USRowing Referee Clinic USRowing Referee Clinic The Start Referee Commission, 2006

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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.

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission Overview of Start II Problem: broken equipment Problem: no shows Problem: broken stake boats Epilogue

Referee Commission Objective Ensure all races start under safe, fair, and timely conditions

Referee Commission Tools of the Starter: Skills A calm, clear, and deliberate voice Employ a calm, natural tone Remember: less is more in giving commands

Referee Commission Tools of the Starter: Materials An updated schedule An effective starter’s flag Horn or bell to stop races Radio or telephone

Referee Commission Tools of the Starter: Installation A stable platform from meters 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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”

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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 aligner’s white/green flag

Referee Commission 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.

Referee Commission Polling Start: III Three Part Start: CALLING CREWS TO ATTENTION RAISING THE START FLAG SAYING “GO” WHILE DROPPING THE START FLAG

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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”

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission The Countdown Start: I What is it: under less than ideal circumstances, you give crews 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

Referee Commission 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 start’s cadence beforehand: “This is a test....” Follow preludes as for Polled Starts Crews are not polled

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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

Referee Commission 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 Don’t delay once you have alignment

Referee Commission 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!