USRowing Referee Clinic The Start

1
USRowing Referee Clinic The Start

• Referee Commission, 2006

2
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.

William Collins, Thousand Oaks,
California Roxanne Everetts, Alexandria,
Virginia Kristopher Grudt, Pennington, New
Jersey Michael Siconolfi, Syracuse, New York
Clyde Voigtlander, Bar Harbor, Maine
3
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.

4
Overview of Start I

• Goals of the competent starter
• Tools of the starter
• Before any start
• Two minutes before the start
• The polled start
• Post-start checklist miscellany
• The quick start
• The countdown start

5
Overview of Start II

• Problem broken equipment
• Problem no shows
• Problem broken stake boats
• Epilogue

6
Objective

• Ensure all races start under safe, fair, and
  timely conditions

7
Tools of the Starter Skills

• A calm, clear, and deliberate voice
• Employ a calm, natural tone
• Remember less is more in giving commands

8
Tools of the Starter Materials

• An updated schedule
• An effective starters flag
• Horn or bell to stop races
• Radio or telephone

9
Tools of the Starter Installation

• A stable platform from 50-100meters behind start
  line and 3-5 meters high
• Public address system- with lapel or stand-up
  microphone
• A lectern or stand with a digital clock
• Second large clock visible to the competitors

10
Before Any Start I

• Scan the start area from behind the line to 100
  meters out onto the course
• Make sure the event board is updated
• Invite crews into their lane as they approach the
  start
• Announce race number, race name, crew name and
  lane number
• Announce Five Minutes
• Check on availability of referees
• Update them as needed

11
Before Any Start II

• Check off crews as they arrive.
• Check for proper bow numbers and uniforms.
• Assist when conditions warrant in guiding crews
  into their start positions.
• But remember you are not the coxswain.
• Continue to announce the time up to the
  two-minute mark four minutes, three minutes

12
Two Minutes Before the Start

• Announce, Two Minutes
• Check that all crews are locked on to their stake
  boats
• Check that course is clear of wakes, launches, or
  prior races
• Check for quiet in the start area

13
Polling Start I

• State the event
• if this is a heat, indicate who advances
• Impose any penalties due to tardiness or traffic
  violations
• announce Name of Crew, Infraction, Penalty
  less is more
• get an acknowledgement from the crew
• Check for the aligners white/green flag

14
Polling Start II

• Make sure your red flag is hidden and
  unencumbered
• Poll the crews from lanes 1- 6 using the crews
  name
• Establish an unrushed but consistence cadence
• even if hands go up, do not get hung up very
  long minor pauses are ok
• if there is a substantial delay, cease polling
  restart the poll from lane 1 after most hands are
  down
• At the completion of polling, go right into the
  start commands. No hesitation or delay unless a
  hand has been raised or alignment lost.

15
Polling Start III

• Three Part Start
• CALLING CREWS TO ATTENTION
• RAISING THE START FLAG
• SAYING GO WHILE DROPPING THE START FLAG

16
Polling Start IV

• When all hands are down, calmly and evenly say,
  Attention
• Wait a beat and look over to aligner
• Slowly and deliberately raise flag overhead with
  two hands (if possible)
• After a variable pause say, Go and
  simultaneously drop flag smartly and crisply to
  one side

17
Polling Start V

• Do not let the first motion of the flag be
  upwards, but to the side and down
• If the start must be interrupted after calling
  Attention, slowly lower the flag directly in
  front of you (do not drop to the side) while
  saying As you were

18
Post Start Checklist

• Check that all crews leave the line if not,
  calmly and quickly stop race
• Check that Judge at Start still has their flag up
  for a fair start
• Check that officials are able to follow race
• Visually track all boats out of the start zone or
  for 20 seconds
• if boats are about to collide take appropriate
  action with PA and not start flag

19
Post Start Miscellany

• Notify the finish of any anomalies in lanes, bow
  numbers, or missing crews
• Note down any anomalies about the race
• Note names of referees following the race

20
The Quick Start I

• What is it Polling Start without polling
• Is everyone here who should be here?
• Are they in their right lanes?
• When used conditions for normal or polled start
  are not practicable
• current or weather problems
• interrupted polling in normal start

21
The Quick Start II

• When alignment is achieved, announce Quick
  Start
• With all hands down, proceed as with normal start
  by announcing Attention
• without audible polling
• Follow Post-Start Checklist as with any normal
  start

22
The Countdown Start I

• What is it under less than ideal
  circumstances, you give crews 8 - 10 seconds to
  get a safe and fair point
• polling is omitted
• hands may be ignored
• When used if conditions do not allow for
  Polled Starts or Quick Starts
• Use when conditions prevent all crews from
  holding a stable point

23
The Countdown Start II

• Announce that this start will be used
• with less experienced crews, remind them that
  hands may not be recognized
• similarly, you may demonstrate the starts
  cadence beforehand This is a test. . . .
• Follow preludes as for Polled Starts
• Crews are not polled

24
The Countdown Start III

• Once alignment is achieved, begin cadenced count
  of 5 through 1
• Then use the three part starting sequence
• do not tinker with the established cadence
• Be very alert to possible collisions
• Follow Post-Start Checklist as with any normal
  start

25
Problem Aborted or False Starts I

• If crew remains at line, or if Judge at Start
  raises red flag, stop the race in a loud and
  firmly controlled voice waving red flag evenly
• Sound noise device
• Say Stop
• Determine quickly what is the problem

26
Problem Aborted or False Starts II

• Decide promptly if shells are to back down for
  restart or swing out of breakage zone and off the
  course for reschedule
• Have officials repeat your decision to crews and
  assist if necessary
• Remind novice crews to check their rudders if
  they back down

27
Problem Aborted or False Starts III

• Permit aligner to call you if false start
• repeat lane number(s) of offending crew(s) to
  aligner to confirm
• Impose penalties as needed Name, False
  Start, Consequence
• receive acknowledgment make note on sheet
• mark the offending lane with token
• Rerun the starting sequence

28
Problem Broken Equipment I

• If a crew stops in breakage zone or in first 20
  seconds, assist in calmly stopping the race with
  flag and PA system
• Check to see that an official quickly inspects
  the situation
• Get a quick damage assessment from referee
• Decide whether to restart at once and have crews
  back down, or

29
Problem Broken Equipment II

• If repair is major, consult with Control
  Commission about repair time-line
• Announce to crews what the problem is and whether
  you will restart or reschedule
• Announce how long the delay may be and what the
  new start time might be
• Notify Chief Judge, Control Commission, and
  Chief Referee of your decision

30
Problem No Shows I

• At the five minute announcement, check for any
  missing crews
• have Deputy check with Control Commission if crew
  launched without delay or problems
• ask officials on water to scan course
• Weigh needs of athletes at the line with the
  problem of the missing crew
• Normal penalty for not being at the line at start
  time of a race is exclusion

31
Problem No Shows II

• Announce an estimate of delay
• Permit crews at line to stay warmed up
• give them specific distance down the course they
  may warm up
• instruct crews to use only their own lanes
• If missing crew arrives in time for new start
  time, decide if any penalties apply
• If missing crew arrives too late, indicate safest
  way for them to return to dock

32
Problem Broken Stake Boats

• If stake boat or platform is unusable, move crew
  to lane seven if available
• if lanes have been seeded and not merely drawn,
  preserve original configuration
• Ask referee to hold boat in affected lane
• Be especially conscientious about spacing and
  orientation of shells
• Dont delay once you have alignment

33
Epilogue

• You have done a good job as starter if no one
  remembers you or your style
• Be clear, calm, aware, and anticipatory
• Be careful that the schedule does not prove an
  enemy to fairness safety
• Remember Less is more
• Remember Athletes have not come to see the
  Starter they came to race!