Annual USAC Officials UpdateFeb 5, 2012

Live and Webinar from Christopher Newport University,

Newport News, VA

Update Organization

• New rules for 2012

• Policy on official assignments

• Policy on number of officials for races

• VA Cycling assignment procedure

• How to upgrade (B modules)

• VA Cycling Equipment

• Free lap rule

Important Rule Changes for 2012

• 1A30: Riders with a chronological age of 6 up to a racing age of 9 are classified as youth riders and may now take out annual licenses

• 1A42: A youth race must be held on a closed course with a circuit length no greater than 5 Km

Important Rule Changes for 2012

1D2: The participation rule for upgrading from cat 5 to 4 has been rewritten to specify that riders must finish 10 races rather than just start them. Also, the upgrade credit for taking clinics has been clarified. USA Cycling Sanctioned and approved rider education clinics (at least half day), will count as three qualifying races for category 5 to 4 upgrades up to a maximum of 5 qualifying races. It will also count as 3 upgrade points for a category 4 to 3 upgrade. Riders upgrading to cat 4 will receive two race days credit for participating in a mentored-race experience, where the mentor is at least a cat 3 rider and has been approved by the local association.

Important Rule Changes for 2012

1F1(b): This rule has been deleted. Officials assignment guidelines are now published separately online as USA Cycling Policy IV.

Whenever practicable, the assignment of duties shall be rotated between equally qualified officials. Officials from outside the vicinity of the event may be selected whenever the appointing authority deems it is in the interest of USA Cycling.

Important Rule Changes for 2012

1M1: The definition of massed-start bicycle has been expanded

(g) A massed-start bicycle is a road or track bicycle that is legal in all events within the road or track discipline, rather than a bicycle that is restricted to particular events. Handlebars for massed-start bicycles may not have forearm supports nor handlebar extensions or attachments that point forward.

Important Rule Changes for 2012

• 1M7: Beginning in 2012, riders 12 and under are restricted to massed-start bicycles in all events. In 2013, this rule will also apply to the 13-14 year old class.

Important Rule Changes for 2012

1Q6(d): New, stronger language has been added regarding striking a race official that includes the possibility of a lifetime suspension

USAC policy on officials assignments

• Officials Assignments• National Technical Commission (NTC) assigns

all of the positions for the UCI races and most of the positions for the National Championships.

• For the NRC races, the NTC assigns the Chief Referee and Chief Judge, and then the Regional Technical Commissions (RTC) assigns other positions, followed by the local associations filling out the crews.

Officials assignments (cont.)

• For races where the local association (LA) is assigning the crew, officials should be assigned from within the LA.

• Obviously some of our races may be closer to MABRA and some MABRA races may be closer to officials in VA; likewise with NC officials so there will be some exceptions to the rule- point is to use the closest qualified officials

New policy adopted by the NERTC

The definition of "LA pool of officials" in the Northeast Region shall be:

1. All officials who reside in the LA’s geographic boundaries.

 2. Any official, regardless of LA, who resides within 100 miles of a race location.

Officials assignments (cont.)• Extra officials assigned as apprentices.

• These officials will incur no cost to the race organization, but compensated from the LA, the RTC, or even the NTC in the form of reimbursement as part of the mentoring program.

New Officials New Policy

Beginning in 2012, new officials will be expected to work as apprentices at three events prior to being put on the official crew. However, the three mentored experiences do count for their B upgrade if they accomplish various tasks on the B modules.

Officials assignments (cont.)• Nepotism/Patronage

Assigning officials who are relatives (nepotism) and/or close groups of friends (patronage)

• Obviously we have some couples who are excellent officials and may be assigned to the same race

• To avoid any appearance of nepotism/patronage LA officials’ rep will be assigning ALL officials for races this year

Policy on number of officials for races

• These are guidelines but significant variations must be approved by the RTC

• Idea is to have a consistent policy across the country

• Promoters know exactly what to expect

Policy on number of officials for races

Guidelines for Criterium Officials Assignments

Estimated racers <500 <1000

Number race starts 5 7

Chief Ref 1 1

Chief Judge 1 1

Asst Judges 1 2

Pit judge 1 1

Motor ref 0-1 0-1

Apprentices 0-2 0-2

Total crew 4-7 6-8

Policy on # of officials for racesGuidelines for Road Officials Assignments

Estimated racers <50 <200 <500

Number races on course

2 3 5

Chief Ref 1 1 1

Chief Judge 1 1 1

Asst Ref* 1 1-2 1-4

Asst Judge 0 0 1

Motor ref* 0-1 0-2 0-4

Apprentices 0-2 0-2 0-2

Total crew 3-5 3-8 4-13

* the # of referees + motor cycle officials should be ≥ number of events on the road at the same time

VA Cycling assignment procedure

USE THE USAC-OFFICIALS WEBSITE

http://www.usac-officials.org

Indicate your availability

How to upgrade to B

• No more “B” clinics

• Upgrade is through a “module” system

• Series of modules, most required, some are elective

• Full story at

https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=4726

Advantages of module system

• The official controls their own pace of advancement• A lack of a clinic in an area will not be a hindrance• The process will make for a much better official• The checks will make sure that the official has learned

the material and has the practical experience to upgrade.• Through this process, the official will be in close contact

with a member of the USA Cycling Technical Commission, as well as the on-site Chief Referee, who will be able to give valuable mentoring and evaluation to the official.

Module System• You work under the supervision of more

experienced officials• More and more responsibility as you

progress• Modules start with basics and progress• The last modules will have you ready to be

a CR• Let me know if you wish to get into some

higher level races to gain experience

Upgrade requirementsSuccessfully complete the ten required modules:

Module 0  Customer ServiceModule 1 (Assistant Judge 1) – Judging and ScoringModule 2 (Assistant Timer 1 ) – TimingModule 5 (Assistant Referee/Pit) – Working a pit at a CriteriumModule 6 (Assistant Referee/Crit) – Working as an assistant referee at a CriteriumModule 8 (Assistant Referee/TT) – Working a TT as a stager/whip/holderModule 10 (Registrar) – Working a race as a registrarModule 12 (Chief Referee 1) – Pre race preparationModule 13 (Chief Referee 2) – Managing the bicycle raceModule 14 (Chief Referee 3) – Post event paperwork

Upgrade req.s (cont)also complete two of the following optional modules:

• Module 3 (Assistant Judge 2) – judging omniums and stage races

• Module 4 (Assistant Timer 2) – Timing stage races

• Module 7 (Assistant Referee Vehicle) – Working races from a follow car

• Module 9 (TT Starter) – Acting as starter for a TT

• Module 11 (Radio) – Using proper radio protocol

What is a module?• Introductory material that explains the goals of

the module and any prerequisites, including required reading

• A module pre-test that you will complete and turn in to a designated official, normally a member of the Regional Technical Commission or other high ranking official designated by them.

• The observed practical tasks of the material that you perform to pass the module.

• A check off sheet where the tasks can be documented by the Chief Referee of the race(s) where you complete the module

How to get started

• Contact me (Ruth Stornetta) rs3j@virginia.edu (434-295-4716)

• Ed Daily (PA) 610-283-9900 (Head of our Regional Tech Commission) ed@surplusrack.com

Free Lap Review

• Available when:

• Leaders are more than 8 Km from the finish

• Racer has crashed

• An essential piece of equipment has broken

• NOTE: Adjustment error or failure to adjust does not count

Free Lap Review

Available when (cont.):

• The racer has reported to the pit

• The pit official has reviewed the facts and permits the free lap.

Free Lap Review

Examples

• Flat tire - OK

• Broken spoke - OK

• Broken chain - OK

• Post crash damage of any kind – OK

• Dropped chain – Rarely OK

• Loose seat post or handlebar - No

Free Lap Review

Examples (cont.)

• Rolled tire – No

• Flat tire changed before arriving at the pit - No

Free Lap Review

Other Considerations

• Fast, fair, consistent decisions

• When in doubt (more info required) get the racer back out. Free lap can be awarded while the rider is back in the race.

• Make sure the rider knows his/her status before leaving the pit. Undecided pending more info is a valid status

Free lap example #1

Typical 1 km crit course. Prime bell rings with 8 laps to go. Big crash on back side of course. Riders start coming into the pit.

Rider has a rolled tire as a result of going down in the crash.

Does the rider get a free lap?a) Yesb) No

Free lap example #2

You are working the pit at a big NRC race. Rider comes into the pit with 30 laps to go with a “soft tire”. Team manager comes over and immediately wants the wheel.

Do you:a) Put the rider back in the race and give the wheel to the manager.

Give your report to the CJ at the end of the race.b) Check to see if the tire is really flat before putting the rider back in

the race, then hand the wheel over to the manager. Give your report to the CJ at the end of the race.

c) Put the rider back into the race, then pump up the tire to see if it’s really flat and refuse to give the wheel back to the manager until the race is over. Give your report to the CJ at the end of the race.

Free lap example #3

Big crash on the backside of the course in the first 2 laps so you cannot see who actually went down

Ride comes to the pit with no apparent damage to either body or bike and claims he was “mixed up” in the crash

Do you:a) Put the rider back in the race with no questions askedb) Put the rider back in the race telling him “you may get a

free lap pending further info” then ask the motor ref for his report

c) Tell the rider he doesn’t get a free lap because he doesn’t appear injured and he has to chase

Free lap example #4

Rider comes into the pit halfway through the race with his computer dangling by it’s wire and wants a free lap to fix it

Does he get a free lap?

a) Yes

b) No

Free lap example #5

Rider has a flat on the back side of the course and desperately asks the crowd for a wheel. One of his buddies is standing there with a wheel and gives it to him. Rider comes into the pit and wants a free lap because he had a flat.

Free lap?a) Yesb) No