanted
  her to race in three hours, despite a medical
  issue.
• The athlete passed out about 1,000 meters into
  her race. She was removed from the boat and
  taken to the medical tent. She regained
  consciousness before she got out of the boat but
  fainted again before reaching land. She was
  conscious at the time of the discussion with her
  coach/father and the Chief Referee.

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Lane Violation

• Conflict A boat left its lane on the Derby, CT
  course and was eliminated.
• The coaches argued that the boat was so far in
  front of the fourth place finisher that they did
  not gain an unfair advantage and consequently
  should advance. Coxswains had been alerted at
  the coaches and coxswains meeting that cutting
  the corner would result in exclusion.

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Weather Delay

• Conflict High winds and snow delayed racing to
  the point where not all heats could be run.
• High stakes regatta and problems have sometimes
  resulted in litigation. The progression is
  dictated by the selection procedures.

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In conclusion

• As Chief Referee, do you have to make every
  decision yourself?
• What other approaches can be used?
• Ombudsman
• Chef du Lac
• Jury