US Rowing Judge Referee Clinic The Mystery of the Control Commission Judge-Referee Committee, 2000

Thank You! Bill Collins, Thousand Oaks, California Ray Duff, Virginia Beach, Virginia Vic Fiebig, Springfield, Virginia Chip Kerby, Montclair, Virginia Kris Grudt, Gresham, Oregon Christine Livingston, Alexandria, Virginia Donna Livingston, Woodbridge, Virginia Roger Messersmith, Springfield, Virginia Mike Tremonte, Centerville, Virginia Dean Vidal, Arlington, Virginia The Judge Referee Committee wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the following referees who generously donated their time and expertise to compile this presentation.

About This Presentation  This presentation is one of a series being developed for Judge Referees.  These presentations are an effort on the part of the Judge Referee Committee to expand the available training materials currently available to Referees.  These presentations are developed for the purpose of Judge Referee education; they may be duplicated and distributed freely for the use of referees and any other member of the rowing community.  The Judge Referee Committee 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.

Control Commission Mission The Control Commission shall verify that crews and competitors comply with the Rules of Rowing regarding equipment as described in Article III and competitors as described in Article IV.

Personnel  Judge-Referees  Assistant Referees  Candidates  Local Organizing Committee Members

A Team Effort  Chief Referee  Regatta Director  Dockmaster  Weigh-In Staff  Marshals  Referees

Responsibilities Control Commission responsibilities vary depending on the type of regatta: Local Regatta National Regatta Trials

Responsibilities at All Regattas  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Dockmaster  Start Marshal

Responsibilities at National Regattas  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising Check  Athlete Verification

Responsibilities at Trials  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising Check  Athlete Verification

Why we care  Promote safety and fairness  Apply rules uniformly and consistently  Satisfy competitor expectations  Opportunity to excel 11

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 12

Weigh-in Overview  Rules are not asterisked; LOC rules vary  Different rules for rowers & coxswains Regattas Trials  Limited guidance regarding process 13

Weigh-in for Rowers  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 aren’t counted 14

Weigh-ins for Coxswains  For women’s events, min weight is 110 lbs  For men’s events, min weight is 120 lbs  Lighter coxswains must carry weight Close to the coxswain’s 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 don’t count 15

Weigh-ins at International Regattas and Trials  Coxswains For women’s events, min weight is 50kg For men’s events, min weight is 55kg No more than 10kg of ballast permitted  Rowers Women: Avg  57kg; max is 59kg Men: Avg  70kg; max is 72.5kg 16

Weigh-in Process  How often? Once each day  When? During the weigh-in window Window is one-hour long Window starts 2 hours before and ends 1 hour before scheduled time of first race in which weight is relevant  In what? Racing uniform, without shoes 17

What’s not addressed  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? 18

Managing the Process  Preparing the area  Managing the area  Respect the competitors  Communicate results 19

Preparing the Area  Check scales Are they correct? 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!!! 20

Managing the Area  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 21

Respect the Competitors  Don’t have food lying around  Don’t coddle; don’t be officious  Don’t make weight jokes  Watch what you say, and how you say it 22

Communicate Results  Mark with stamp or wrist band competitors who make weight  Report boats that don’t make weight  Report boats carrying ballast and amount  Who needs to know? Dockmaster Control commission Start (and following referees) 23

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 24

Equipment to Be Checked  Foot Quick-Release Devices (Heel Tie Downs)  Bowballs  Bow Numbers  Coxswain’s Cockpit (Bow Loading Coxswains)  Oar Blades 25

Quick Release Device  NO HANDS!!!  Pull strings max three (3) inches (7.5 cm) “Any pull strings shall not allow the heel to rise more than three inches.”  Clog type shoes are exempt provided athlete’s feet are not tied in 26

Bowballs  Must be White or Fluorescent  4 cm minimum in diameter  Must be Supple or Plastic (No Tennis Balls with Duct tape)  Rule does allow for a substitution if an ‘equivalent provision for visibility and protection against puncture injury is included in the boat’s basic construction’ 27

Bow Numbers  Indicates either the crew’s lane assignment or a participant number Be sure to check that the bow number matches the lane assignment/participant number assigned in the program  All crews should have one to ensure clear identification at the finish  LOC and Boat Crew Responsibility The “But no one gave me a bow number” excuse 28

Bow Loading Cox  70 cm long by 50 cm wide  Must be free from snags and obstructions  Do not assume all boats will comply you must check 29

Oars  Uniform Colors Composite crew exempt May have unpainted oars if all rowers in crew have unpainted oars  Sweep - 5 mm minimum thick, 3 mm from tip  Scull - 3 mm minimum thick, 2 mm from tip  No “Knife Edges” 30

 When possible, check the boats before they approach the launch area; have referees walk through the boat storage area, marking inspected boats  Position slings along the path to the dock  Make the checks BEFORE the boat starts down the ramp to launch The time to fix problems is not on the dock  Be quick, but thorough. Keep the shells moving Boat Safety Check Area 31

Boat Safety Check Process  Communicate directly with the Coxswain  Hold boats with changes on slings Do not let them on to the dock  Recheck boats as applicable If you are delaying a boat, communicate the crew name and the event to the starter 32

Tips for Checking Boats  Have a 3 inch measuring device  Mark the measurements for the Coxswain’s cockpit on your flag for quick measurement  Wiggle the bowball to check it Check that the bow ball is supple 33

Respect the Competitors  Don’t be officious Be helpful in suggestions for making boats comply  Do not talk to the rowers They are concentrating on their upcoming race  Do not engage in banter about the legality or necessity of the rules 34

The Moral of the Story... he thing to learn from this story is that we are there to ensure the safety of all competitors. These checks should be done prior to the launching of the crews. Be polite, be helpful, be firm, and be consistent. Explain to the Coxswain (or Coach) exactly what needs to be fixed on their boat, and offer suggestions if needed. Have measuring devices, or marked flagpoles, handy so that each boat is measured with consistency. If possible, check the boats well before the launch times. Remember that when crews are heading down to launch, time is everything to them. When they are ready, recheck their boat as soon as possible. Communicate to the start if a boat that needs to be fixed will be late. It will save the Starter time and reassure the crew. 35

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 36

Overview  Rules are not asterisked  Limited guidance regarding process 37

Equipment Check  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 38

What equipment is included  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 boat’s weight 39

The Weights  The following are minimum weights: 40 CategoryWeight (lbs)Weight (kgs) 1x x, x x x

Penalties  If a crew’s 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 or to have the race re-rowed 41

What’s not addressed  Can a protest be filed? If so, when?  What is the proper process for weighing the boat? 42

Managing the Process  Preparing the area  Managing the area  Respect the competitors  Communicate results 43

Preparing 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 44

Managing the Area  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 45

Respect the Competitors  Don’t make jokes about racing or the rules  Watch what you say  Be respectful. As referees, we should remember to respect all levels of competitors. 46

The Moral of the Story... he thing to know you are there to ensure that everything was done within the rules and that the fastest boat, given all the conditions are equal, will advance. 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. 47

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 48

The Dockmaster: The Who and What  LOC appointee or Judge-Referee who is familiar with the course launch and recovery facilities  Controls the flow of the launching and recovery process – determines who gets on which dock, when, and for how much time  Last line of “defense” for boat safety equipment verifications 49

Preparing for the day  Attend the pre-race meetings Know the schedule of the races Know the scratches Know the docking window for the day Know the intervals for first and second calls.  If you can, get an assistant To track which crews have launched To be the line of communication with start for late arriving crews 50

Managing the Process: Control Your Dock  Keep control of the dock Do not allow boats to jam up Direct the Coxswains to the exact spot you want them at Do not let them decide for themselves  Do not allow crews to stack equipment on the dock Ties up dock space and creates a hazard 51

Managing the Launch Process  Try to maintain launch windows as closely as possible  Know the order of races and which races have been called Give preference to crews that are late Use your assistant (or LOC volunteer) to track down crews that are missing Accommodate early launches as possible  Never leave the docks unattended 52

Managing the Final Check Process  Make sure the Coxswains understand the traffic pattern before they launch Especially if it is a novice crew or visiting crew  Do a final check of each boat for bow number and bow ball  Check Coxswain’s carrying extra weight, if applicable Note that Coxswain had weight when launching on your schedule 53

Managing the Post-Launch Process  Do not let teammates or coach linger on the dock giving encouragement or instructions  Make sure all excess equipment are removed; e.g., shoes, water bottles, clothing 54

Managing the Recovery Process  Need to recover boats on the dock as soon as possible Do not let boats stack up out on the water  For safety reasons, track returning crews Especially important during head races  Helpful if there are two dockmasters One for launching and one for recovery 55

Managing the Recovery Process  Be aware of boats that will be re- launching  Be aware of any emergencies that may arise while crews are waiting and how to manage the emergency Medical emergencies Boat problems 56

Knowledge and Tools  Have a general knowledge of boat and oar “problems” Have spare bow numbers and bowballs  Have communications with the Starter and Finish Line The dockmaster is essential in running a regatta on time 57

Respect the Competitors  Be calm and courteous Use a megaphone instead of yelling  Be neutral  Watch what you say and how you say it 58

The Moral of the Story... he key to being a good dockmaster is maintaining control of the situation. Have a plan of who, what, and where so that you can keep the flow onto and off of the dock constant. Know the schedule of the races. Remember, crews are leaving to race, so try not to disrupt their focus. Be watchful of returning crews. Make sure they have no medical emergencies that were not detected on the water. Be accommodating to late crews – they are nervous enough and any help you can offer them will go a long way. Keep in communication with the Starter so they know which crews will be late arriving. 59

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 60

Role of the Start Marshal  Primary role is to support the Starter Check in boats as they arrive Locate boats that have not yet arrived Maintain a smooth, timely flow of boats from the marshalling area to the starting line 61

Overview  No rules address standard Sprint Regattas; LOC rules vary  US Rules of Rowing Section 8 addresses Head Races  Rules identify penalties that may be assigned by the Marshal or Starter 62

Start Marshal at Head Races  Officials (non-asterisked) “The Marshal…is responsible for organizing participating crews into proper order and interval.”  Qualification of Officials (asterisked) “The…Marshal…shall possess a valid US Rowing Judge-Referee license.” Exemptions may be granted by the US Rowing Judge-Referee Committee if requested by the LOC 63

Start Marshal and Penalties for Head Races  Penalties may be assigned by the Marshal or Starter For a delay, a crew can be moved back in the starting order Exclusion Time Penalties 64

What’s Not Addressed  Chief Referee can assign one or more Start Marshals for a sprint regatta based on: Coordination with LOC Experience of Rowers Size of Regatta Race intervals 65

Managing the Process  Checking in Crews  Communicating with the Starter  Positioning Crews  Maintaining Safety in the Marshalling Area 66

Checking In Crews  Be at your position from before the first crew arrives until the last boat leaves your area  Check boats in as they enter Marshalling area  Give them directions where to go If their race is soon, keep them close Group the crews for the next race before the preceding race is started 67

Communicating with the Starter  Start Marshall and Starter should decide the level of communications before the regatta Find out the information that the Starter wants reported and when they would like the information Be sure not to try to report to the Starter when they are in the process of starting an event 68

Positioning Crews  Ensure crews for the next event are ready to take their place on the starting line Crews are still responsible for being at the start on time  Keep all crews within hearing distance They need to hear when their race is called  Answer any last minute questions of crews Know the recovery dock traffic pattern 69

Maintaining Safety  Be aware of all boats within the Marshalling area  Watch for any traffic pattern or LOC rule violations Do not be afraid to issue penalties Notify starter of all penalties issued If one does something, they will all soon follow 70

Respect the Competitors  Do not coddle; do not be officious  Remain neutral to all crews; do not wish a particular crew “Good Luck”  Let the Coxswains direct their crews; if need be, you can offer assistance to the Coxswain 71

The Moral of the Story... He Start Marshall is a key player to keeping the regatta running on time. Keep track of all crews in the Marshalling area so they will be easy to find when it’s their race. Follow the instructions of the Starter as to what to report and when. For example, reporting when all boats for a race are present or the status of a missing boat. The rowers are at the final step before their race, so direct all comments to the Coxswain. The rowers will be in their “race mode” and disturbing this can have an effect on their race. 72

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 73

General Provisions  Provides for advertisement on equipment and clothing by manufacturers and sponsors  If a manufacturer’s area is not being used, a sponsor CANNOT use it instead  The advertisement need not be the same on equipment, oars, and clothing BUT within each of these categories, there can be only ONE manufacturer and ONE sponsor 74

General Provisions  The Rules apply per crew That is, a 4+ does not need to have the same advertisements as the 8+ from the same team  No tobacco products  No alcohol advertisement for alcohol that is greater than 15% 75

General Provisions  An advertisement may consist of: Company name Company trademark And/or the name of the product/service  All the elements above may be used in combination, but they must appear together and be related to a single company or a single service Different companies’ advertisements cannot be combined 76

Determining the size  Size is determined by drawing vertical and horizontal lines at right angles from the extreme most tips of the advertisement  If an advertisement contains a background color that is different from that of the item it is on, this is counted in the size of the advertisement 77

Exemptions  The Chief Referee may excuse a crew from this Rule for good cause  Exemptions may also be granted by USRowing  Advertising rules do not extend to LOC Programs, billboards, and regatta installations 78

Oars  Advertisements must be inside the collar  Manufacturer advertisement cannot exceed 100 cm 2  Sponsor advertisement cannot exceed 100 cm 2 with one of the linear measurements not exceeding 5 cm 79

Boat Manufacturer  The name, address, trademark and name of product may appear inside boat Cannot exceed 50 cm 2  May also appear on outside of the boat Once on each side of the boat (including gunwale and washboards) Cannot exceed 30 cm 2 80

Boat Sponsor  May appear once on the bow and once on the stern canvas  May also appear as follows: On 1x, 2x, 2-, 2+, once on each side 4x, 4-, 4+, 2 times each side (Maximum) 8+, 8x, 4 times each side (Maximum)  Advertisement on the sides of boats must be identical  Each advertisement, individually, cannot exceed 700 cm 2 81

Equipment in the Boat  Electronic Devices Internal loudspeaker may have the name and trademark of the manufacturer  Footgear Any footgear attached to the stretcher may have the name and trademark of the manufacturer 82

Clothing  Crew’s clothing must be identical Any advertisement appearing on a crew member’s clothing must be identical in design, size and location for each member of the crew Headgear may be of the individual’s own choosing and need not be identical to those worn by other crew members. 83

Clothing Manufacturer  Each manufacturer of a main item of clothing (e.g., shirt, shorts) may have an advertisement appear once It cannot exceed 16 cm 2  Items such as socks, hats, headbands and other incidental clothing cannot have any visible manufacturer advertisements 84

Clothing Sponsor  An advertisement for a sponsor can appear on a competitor’s clothing only once For example, if the advertisement is on the shirt, it cannot appear on the shorts of the same competitor  The advertisement cannot exceed 50 cm 2 85

The Moral of the Story... he key to checking advertising is to know the measurements. Be sure to have a ruler or similar device that measures in centimeters. Also, have a copy of the rules for reference. Remember, the Chief Referee or USRowing may exempt a crew. Remember to check the advertising prior to the crew launching for their event. 86

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 87

The Role of Control Commission  The Control Commission will verify all crews and competitors, including: Substitution of competitors Replacement of competitor due to illness Weigh ins for Lightweights and Coxswains Classification by age of competitors Classification by skill of competitors  These rules are not asterisked; LOC rules may vary 88

Submission of Entries  Crews seeking to enter shall submit entries, in writing, to LOC along with payment  LOC may establish two different deadlines One for general entries and another for the clubs to identify members of a crew Regatta secretary shall not report any information regarding the entries until the date has passed.  LOC shall provide a list with the names of the clubs and boatings of all crews being entered 89

General  Each crew member must be a bona fide member of the club Exemptions are made for composite crews and single scullers  A competitor can only represent 1 club  For Championships regattas, each crew member must be a member of USRowing or if international crew, a member of their National Rowing Federation, which is recognized by either FISA or the National Olympic Committee 90

Composite Crews  A composite crew includes competitors from more than one club  A composite crew may substitute its rowers following the rules, however, it will still remain a composite crew regardless of the subsequent substitutions 91

False Entries  Chief Referee or delegate can EXCLUDE any crew if it is determined that there was an intentional deception on the entry form Deception is the falsehood of any information relevant to the competitive status. This includes the identity, classification, amateur standing, and affiliation of competitors 92

Substitutions  A crew may substitute up to one half of its rowers, as well as the coxswain, before the first race of the event in which the crew is entered LOC may reject this substitution if it is not done in writing up to one hour before  There are no substitutions for a single scull unless it’s due to injury or illness  After the first race of the event, the composition of the crew must remain the same unless a competitor becomes injured or ill 93

Competitor Illness  If the Chief Referee finds that illness or injury prevents a rower, except a single scull, from competing, a substitution at any time before the event is completed may be made A certificate from a health professional is required unless the Chief Referee deems it unnecessary  A club may replace a single scull who has become injured or ill any time before the first race in that event After the first race, there are no substitutions!  Participant may compete in subsequent races if returned to good health 94

Challenges  Another crew may challenge an entry up to one hour after final race in that event Will be handled like other protests 95

Respect the Competitors  Do question, but approach in a civilized manner  Handle all challenges with the same privacy you would other protests  You are not the judge of an illness or injury, the Chief Referee is. 96

The Moral of the Story... he verification of athletes is important because it helps to ensure the fair outcome of the event. Know the rules about substitutions and illness. Refer anyone who wants to substitute rowers to the LOC, because that is who they need to notify, in writing. Contact the Chief Referee in cases of illness/injury. Don’t be accusatory towards any crew. 97

Agenda  Weigh-Ins  Boat Safety  Boat Weights  Dockmaster  Start Marshal  Advertising  Athlete Verification  Drug Testing 98

Overview  In general, USRowing Referees are no longer directly involved in the drug testing procedures at trials  USOC representatives will set the procedures for each testing site  The Chief will coordinate any involvement of Judge-Referees with the USOC 99

What You should know: Use of Drugs  Prohibited from rowing either in practice or in a race under the influence or effect of a drug, or other medical practice such as blood doping, that can enhance athletic capabilities, or is considered a controlled dangerous substance under the laws of the United States.  USRowing adopts the regulations and procedures of the United States and the International Olympic Committee, as well as FISA. 100

What You should know: About Drug Testing at Trials  Participation in trials events is considered consent to a drug test  Apart from a positive result, all information collected as a result of these tests will be kept confidential 101

What You should know: About the Test Area  The USOC will have a separate and secure facility designated for drug testing  In general, the USOC brings all their own equipment  No one goes near the facility while competitors are present 102

Respect the Competitors  Don’t make jokes; do not try to make light of the situation  Watch what you say; this is a very sensitive time for athletes  Be respectful  No one likes to be tested for drugs, keep your thoughts and experiences to yourself 103

The Moral of the Story... eing tested for drugs is not something anyone, especially an elite athlete, takes lightly, and neither should you. Keep the security around the testing facility tight. Do not allow outside interference into this area. This facility is for drug testing only. 104