Structure of Speed Skating

Organizations

Course Content and Time

       Introduction Officiating Competitions Roles of Officials Knowledge and Performance requirements Certification of Officials Quiz / Questions and Answers

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

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

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

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

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….

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

The Competition

 Format and Tracks  Age Classes and Distances  Sanctions and Records

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

Age classes and distances

 Exhibition classes - Peewee - Bantam Competitive classes - Midget - Juvenile - Junior - Intermediate - Senior (A) - Masters 111 – 500m 222 – 666m 333 – 777m 500 – 1000m 500 – 1500m 500 – 3000m 500 – 3000m 500 – 1500m 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18+ 30+

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

CURRENT RULE:

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

Midget 10-11 on June 30th prior to the competition.

K21-100 A skater’s racing class shall be determined by his/her age on June 30 th prior to the competition. Juvenile 12-13 on June 30th prior to the competition.

Peewee Junior 14-15 on June 30th prior to the competition.

6-7 Bantam 8-9 Intermediate 16-17 on June 30th prior to the competition.

Senior 18 and over on June 30th prior to the competition.

Midget 10-11 Masters 30 30-34 on June 30th prior to the competition Juvenile 12-13 Junior 14-15 Masters 35 Masters 40 Masters 45 Masters 50 Master 55 Master 60 Master 65 Master 70 Master 75 Master 80 Master 85 35-39 on June 30th prior to the competition 40-44 on June 30th prior to the competition 45-49 on June 30th prior to the competition 50-54 on June 30th prior to the competition 55-59 on June 30th prior to the competition 60-64 on June 30th prior to the competition 65-69 on June 30th prior to the competition 70-74 on June 30th prior to the competition 75-79 on June 30th prior to the competition 80-84 on June 30th prior to the competition 85+ on June 30th prior to the competition Intermediate 16-17 Senior 18 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 1 Masters 2 30 and over 40 and over Masters 3 Masters 4 Masters 5 50 and over 60 and over 70 and over

Bidding for Competitions • ISU process • Speed Skating Canada • NWTASSA, AASSA

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

Officials

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

Meet Coordinator

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

The Clerk of the Course (cont.)

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

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

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

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”

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…

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)

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

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.

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

Officials Development Program Level One

 Aim  Knowledge requirements and standards  Performance standards  Certification  Currency requirements  Upgrade requirements

Certification of Officials

 Certification program  Program description  Maintenance of status

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

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.

Maintenance of Status

Level 1

Recorder

Technical Level 1 Clinic Practical •Assist 1 or more SSC sanctioned meets •Assist 1 or more non sanctioned meet Performance •Satisfactory evaluation by Chief •Branch approval and review 2

Recorder

Level II Clinic 1

Judge

/

Timer

Level I Clinic •Chief at

2

or more non sanctioned meets •Chief at

2

or more SSC sanctioned meets •Assist 1 or more SSC sanctioned meets •Assist 1 or more non sanctioned meet •Satisfactory evaluation from meet coordinator or sr. branch official •Branch approval and review •Satisfactory evaluation by Chief timer / Chief finish line judge •Review and approval from Branch

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

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….