Rowing Officials Training

Introduction to the sport of rowing

and duties of umpires

SAROC 2014

Presented by

Chris Barratt

Selwyn Jackson

South African Schools’ Boat Race

5th December 2014

Agenda

Background to rowing

Progression of officials

Structure of RowSA

SA Rowing Officials Commission (SAROC)

Role of officials

Duties of officials

Pilot duties and radio protocol

Background to Rowing

First Oxford/Cambridge Race in 1829

First Henley Royal Regatta in 1839

Olympic Sport since 1896

549 athletes at the London Olympic Regatta

14 events and 206 boats from 58 nations

FISA (International Rowing Federation) - first

International Sport Federation

First rowing race in South Africa 1861

Ultimate Team Sport

Progression of Officials

Theory training workshop (one session)

Trainee official participating in regattas

Write exam- pass mark 75%

Complete practical exam

Intermediate official

National official in specific role (e.g. judge at the finish,

control commission, aligner if preferred)

National Umpire

FISA Umpire

Structure of RowSA

Constituent members

SASRU(SA Schools

Rowing Union)

USSA-R(University Sport

South Africa- Rowing)

PROVINCIAL

ASSOCIATIONSGauteng

Western Cape

Eastern Cape

Kwa Zulu Natal

SAJCRA(SA Junior Club

Rowing Association)

6

President (Chairman)

PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS SASRU : 3 (+3 Alternates) USSAR : 2 (+2 Alternates) SAJCRA: 1

2 (+ 2 Alternates) / Affiliated Association

RowSA Council

CHAIR

Sean Kerr

FACILITIES

CHAIR

(vacant)

ATHLETES

CHAIR

(Ramon Di Climente)

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION

(Paulo Cavalieri)

FINANCIAL

TREASURER

SAROC

CHAIR

Herman van

Velze

Constituent members each nominate one representative

EXCO COMPOSITION

Coaches

Commision

CHAIR

7

SAROC: Rules of Racing and Safety

Apply, review and update the rules of racing

Maintain and review safety standards

Develop and disseminate official’s training manual

National examinations and evaluate trainees

Maintain register of national officials

Organise and conduct seminars

Establish standards for rowing courses

Ensure that National/ National Championship Regattas

are run by national officials

Co-ordinate National Regatta Programme

Interact with FISA, SASCOC and Drug Free Sport

SAROC Code of Conduct

As a Rowing official I have the duty to provide all participating athletes a quality and fair sporting experience in a friendly, supportive, instructive and safe environment

To achieve this I will:

• know latest version of the RowSA Rules of Racing

• be punctual, reliable, impartial and unbiased

• behave appropriately and show respect and tolerance to all.

• contribute in a constructive manner, respect other persons rights

and dignity

• not engage in aggressive behaviour of any kind (verbal or physical)

• take good care of all property assigned to me

• be sensitive to the needs of all athletes

• take responsible action to ensure the safety of all concerned

Officials Primary Responsibilities

SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY

FAIRNESS, FAIRNESS, FAIRNESS

EQUAL RACING

ORDERLY RUNNING OF THE REGATTA

ENSURE ENJOYMENT FOR ROWERS

ADHERENCE TO SAMSA REGULATIONS

Fairness definition

All rowers shall compete fairly, showing respect

for their opponents and for the regatta officials.

In particular,

• be at the start on time

• follow instructions of the officials at all times,

both on and off the water.

Officials shall

• ensure Rules of Racing applied fairly

• atmosphere of respect to all competitors.

11

SAROC Publications• Rules of Racing: Published document and regularly

updated – rowsa.co.za

• Rowing officials Handbook: Detailed practical guide

dealing with safety and role of officials

• SAROC has reviewed and published a number of safety

guidelines for the rowing community. Publications that

are featured on the RowSA website are:

– SAMSA boat safety requirements

– SAROC safety officer guidelines

– Regatta disaster management plan

– Rowing pilots course

– RowSA safety guidelines

ALIGNER

FINISH

START

12

34

56

START ZONE

100m

JUDGE AT

THE FINISH

CONTROL

COMMISSION

JETTIES

HO

LDIN

G A

REA

AT TH

E START

Crews on th

eir

way to th

e start

UMPIRE

STARTER

Duties of Officials

Regatta

Control

Contents of Rules of Racing

1. General

2. Definitions

3. Scope

4. Athletes and racing (Rules 1 to 8)

5. Regattas and officials (Rules 9 to 12)

6. Appendices

14

Control Commission

The Organisation controlling entry and exit of

the crews and boats to the water for

competition and training

Responsible for the implementation and

monitoring of all rules relating to the eligibility of

boats, safety checks and crews and athletes

All boats and crews need to be checked by

Control Commission – compulsory

Control Commission -“Customer Service”

Administration centre of the regatta and launch control

Crew changes and withdrawals

Weighing of coxswain, lightweight crews and boats

Check Bow Ball – Why?

Solid ball not less than 40mm made of rubber or durable material

Firmly attached to boat

In good condition without tape or strapping

Check footboards and heel straps should – Why?

Not allow the heel to lift more than 7cm

Independently restrained

Innovation: shoes that engage in the footstrecher via a binding system

Athletes need to demonstrate that they can remove their feet from the

shoes without the use of their hands

Control Commission Buoyancy compartment

Hatches and vent plugs in place and fitted correctly

Steering mechanism

Rudder, fin and lines can freely move

Lane number

Affixed to the boat before leaving the jetty

Composition of the crew, and the provision of substitutes for

competitors who are injured after the first heat of their event

Ensure compliance to rules regarding dress code, lane numbers,

and coxswain weights.

Monitor launching of crews and liaise with other functions

Notification of health conditions

• Club rep must inform Control Commission

who will inform umpire of race

• Each competitor is responsible for own

health and fitness

18

Doping Control

• Duties of official at control commission:– advise the rower of their selection

– assist the rower to contact either the coach or person identified

by the rower to accompany him/her to the doping control station

– introduce the rower to the responsible person at the doping

control station

• Doping tests are conducted by SAIDS

• Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUEs) handled by

SAIDS

19

Classes of boat

Boat and equipment construction

Weighing of boats

Official boat weighing procedure

Rule 1 : Boats and Equipment

Know your Boat

±70mm

Full travel

Know your Boat (Continued)

Boat Classes

Boat Classes (Continued)

Mass - 98kg

Weights of Boats

Weight of boat is Sole responsibility of the crew

Boat weighing AFTER the race

Selection of boats on random draw basis, No adding of weights of speakers, cables etc. These are now considered part of the boat

Notify crew that boat must be weighed and accompany them to boat weighing area

Does not include removable items

Cox box, stroke coaches, bow number etc.

Anything that can easily be removed must be removed

Items used to measure performance of the athletes or boat are not included

Inform crews when boat is lifted out of the water

Rowers may wet shoes to add weight

Rule 2: Rowers, Coxswains and coaches

Coxswain: Only J19 and all senior classes

Weight kg (minimum): Men - 55 / Women - 50 / Adaptive - 50

Max ballast for Juniors = 15 kg , Seniors = 10 kg : Only steel

shot/lead shot or sand NO water in bottles and bricks

Lightweight men avg 70 kg / max of single rower = 72 ,5kg

Lightweight women avg 57 kg/ max of single rower = 59kg .

Weigh in = Between 1-2 hours prior to first race every day of

the Regatta

Breach of weight specification for coxswain =

exclusion

Responsibility of club rep or coach to inform

Control Commission of ANY medical condition that

may put rower at risk during a race

The coxswain of a junior school shall be a scholar.

School crews must be coxed by a scholar in the

same age category or up to two categories younger

Coxswain is a member of the crew

Rowers and Coxswains

ALIGNER

FINISH

START

12

34

56

START ZONE

100m

JUDGE AT

THE FINISH

CONTROL

COMMISSION

JETTIES

HO

LDIN

G A

REA

AT TH

E START

Crews on th

eir

way to th

e start

UMPIRE

STARTER

Duties of Officials - Aligner

Regatta

Control

Judge at Start/Aligners

Primary role is to ensure that boats are aligned to

ensure fair racing and keeping regatta on time.

Note scratching and late entries

Check crews that arrive at start.

Only official that can call a false start

Back Up time keeper

Monitor Safety i.e. traffic violations

Aligning Procedure

(Abreast Racing)

TOUCH (distance)

to move a crew up the course towards the finish line

BACK (distance)

to move a crew down the course away from the finish line

HOLD IT to make a crew stop

ALIGNER

FINISH

START

12

34

56

START ZONE

100m

JUDGE AT

THE FINISH

CONTROL

COMMISSION

JETTIES

HO

LDIN

G A

REA

AT TH

E START

Crews on th

eir

way to th

e start

UMPIRE

STARTER

Duties of Officials - Umpire

Regatta

Control

Traffic RulesOrganising Committee must publish with their

Regatta Notice

Display clearly at the venue

Traffic rules for racing must cover crews

• moving to the start

• returning from the finish

• crossing of the course,

• warm up and cool down areas

• return path for boats missing races and sent

being sent back to the jetties

Warm-up Area

Jetty to Start

Route for boats sent back to the Jetties

from the Start

Start

Clubhouse

Boathouses

Wemmer Pan Racing Rules

Returning crews MUST stop before Buoy and check course before crossing

Turning Buoys in Warm-up Area

Turning Buoy in Warm-up Area.Warm-up Circuit comes into force

when buoy placed

Ho

ldin

gA

rea

HoldingArea

Crews may only cross course with

permission of aligner

Umpire/Starter

Starter Role:

- Announce race and marshal crews

- Call crews. Club name, stroke name and lane number

- Hand over to Judge at Start/ Aligner

Umpire /Starter

Starter Role (Continued):

In case of BAD Weather (Strong wind) when aligning

is difficult - use a Rolling start

Rolling Start: Umpires decision but the same start procedure

must be used for all races in the same event

Inform Crews in that specific event

Rolling Start

Procedure

Red Flag waist high

When crews close to start line, without

stopping the crews – Raise the white flag

Aligner Command: “Prepare to Race”

Umpire Command: “Attention Go”

Umpire

Responsible for the conduct of the race once the Starter has started

the race.

Understand the traffic rules and local rules as published in the

regatta notice and displayed at the venue

Check all equipment supplied and review radio protocol

GOLDEN RULE:

- (1) Rower’s Safety is your MAIN Concern

- (2) Each competitor must be afforded an

equal chance of winning

Umpire

Call crews from holding area and assign lanes according to

the regatta program

After Command “Go” – ensure that white flag is used

unless race is to be stopped

Immediately follow crews in the middle of the course

Instruct pilot on boat positioning

Keep all crews from clear from wake even laggards

Crews are allowed to leave their lanes as long as this does

not interfere with other boats

Start Zone (100m)

• Breakage is no longer accepted

• If an interference or clash occurred within

the first 100 m, the umpire shall stop the

race and may issue a warning to the

offending crew

39

Umpire actions during a race During the Race

- Never steer a crew BUT must call a crew if about to interfere

with another crew or obstruction ahead of crew.

- If 2 crews are called – Name both crews, raise flag

VERTICALLY with the command KEEP APART

- In the event of a potential collision use the command STOP

ROWING (naming crew)

- After crew stopped - can start rowing again after umpire

drops flag directly forward with the command

“CONTINUE ROWING”

If re-row ordered (if Umpire decides that result is in doubt because

of interference not all crews re-row. Only those whose placing is in

doubt)

Capsizing of Boats during Race

or Rower in distress

Abandon Race – Call Rescue

Procedure if boat capsize:

If it seems that some crew

members have dived to retrieve

equipment such as slides or

shoes, try to go around the boat

and make your approach from the

bow to avoid injury to submerged

rowers. It is unlikely that

equipment would disperse in front

of the boat.

Only make a direct

approach to the boat if all

crew members can be seen

and you are sure that there

are no crewmen under the

water who could be injured

by your propeller.

Make sure that the prop is

disengaged when in close

proximity to boat while crew

is in the water.

Do head count check

before closing in on

the boat

UmpireAt Finish:

- Wait approx 10 to 15 seconds to determine if objection

is raised

- Ascertain the reason for the objection

- Uphold or overrule

- Advise crew of decision

- Consult with relevant officials should that be required

- Advise regatta control on the decision

Red FlagWhite Flag

Penalties

• Philosophy (avoidance of being prescriptive)

• Types of penalties

– warning (yellow card)

– exclusion (red card)

– disqualification

– relegation to last place (underweight boats)

43

ALIGNER

FINISH

START

12

34

56

START ZONE

100m

JUDGE AT

THE FINISH

CONTROL

COMMISSION

JETTIES

HO

LDIN

G A

REA

AT TH

E START

Crews on th

eir

way to th

e start

UMPIRE

STARTER

Duties of Officials - Finish

Regatta

Control

Judge at the Finish/Timekeepers

• Primary role to Record finishing order of

crews and record time for each crew

– “Hoot” when crew crosses line

– Note and record lane number

– Acknowledge Umpire’s clearing of race

(2 Hoots or White flag)

– Hold results if Umpire does not clear race

– Sign result sheets

Finish Tower Stresses

Missing the Start.

- Check with Aligner for Back-up time

- Get count down

- If no time on race and progression event

notify Umpire to stop race if possible.

Dead Heats

Heads Races and lane numbers

Abbreviations

• DNF – Did Not Finish

• DNS – Did Not Start

• DSQ – Disqualified

• EXC – Excluded

• BUW – Boat Under Weight

• DNA – Data Not Available

ALIGNER

FINISH

START

12

34

56

START ZONE

100m

JUDGE AT

THE FINISH

CONTROL

COMMISSION

JETTIES

HO

LDIN

G A

REA

AT TH

E START

Crews on th

eir

way to th

e start

UMPIRE

STARTER

Duties of Officials – Regatta Control

Regatta

Control

President of the Jury

• Primary Responsibility to coordinate

smooth running of the regatta

– Allocate revised start times

– Authorise “Holding” of Races

– Monitor On Land and Water Rescue/Medical

services

– Monitor weather conditions –lightning detector

– Convene Jury meetings in case of a Protest

– Participate in Fairness Committee

President of the Jury 2

• Prepare Regatta Report

– Regatta Master Sheet

• Crew changes

• Start times

• All sanctions (Yellow cards, exclusions etc)

– Record incidents, Objections, Protests and

Appeals

Adverse weather conditions

Local Championship/Local Regattas - President of Jury

consult with Chair of OC

National Championship/National Regattas - Fairness

Committee

Alternatives at National Regattas:

(a) Use lanes that offer most equal conditions

(b) Delay – either later or next day

(c) Start racing earlier than previously announced

(d) Re-allocate lanes – crews with better placings in better lanes

(e) Time-trial system- per heat

Objections, Protests and Appeals Crew’s responsibility to object after the completion of the race

Umpire makes a ruling and communicates to the regatta control

Protests must be lodged by Club representative

President of Jury must evaluate protest and decide whether a

decision can be made or Hearing is necessary

Bye-law to Rule 11-3 Protest Hearing Procedure:

- Hearing can only commence after all parties had opportunity to study

written protest statement

- Each crew named or involved in protest have right to one representative

(may not be a witness)

- If protest involves only interpretation of the Rules of Racing - no witnesses

- Witnesses will only be present while they are giving testimony

- If disputes of fact evidence to be heard

- Representatives may request a question to be asked by the Jury

Appeal process

• Executive committee of the controlling

authority of the regatta adjudicates

• Appeals must be in writing directly after a

decision has been announced

• Decisions are final

– Cannot appeal to RowSA

53

Umpire’s Pilot

Umpire’s second pair of eyes and hands

- Look out for obstacles and traffic violations

- Keep and eye on the crews during the progression of the

race and inform Umpire of concerns

- Observe all “hand signal requests” from Umpire

- Listen to the radio should umpire be called

In control of Radio at the Start and during the race

- Announce race to Finish tower: Race number, event and

Umpire ID, change over to channel 3

- Announce “Flag Up” when start is eminent

- Announce “Stand down” when aligning has cause for delay

- Announce “Flag Up” when start is eminent again

- Hold radio open to transmit start to Finish Tower

Umpire’s Pilot

Both craft yield to starboard

(right-hand side).

100 metres

Basic Boat Piloting SkillsOn the Water in General and in a

Regatta

“How to approach an oncoming race”

Stop !

Well

ahead of

race

Turn

90o

Then

idle off

course

When race past

return to centre

and increase

speed

Basic Boat Piloting Skills“DO NOT turn boat whilst under power

on the course”

Basic Boat Piloting Skills“DO NOT cross course at speed”

Basic Boat Piloting Skills“Position when following a Race”

Watch your wake does

not affect tail-enders

unless there is potential

for clashes in leading

boats

Radio Protocol Guidelines of Use:

1. Use only when necessary

2. Identify who you are calling then identify yourself. Eg: President of the Jury – Umpire ABC reply is – President Go.

3. Listen before you speak - Wait until previous call has ended before you call your station

4. Keep it short and simple – speak slowly and precisely avoid

getting exited - you become unintelligible.5. Stay off the air during emergencies

Don'ts- Critique officials over the radio

- Don’t engage in unnecessary chatter

Course

QUESTIONS

?????????

Don’t forget ...

Please help with equipment

before and after regattas

63

Please help with equipment

64

Always approach the slipway slowly and

with caution and preferably in Reverse!

65

Have Fun

Thank you for attending