[July 1, 1996]
1. The mission of the corps of USRowing Judge-Referees is to serve the Sport of Rowing by protecting and advancing the highest standards of safety, fairness and ethical conduct within the rowing community.
2. The function of the Judge-Referee Committee is to promote the goals of safety, fairness and ethical conduct by:
a. Training, licensing, relicensing, and reviewing, the corps of USRowing Judge-Referees;
b. Through officials that it licenses, administering the enforcement of the Rules of Rowing at regattas that adopt those Rules, including USRowing registered regattas;
c. Advising the Board of Directors on matters related to safety, fairness, and ethical conduct within the rowing community, and in particular periodically reviewing the Rules of Rowing and make recommendations for changes to the Board of Directors;
d. Devising and implementing a plan for the recruitment and training of new judge-referees; e. Devising and implementing a plan for the continuing education and retention judge-referees;
f. Serving as a role model for excellence in umpiring, and in the efficient administration of our sport;
g. Identifying, developing and nominating candidates to sit for the FISA umpire's examination, nominating American umpires to officiate at international regattas, and maintaining relations with the FISA Umpiring Commission on matters related to officiating;
h. Taking such other initiatives, or make such recommendations, as are appropriate to advance the quality of umpiring in rowing, or to enhance the standards of safety, fairness and ethical conduct within the rowing community;
i. Assuming a leadership role in advancing the quality of umpiring throughout the world.
The foregoing mission and functions of the Judge-Referee Corps and the Judge-Referee Committee were approved by the Board of Directors on October 2, 1993. In fulfilling its goals, the Judge-Referee Committee has adopted the following standing procedures and criteria:
3. It has long been the tradition in Rowing that officials maintain amateur standing on the same level as competitors. The Committee therefore requires that officials not derive direct gain or profit from their officiating activities. On the other hand, the USRowing Board of Directors has established a goal that referees be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses (travel, housing, food), and the Committee will consult with regatta organizing committees to encourage fulfillment of that goal.
4. All decisions regarding licensure, promotion, retention, or assignment of USRowing officials shall be made without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, religion, political partisanship, sexual orientation, or national origin. Such decisions shall also be made without regard to handicap or disability except to the extent that absence of such handicap or disability is a bona fide qualification to act as an official.
5. To sit for the Assistant Judge-Referee examination, a candidate must be 21 years of age, or else be a college senior and a participant in a college or university intercollegiate rowing program.
6. A USRowing official must have normal sight, hearing and mobility, sufficient to sustain routine daily activities.
7. A USRowing official must be able to show proof of swimming ability (1996 USRowing requirements is to be able to swim 200 yards).
8. All USRowing official must maintain USRowing membership. Lapse of membership results in lapse of license. A USRowing official who fails to renew a lapsed membership within 30 days of notice from the Committee may be required to take the Assistant Judge-Referee or Judge-Referee examination again.
9. The following rank structure has been established for USRowing official s:
Additionally the following lateral endorsements have been established:
10. As of March 16, 1996, the list of those authorized to administer Judge-Referee clinics is as follows:
MIDATLANTIC REGION
MIDWEST REGION
NORTHEAST REGION
NORTHWEST REGION
SOUTHEAST REGION
SOUTHWEST REGION
11. The Candidate position introduces and exposes an person interested in becoming a USRowing official to the roles and responsibilities of a USRowing official.
12. To be eligible to sit for the Assistant Judge-Referee examination, a Candidate must meet the basic standards for licensure.
13. The Candidate must attend a Judge-Referee clinic covering the Rules of Rowing. The Candidate must be able to certify observations at the following positions, and must demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the following positions:
14. Under the conditions outlined herein, Candidates may perform certain functions normally assigned to USRowing officials. In these circumstances, Candidates must be approved and assigned to Judge-Referees by the Chief Referee of the regatta for which the observer wishes to work. A Candidate may act as a Judge at the finish under the supervision of the Chief Judge. A Candidate may act as Aligner under the supervision of the Judge at Start. The Candidates understands that he may be removed from the Referee duties at the discretion of either the Chief Referee or the fully licensed Referee he has been assigned to at any time. Candidates MAY NOT act in the capacity of Starter, Judge at Start, Chief Judge, a member of the Jury, or as a single Referee following a race. This can not be waived (Rules of Rowing 2-104(b)).
15. The Assistant Judge-Referee Examination for promotion to Assistant Judge-Referee will be a written examination covering the Rules of Rowing.
16. Current Judge-Referee Committee members and Judge-Referees designated by a Judge-Referee Committee member shall be authorized to administer the Assistant Judge-Referee Examination and license a candidate as an Assistant Judge-Referee who has met the standards described above. Designations shall be for a one time administration of the examination. Assistant Judge-Referee examinations will be offered periodically as needed through out the regions.
17. The Assistant Judge-Referee position is intended to provide on-the-job training under the guidance and instruction of more experienced officials. The training period is a 24 to 48 month period where the Assistant Judge-Referee develops increasing competencies in officiating. As the Judge-Assistant Referee's abilities increase they will be given increased responsibility.
18. The Assistant Judge-Referee is required to:
a. Be exposed to the following 6 positions the minimum of the number of times indicated for each. A evaluation form must be completed each time one of the positions is worked.
b. Work a minimum of 4 regattas per year.
c. Work a minimum of 14 regattas before sitting for the Judge-Referee Examination. Minimally 12 of these must be sprint races and 2 must be head races.
d. Work 2 regattas from the list of regattas found under Maintaining Licensure.
e. Work 2 regattas that are held at least 100 miles from the Assistant Judge-Referee's home area.
f. By 10/31 every year submit a Judge-Referee Data form to the Judge-Referee Committee Secretary. This form should indicate all of the regattas and clinics attended from 10/1 the previous year through 9/30 of the current year.
19. After meeting the above requirements, the Assistant Judge-Referee will take the Judge-Referee test. This examination will be a practical test conducted by a three person panel based upon a prepared script. An Assistant Judge-Referee will be allowed to sit for this examination twice. Once an Assistant Judge-Referee has successfully passed the Judge-Referee examination she/he will become a Judge-Referee.
20. The three person panel for the administration of a particular Judge-Referee examination will be appointed by the regional representative from a pool of Judge-Referees established for that region. Examiners in this pool are elected by a ballot sent to all of the Assistant Judge-Referee, Judge-Referees, and Judge-Referee Emeritus officials in the region. The ballots shall contain a list of all of the Judge-Referees in their appropriate region. The term of the examiner pools will be two years to coincide with the term of office of Judge-Referee Committee members. The size of the pools for each region is as follows:
21. In order to maintain a basic level of competency and the Judge-Referee license, the Judge-Referee must meet the following requirements:
a. Work a minimum of 4 regattas per year. A waiver for this requirement may be granted by the Judge-Referee Committee.
b. Within a 2 year period, an official can not work solely at a single racecourse, but must officiate at a minimum of 2 different racecourses within any 2 year time period.
c. Effective 7/1/98, work a minimum of 1 of the following regattas outside a Judge-Referee's home region every other year.
d. Attend a clinic every year.
e. By 10/31 every year submit a Judge-Referee Data form to the Judge-Referee Committee Secretary. This form should indicate all of the regattas and clinics attended from 10/1 the previous year through 9/30 of the current year.
f. Participate in an annual evaluation program. The objective of this annual evaluation is to provide the USRowing official with feedback regarding strengths and weaknesses, including ideas for continued education and improvement. (This annual evaluation program is still being developed by the Education sub-committee headed by John Quinn. The program will be implemented in 1997.)
g. Every fourth year participate in a recertification examination. (The first recertification examination will be given no later than 1999.)
22. Should a USRowing official not meet the above criteria to maintain a USRowing official license, then after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard, the USRowing official 's license will be revoked.
23. A USRowing official who reaches the age of 65 shall be considered to have retired unless his or her license is specifically extended by the Judge-Referee Committee. Such extensions shall be on a year to year basis based upon the USRowing official 's ability to perform at the level of competence expected of a USRowing official .
24. A USRowing official who has reached the age of retirement, and who has devoted distinguished lifetime service to officiating in rowing, may be awarded the title of Judge-Referee Emeritus. Judge-Referee Emeritus may accept assignments as race officials at the discretion of the Chief Referee of the regatta. They may accept other assignments, including that of Chief Referee, with the permission of the Judge-Referee Committee.
25. Beginning in 1995, the Judge-Referee Committee implemented the FISA Candidacy Requirements which will be used as the basis to consider nominating a Judge-Referee to take the FISA umpire's examination. The Judge-Referee Committee will assign a current or emeritus FISA umpire to act as a mentor to individuals who identify themselves to the Judge-Referee Committee as being interested in pursuing a FISA umpire license.
26. When performing official duties, USRowing official should be attired in an approved uniform. For land functions and, when weather permits, for on-the-water work, this consists of a blue blazer with approved patch, blue dress shirt with tie or blue polo shirt with approved design, khaki pants, and approved hat (optional). (A blue, white, or khaki hat may be worn.) In warm weather, blazers may be dispensed with at the discretion of the Chief Referee. In extremely hot weather, the Chief Referee may authorize khaki shorts.
27. Use of USRowing insignia at non-registered regattas is permitted, although it should be understood that the presence of USRowing officials does not automatically imply that USRowing has sanctioned the event.
28. USRowing officials should avoid even the appearance of impropriety, and therefore the use of alcoholic beverage at a regatta while still performing officiating duties is strictly prohibited. It is permissible to join in regatta social functions after duties as a USRowing official have been concluded for the day. Immoderate use of alcohol or use of controlled dangerous drugs is always prohibited.
29. The presence of a crew from an USRowing official's own rowing club does not automatically disqualify a USRowing official from officiating in a race, but the official should use good judgment in avoiding the appearance of partiality in cases where he or she is particularly identified with competitors in a crew (such as being a coach of the crew). USRowing officials should not be put in positions where they must exercise judgment involving crews in which close family members are participating.
30. If the Judge-Referee Committee receives a written complaint about a USRowing official, whether from competitor, coach, other official, or otherwise, it shall investigate the matter unless the complaint is facially frivolous, absurd, or baseless. The Judge-Referee Committee may also initiate an investigation on its own authority. The Chair will appoint a member of the Judge-Referee Committee to lead the investigation. If the complaint results in any investigation, the subject will be informed, given copies of all evidence received, and given the opportunity to respond. The matter will then be referred to a subcommittee or the full Judge-Referee Committee for action. Should the investigation lead to adverse action against the official (demotion, suspension, dismissal, probation with conditions, etc.), the official has recourse under the USRowing Grievance Procedure.
31. The Chief Referees of all national level regattas (national championships and national team trials) are appointed directly by the full Judge-Referee Committee. These appointments are typically made at the December meeting preceding each competitive season.
32. The task of appointing the Chief Referee for each regional championship regatta is delegated by the Judge-Referee Committee to the regionally elected Judge-Referee Committee member.
33. The Chief Referees of all other regattas are nominated by the local organizing committee and identified on the registered regatta application form. So long as the person nominated has a Judge-Referee license, the Judge-Referee Committee's approval is assumed unless further action is taken. Copies of registered regatta applications, including the name of the Chief Referee, are forwarded as a matter of routine by USRowing Headquarters to the regional representative on the Judge-Referee Committee. The regional representative may raise any concerns about appointments of Chief Referees with other Judge-Referee Committee members, and may ask for full Judge-Referee Committee review of the appointment.
34. Appointments of all other USRowing official at a regatta are made by the Chief Referee, subject to such rules and guidelines as the Judge-Referee Committee may make.
35. For all national championships, the Judge-Referee Committee circulates a form to all USRowing officials at the beginning of each year, through which they may indicate their interest in officiating at these regattas. These forms are then distributed to the respective Chief Referees for their review. For all other regattas, the task of soliciting officials rests primarily on the Chief Referee and the regatta organizing committee. The Judge-Referee Committee typically acts as an informational resource, however, and may informally provide guidance on appointments. For trials, the Judge-Referee Committee's Trials Subcommittee supervises selection of officials.
36. Beginning in 1992, the Judge-Referee Committee has implemented a procedure whereby a certain number of Judge-Referees in each region are designated each year by regional nominating panels to attend national level regattas. This procedure was adopted to encourage diversity of representation, and so that Judge-Referees who are well regarded by peers in their region are identified and given the opportunity to work at national regattas.
37. The Judge-Referee Committee has expressed concern about the tendency of more experienced and recognized USRowing officials to be assigned to the more prominent positions to the exclusion of other capable officials. Senior USRowing officials are valuable not only in the execution of "line" functions, but also in the performance of a "teaching" function. Where possible at larger regattas, Chief Referees should be encouraged to use senior officials as supervisors, or "deputy Chief Referees." This would allow others to occupy line functions, and would also free the Chief Referee from constant attention to the immediate concerns of the regatta. Similarly, the custom of assigning only one person to be Starter at larger regattas should not be continued.
38. FISA umpires from other countries may be used at USRowing regattas as if they were USRowing officials. In cooperation with the Referees Committee of CARA, any person who holds a Referee's License within the meaning of Article 58 of the Rules of Racing of the Canadian Amateur Rowing Association (Rowing Canada Aviron) shall be deemed equivalent to a licensed Judge-Referee of USRowing, and Chief Referees are authorized to assign such persons to officiating duties at any USRowing registered regatta. The Chief Referee shall assure himself that the Canadian referee is well acquainted with any differences in rules, customs and practices under USRowing Rules of Rowing.
39. Races run under Open Water Rules (Rules of Rowing, Art. IX), shall be under the supervision of a Chief Referee designated as an Open Water Official. Judge-Referee, Assistant Judge-Referees, or Judge-Referee Emeritus shall not act as Chief Referee unless also specifically licensed as an Open Water Official, but they may act in capacities other than Chief Referee.
40. Meetings of the Judge-Referee Committee shall be open to the public, except when (1) discussion involves the individual status of referees, such as promotion, demotion, awards, or discipline, or (2) the Judge-Referee Committee otherwise moves into executive session by a vote of a majority of members voting.
41. Votes shall normally be taken by voice vote. Except for votes dealing with the individual status of USRowing officials, or the election of Judge-Referee Committee officers, any member may demand that a roll call vote be taken. In the case of votes on the individual status of USRowing officials, or the election of Judge-Referee Committee officers, any member may demand that a secret ballot be taken.
42. In selecting the annual recipient of the Julian Wolf Award for Outstanding Performance, the Chair of the Judge-Referee Committee will appoint a sub-committee of the five most recent Julian Wolf Award winners who are not current members of the Judge-Referee Committee. This sub-committee will select the recipient of the Julian Wolf Award. In determining the annual recipient of the Jack Franklin Award for Outstanding Lifetime Service, a vote is held among Judge-Referee Committee members, but the Committee reserves the option not to bestow the award in any given year. The call for nominees for both awards will be made annually on or before September 1 with a final decision made by October 15. Nominees will be solicited from the entire USRowing official corps. Both awards will normally be awarded to an individual only once.
43. Minutes of Judge-Referee Committee meetings shall be taken by the Secretary and sent to all Judge-Referee Committee members as soon as practical thereafter. If no member raises objections to the minutes within ten working days of being sent, the member is presumed to have voted that they be approved. Minutes are not official, and shall not be made public, until approved.
44. The Judge-Referee Committee may utilize electronic mail (e-mail) to vote on matters that occur between meetings of the Committee. The Judge-Referee Committee will normally dispose of motions for action by e-mail on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. Any member of the Judge-Referee Committee who wishes to list a motion for disposition must e-mail the full text of the motion to the other members of the Judge-Referee Committee by the Friday preceding the disposition date (i.e. the first or third Friday of the month). Discussion and debate regarding the motions that are listed for disposition will take place in the intervening time between the motion and the disposition dates. On or before the Friday disposition date, members shall submit their votes to the Secretary by 5:00 PM prevailing time of the time zone of the Secretary's residence (currently Pacific time zone). The Secretary will publish the results of the vote as soon as practicable thereafter. In emergent matters the e-mail process maybe expedited if two thirds (6 members) of the Judge-Referee Committee agree to the expedited process as indicated in their vote on the motion.
45. Don Langford: The Chairman conducts Judge-Referee Committee meetings, appoints subcommittees, and acts as principal liaison with USRowing Headquarters, FISA, and the Board.
46. Ron Chen: Vice Chairman assists the Chairman in his/her duties and takes a leadership role in defining Judge-Referee Committee activity with respect to domestic event (such as national championships) and acts as liaison with USRowing Regatta Relations.
47. Kris Grudt: The Secretary keeps minutes of the Judge-Referee Committee meetings, and coordinates communications within the Judge-Referee Committee and within the USRowing official corps. He also maintains the official records and database for the Judge-Referee Committee.
48. Tom Fuller: The Treasurer prepares Judge-Referee Committee budget for recommendation by the Judge-Referee Committee for the approval of the USRowing Board, keeps track of current budget status, and reports to the Judge-Referee Committee on fiscal matters.
49. Regional Representatives: John Quinn (NE) James Kelly (MA) Marty Wiener (SE) Don Craig (MW) Tom Fuller (NW) Joan Sholl (SW) coordinate USRowing official activities within their respective regions, and make recommendations to the Judge-Referee Committee on status changes (promotion, warning letters, etc.).
50. In addition, the Judge-Referee Committee has established working groups, headed by a Judge-Referee Committee member, along with other USRowing officials, to perform some of the preliminary work on Judge-Referee Committee projects: