1. Structure of Speed Skating Organizations

2. Course Content and Time Introduction Officiating Competitions Roles of Officials Knowledge and Performance requirements Certification of Officials Quiz / Questions and Answers

3. Welcome to Officiating A successful event depends upon - The Skaters - The Officials on Ice - The recording crew + others off ice Important for the Officials - Study and know the rules - Work together

4. Canadian Code of Ethics Complete knowledge of rules Honor commitments Set good example during course of competition Safety and general welfare Accept my duties and remember responsibilities Keep myself physically and mentally fit Refrain from intimidating coaches and players No dangerous actions Firm and fair decisions Instill respect Review work and improve standards Good working relations with all concerned

5. Welcome to Officiating Remember that…. Even the youngest skaters have goals Missing out on well-deserved recognition because errors on the part of officials is neither fun nor fair A personal best is often as important for young, novice or less talented skaters as a record for a champion

6. Welcome to Officiating Also…. Know your job Work together - Officials are a team Appreciate that The quality of the meet is more important then the amount of attention that officials are receiving Stay out of the spotlight Competitions are for Athletes

7. Officiating Role of Officials - Control and Supervision - Rules - Safety - Fairness and Opportunity - FUN … FUN … FUN Communicate, cooperate with, relate to - Athletes - Coaches - Other Officials - Parents, fans … etc….

8. Types of Competition Long Track: - Olympic Style (metric) - Mass Start (pack style) Short Track: - Age Class (elimination) - All-Points (participation) Marathon skating Tracks - 400 (333.3)M Olympic (double lane) - 400 (333.3)M Mass Start - 111.12M Short Track Oval

11. The Competition Format and Tracks Age Classes and Distances Sanctions and Records

12. Age classes and distances As of June 30 prior to meet Not recognized by SSC - Cradle no specified distances Provincial Classes - Insert class / distance appropriate to prov

13. Age classes and distances Exhibition classes - Peewee111 – 500m - Bantam222 – 666m Competitive classes - Midget333 – 777m10-11 - Juvenile500 – 1000m12-13 - Junior500 – 1500m14-15 - Intermediate500 – 3000m16-17 - Senior (A)500 – 3000m18+ - Masters500 – 1500m30+

14. P&R PAGE NO. / NO. DE PAGE DES P&R: K35 RULE NO. / RÈGLEMENT NO.: K21-100 SECTION HEADING / TITRE DE LA SECTION: Age Class PROPOSED AMENDMENT / AMENDEMENT PROPOSÉ : (exact wording desired / exactement dans les termes désirés) A skater's racing class shall be determined by his/her age on June 30 th prior to the competition. The skating season starts on July 1st of one calendar year and ends on June 30th of the succeeding calendar year. Class Midget10 ‑ 11 on June 30th prior to the competition. Juvenile12 ‑ 13 on June 30th prior to the competition. Junior14 ‑ 15 on June 30th prior to the competition. Intermediate16 ‑ 17 on June 30th prior to the competition. Senior18 and over on June 30th prior to the competition. Masters 3030-34 on June 30th prior to the competition Masters 3535-39 on June 30th prior to the competition Masters 4040-44 on June 30th prior to the competition Masters 4545-49 on June 30th prior to the competition Masters 5050-54 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 5555-59 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 6060-64 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 6565-69 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 7070-74 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 7575-79 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 8080-84 on June 30th prior to the competition Master 8585+ on June 30th prior to the competition CURRENT RULE: K21-100 A skater’s racing class shall be determined by his/her age on June 30 th prior to the competition. Peewee6-7 Bantam8-9 Midget10-11 Juvenile12-13 Junior14-15 Intermediate16-17 Senior18 and over Olympic Style Skating Junior – 18 and under on June 30 th prior to the competition Senior – 19 and over on June 30 th prior to the competition For further explanation see K3-102 Masters 130 and over Masters 240 and over Masters 350 and over Masters 460 and over Masters 5 70 and over

15. Bidding for Competitions ISU process Speed Skating Canada NWTASSA, AASSA

16. Sanctions Bid and Fee Rules - Meet format - Membership requirements athletes / officials - Track certification / Safety (padding. Skaters) - Announcing meet / reporting results Entitlements - Insurance - Records, SSC sponsorship - Officials’ upgrading

17. Officials Meet Coordinator Announcer Runners Recorders Referee Starter Lap Scorers Track Stewards Judges Timers Clerk of Course

18. Meet Coordinator Responsible to Association Referee Responsible for Total organization of the Meet All paper functions before, during, after the Meet Recorders

19. Coordinator- Before Meet Apply for sanction Get ice time (formula), mats …etc. Get and train officials Registration sheets (waiver) Forms, medals, clipboards, …etc. The night before… Supervise registration Make heats, program of events, list of skaters

20. Coordinator- During Meet Supervise set-up of facilities Call Coaches’ Meeting Make changes to program, heats Announce changes Supervise recorders Ensure paper flow Be there to resolve problems Keep Referee informed

21. Coordinator- After Meet Record applications (signatures) Accident reports Double-check awards / Attend ceremony Supervise clean-up Reports to Association Thank you notes… Problems One man show; get enough “assistants” Not communicating with Referee and other Officials

22. The Referee Responsible to the Association Responsible for all aspects of the meet Must be familiar with all rules Is the one who handles protests Is the final authority for all decisions

23. Powers of the Referee Disqualify and Advance Change program, heats, distances, venue Overrule other officials (exceptions) Remove other officials Schedule breaks, floods, …etc. The Referee has complete control of the entire competition

24. A few rules Disqualification Impeding, collision, crosstrack, slowing down Off track, kicking out, assistance, team skating Improper or missing equipment Conduct Serious fouls Missed races Advancement Prevented from qualifying No fault of his/her own

25. Referee (continue) Appeals and protests By coaches or skaters without a coach Not on racing rules (over interpretation, not judgement) Appeals: Immediately after race Protests: After appeal, before day’s end Pitfalls Indecision/Inconsistency Long arguments Concentrating attention on-ice

26. The Starter Responsible for - A fair Start - Starting Assistants Duties - Ensure functioning and safety of starting pistol - Brief and supervise assistant(s) - Final authority over Start

27. Pre-Start Procedure Call skaters to marshalling point (whistle) Verify start positions Ensure clear view of skaters Unobstructed view of timers Confirm timers and assistant ready Commence starting procedure

28. The Start Call “ Go to the Start” - Short Track: skaters to start line and dot - Long Track: skaters from pre-start line to start line Call “Ready” - Skaters taking starting position - ST: all still: fire pistol - LT: all still: wait 1-1.5 second: fire

29. Start Irregularities False Start - Break between “Ready” and shot - Intentionally slow taking Starting position - Skate over start line Restart - ST : Contact and fall before apex block - MS: Contact and fall in first 5M / 10M (> 200m) DQ on 2 nd false start

30. Chief Recorder Responsible to Meet Coordinator Responsible for - Recorders - The office and all the paperwork at the Meet General points - Must be isolated and protected - Must work quickly and accurately - Minimum 2 recorders, 4 is better - Office screw-ups always halt the Meet

31. Recorder: Preparation Fill registration sheets,…. Accurately! Assist checking entries, making heats, deciding advancement, attend coaches’ meeting Seeding: Max opportunity for best - Age class: by sex, time, club / prov. ranking - All-Points: by time, club / provincial ranking Special rules - Records only within sex and age class - No movement between classes

32. Recorder: During the competition Post and distribute heat sheets Compile, display, distribute race results Seed semis and finals. Post and distribute Compile final results, assign points (Display) - Points: age class, all-points - DQ: age class, all-points, Olympic style - Ties overall: SSC race-off if 3-way finish - Prepare Meet Protocol

33. Chief Timer Responsible to Referee Responsible for Timers Accurate timekeeping Accurate recording of times “Declaring” official times Flagging records, signing report Verifying and signing Record Application

34. General timing procedures Number of timers required SSC sanction: 10 + chief Provincial sanction: 7 + chief (usually) One digital electronic watch per timer Clear view of starter and entire finish line Advise chief immediately of any malfunction or error

35. Chief Timer’s Duties Assign timers to positions Check equipment (spare batteries) Call “Gun up!” Record times, declare official time, flag records, sign slip and record application Direct “Clear watches” Advise starter “Ready to proceed” Records SSC: three (3) watches Province: two (2) watches

36. Manual timekeeping Know your watch, try it out Use first joint of index finger to start/stop START watch on sight of flash/smoke Be alert for bell lap STOP watch when skate blade crosses the plane of the finish line

37. Official Times All times to faster 1/100 th 3 watches Unanimous time Time on 2 of 3 watches, or Time of the intermediate watch 2 watches Unanimous time, or Mean time 1 watch: actual reading

38. Special Procedures Mix of electronic and manual times Electronic times, and Manual times +.20 seconds Official time for second faster than first (place) Short track and Mass start Both skaters get official time of first place (slower time) Long track Olympic Style Second place time equals first place +.1 second/meter behind

39. Common timing errors Missing start or finish Inattention Getting involved in racing action Watch in wrong mode Watch not cleared Watch cleared too soon Thumb start/stops

40. Chief Place Judge Responsible to Referee Responsible for - Judges - Establish the order of finish (final authority) General procedures - Minimum of one judge for each position - Usual assignment 1, 1+2, 2+3, 3+4, 4+5 …etc. - Must have unimpeded view of entire finish line

41. Place Judging Chief Judge’s duties - Assign judges to positions - Confirm event number on Judge’s and Timer’s slips - Record position against skater - Watch for DQ before releasing runner Judging Technique - Get familiar with skater’s features - Concentrate during race - Observe blade crossing finish / relate to - Call out number when asked by Chief Judge

42. The Clerk of the Course Responsible to the Referee and Coordinator Responsible for Marshalling skaters Drawing starting places (if not done in office) Changing heats (shared with coordinator). Referee must always be advised/consulted.

43. The Clerk of the Course (cont.) Duties Marshall 3-4 races ahead or 1 category ahead (rope off area), be careful outdoors Ensure proper equipment (includes armbands in Long Track Olympic Style and Short Track pursuits) Draw lots or advise skaters of starting position Problems Disorganized

44. Who is the Clerk? The Clerk of the Course is the only Competitor’s Steward. He/she is a major official It takes a special person to do this job effectively A poor Clerk can turn any meet into a nightmare for everyone

45. Lap Scorer(s) Responsible to Referee Responsible for Keeping track of laps skated by each skater Advising each skater of laps remaining “Scoring” laps in writing when required Ringing “Bell Lap” for first skater of heat Advising Referee re: “distanced” skaters Short Track Long Track Mass Start

46. Lap Scorer(s) (cont.) Duties ISU = Show card (in order) to each skater (advise verbally if unable); SCC = show and call lap number. Sharp ringing as first skater of heat approaches last lap During relays, advise starter when lead team has 3 laps remaining Errors Indecision (lack of concentration) Lack of forcefulness Forget ringing of “Bell Lap”

47. Track Stewards Responsible to Referee Responsible for Maintaining the track Assisting with ice maintenance Other duties as assigned by Referee Specific duties Replace markers Move track (coordinate) Make repairs/maintain track (water, squeegee…) Stripped corners…

48. Track Stewards (cont.) Attributes Must be on skates Must be proficient/confident skater Must be fit Pitfalls Straying on the track Interfering with referees’ movement Hazards Prolonged immobility (frostbite) Inattention (especially Long Track)

49. The Announcer Responsible to the Meet Coordinator Duties - Introduce skaters - Announce program and any changes - Sell the sport - Beware of “hot commentary” A good announcer makes a real difference

50. Other officials Runners - Run errands for Meet Coordinator + One-way distribution - Office to Clerk, Announcer and Display Board + Two-way distribution - Office to Chief Judge, Chief Timer and return Ice maintenance Official luncheon Reception Etc.

51. Officials Development Program Levels of knowledge 1. Aquaintance 2. Familiarity 3. Understanding 4. Mastery Levels of performance - Level 0 - Level 1 - Level 2 - Level 3 - Level 4

52. Officials Development Program Level One Aim Knowledge requirements and standards Performance standards Certification Currency requirements Upgrade requirements

53. Certification of Officials Certification program Program description Maintenance of status

54. Officials Certification Program Controlled by Speed Skating Canada Set “minimum” standard Three phase program - Theory (clinic) - Training (minimum experience) - Evaluation (by senior official) Application tailored to position

55. Levels of Officials Level 1 - Club Official - Certified by Provincial Branch Level 2 - Provincial Level Chief Official - Certified by Provincial Branch Level 3 - National Level Official - Certified by Speed Skating Canada - Specialization short/long track possible - Sub levels for some positions Level 4-5 - World Level Official - Certified by I.S.U.

56. Maintenance of Status LevelTechnicalPracticalPerformance 1 Recorder Level 1 ClinicAssist 1 or more SSC sanctioned meets Assist 1 or more non- sanctioned meet Satisfactory evaluation by Chief Branch approval and review 2 Recorder Level II ClinicChief at 2 or more non- sanctioned meets Chief at 2 or more SSC sanctioned meets Satisfactory evaluation from meet coordinator or sr. branch official Branch approval and review 1 Judge / Timer Level I ClinicAssist 1 or more SSC sanctioned meets Assist 1 or more non- sanctioned meet Satisfactory evaluation by Chief timer / Chief finish line judge Review and approval from Branch

57. Maintenance of Status Updated list of accredited Canadian Officials are contained in SSC (red) manual Official must continue to remain active Officials Bulletin (annually) www.speedskating.ca - Officiating - On-line resources

58. Officials: Conclusion Officials are necessary at all meets Officiating is fun yet demanding Officials must communicate - with each other - with coaches, skaters and fans Poor officiating ruins everyone’s day Go out, officiate, do your job and enjoy….