Umpires Forum
November 2015
Overview
1. Boat positioning – Wes Kuran
2. Protests – Tom Blacquiere
3. Para-rowing equipment – Rebecca Orr Thomas
4. Skills regattas – Judy Sutcliffe
5. Open Mic – Judy & Tom
Boat Positioning
• Consider race lay out
• Where would you position your boat?
• Discuss at tables (5 minutes) and arrive at
conclusion
• Share with plenary group
• Repeat x3
Objection (1/2)
In the RCA Rules of Racing, there are two times
that a crew can lodge an objection:
10.8 Objections at the Start – relates to a crew
excluded or disqualified at the start.
10.14 Objections at the finish – relates to a crew
who feels that a race was not in order for a
variety of reasons (ie. interference, weather
conditions, swells, etc.…)
Objection (2/2)
• Umpires must make a decision and
communicate their decision to the crew.
• At the finish, the umpire will hold up a
•
•
Red flag if s/he is upholding a crew’s
objection or if a crew intends to protest an
umpire’s decision
White flag if s/he is denying the crew’s
objection and the crew does not intend to
protest the umpire’s decision.
*If the race is a final, the umpire should always
hold up the red flag
Protests (1/4)
• A protest occurs when a crew feels that an
umpire, in ruling on their objection, has not
properly considered/applied the rules of racing.
• A protest is not the infraction of the rule. It is
the disagreement with the ruling of the umpire
on the objection.
• That is why an umpire must rule on a crew’s
objection.
Protests (2/4)
• A protest can be lodged only if an objection
has been lodged on the water (except for
published results.)
• A protest can be brought for three reasons:
1) A crew whose objection has been rejected
2) Crews affected by the acceptance of the
objection
3) Crews disputing the published results
Protests (3/4)
Workshop Instructions:
• Consider written objection
• Chief Umpire appointed
• From table, Chief Umpire appoints:
• Board of the Jury
• Race umpire
• Athletes/crew and their coach
Protests (4/4)
• Role play the protest & hearing
• Board of Jury meets and decides
• “Athlete” reports for the table
• Describe protest
• Decision of Board, why, what Rule?
• What was done to restore chances of winning?
Para-rowing equipment
• Strapping
• Fixed seats
• Pontoons
• Umpire’s role
Skills Regatta
• Overview of skills events
• Back and lock
• Start and Emergency-stop
• Square blade rowing (10 strokes)
• Spin turn – 360 degrees
• Slalom
• Figure 8 turn
Back and Lock
Spin turn - 360
Slalom
Figure 8
Umpires’ Role in Skills Events
Umpires are not:
• Skill judges
• Timers
Umpires are:
• Concerned with safety and fairness
Roles performed
Control – check heel ties, IDs, bow ball, assign
bow numbers
Start – call crew into start with 5, 4, 3, 2, minutes,
“Attention”, “Go”
Emergency stop – Call stop and wave white flag
Direct crews to do other skills.
Review score sheets and check scoring for math
accuracy
Open Mic
• What do Umpires want more of, from
ROWONTARIO?
• What do Umpires want less of?
• What can ROWONTARIO do to help Umpires?
THANK YOU FOR COMING!