SEASON 2023��Radio Protocol & Techniques

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Prepared by

Laura and Mark Sullivan

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PowerPoint Presentation: “COVID-19 Best Practices Guidelines” must be reviewed at all U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Officials’ Clinics.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Local health authority restrictions may require ski area management to implement procedures to protect the wellbeing of their employees and guests.

These procedures may:

• vary from venue to venue, county to county, state to state
• impact event operations and programs
• must be relayed to all event officials, Team Captains, and competitors
• must – without question – be respected and observed

Radio Protocol & Techniques

Radios are crucial instruments important for communication and control during a ski race.

Successful use will enhance the event, providing a more productive and secure environment.

Mis-use can create delays, cause confusion, and result in frustration for all.

Radio Protocol & Techniques

There currently is no accepted standard radio protocol for all ski races as there is for aviators and emergency personnel.

Each ski resort typically has their own protocol, and it may deviate slightly or greatly from other ski resorts.

Reviewing, discussing, and establishing standard radio protocol for an event will enable the event to operate more efficiently and professionally.

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�Who gets a radio at an event?�

1. Radios must be provided to all Jury members as well as the Start and Finish Referees (Jury Advisors).
2. Radios must function on a single reserved frequency and be free of interference (601.4.8).
3. Communication MUST be available to and from patrol and/or medical personal – generally conducted by radio.
4. Protocol for requesting medical assistance must be reviewed by all parties; e.g., Jury, Jury Advisors, Connection Coaches, Ski Patrol, Chief of Course, etc.

�Who gets a radio at an event?

1. The Chief of Course can monitor the Jury channel.
2. The Course Crew does not monitor the Jury channel they operate on a separate radio channel.
3. Requests from the Jury to the Chief of Course and the Course Crew should be made through the Chief of Race.
4. Others that may benefit the race by having a radio are Spotters (Eyes of the Jury), the Connection Coach(es), Timing Personnel, and the Race Administrator.

Radio Protocol & Techniques �Before the Event:

1. Know the Rules �U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ALPINE COMPETITION GUIDE ACR �
• Who gets a radio? What metrics do these radios need to meet? 601.4.8�
• What are the commands/ protocol for speed events, yellow flag ? 705.5

Radio Protocol & Techniques �Before the Event:

When necessary to address critical situations

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• ANY Jury member,
• ANY Eyes of the Jury (Connection Coach) or
• ANY Jury Advisor (Start Referee or Finish Referee )

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MAY call a “Start, Stop”

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No other official is authorized to call a “Start Stop”! �

Failure to comply may result in a “radio walk-over”, effectively

impairing the Start Referee’s ability to receive the transmission

2. Identify… Who May Call “Start Stop”� or � “Start Stop/Yellow Flag”�

Radio Protocol & Techniques �Before the Event:

3. Review �The standard radio protocol with all race officials receiving radios. Clarity of speech and meaning is imperative for the Jury. Distribution of a written protocol is helpful.
4. Practice �“Start Stops” and “Course Clear” sequences so those unfamiliar with these routine radio calls know what to expect.

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5. Perform radio checks�It is your responsibility to ascertain that your radio is operating properly. Check to see if the radio both transmits and receives messages successfully.
• Is the radio turned on?
• Does the “PTT” (Push To Talk) button work?
• Check that the radio is assigned channel.
• Make sure that radio contact is available to and from medical personal.
• Check volume

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Radio Protocol & Techniques �Before the Event:

Radio Protocol & Techniques �Before the Event:

5. Perform radio checks (cont.)�
• Is antenna attached correctly and operational?�
• Is the battery fully charged? �
• Are there spare batteries? (This is critical for the Start Referee, or for officials in a remote location). Keep spare batteries warm! �
• Are there any known “dead” spots on the course or in the ski resort?

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Radio Operating Techniques

1. Transmit Button� Hold transmit button down for at least one second before you begin your message. This will ensure that the first part of your communication is not cut off. �
2. Repeater /PPT Button� If the resort uses a repeater system, you may have to hold� the “PTT” button slightly longer before you start to speak in order to avoid having the start of your transmission cut off.��Remember to release the “PTT” button after speaking!

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Radio Operating Techniques

3. Position� It is good practice to hold the face of the radio at a 45-degree angle to your face when speaking. Place radio opening roughly 2-3 inches from your mouth.
4. Volume control� Setting the volume at maximum capacity will drain the battery.
5. Battery life � Keeping the radio warm can extend the battery life.

�General Rules for Radio Use�

1. Do not � Use obscenities.
2. Never � Transmit personal or confidential information. Be aware there� are many ears listening.
3. Brevity is important! � Speak only when you have to and keep chatter to minimum. Five seconds is a good target.

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General Rules for Radio Use

3. Brevity is important! (cont.)

• Gather your thoughts before you speak
• Use plain language.
• Speak slowly and give every word equal force to carry through weak or static signals
• Pause after logical phrases
• Remember that miscommunication can result in situations that are not secure for participants

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General Rules for Radio Use

4. Listen

Grasp/understand the topic

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5. Clarity � Raising your voice in the microphone will not improve the clarity of the transmission on the receiving end.

6. Only one person can speak at a time.

7. Step on/walk over” � Do not try and break in on “another radio user.

8. Stay On your assigned channel!

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General Rules for Radio Use

9. Identify � Yourself and the person with whom you want to communicate at the beginning of a transmission. The recipient should respond to the communication.�

Example: Transmitter - “TD to Chief of Race”� Recipient - “Go for Chief of Race”  

10. Acknowledge instructions � If they are understood, with
1. “copy”,
2. “received” or
3. “acknowledge”

If instructions are not understood reply with

• “repeat”

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General Rules for Radio Use

11. Let the recipients know when you are done with your transmission: “Out” is appropriate.
12. A course hold should only be released by the person who requested the course hold!
13. Volume � - Keep volume at level appropriate for listening but not disturbing others.

- Volume control is especially important at the start area.

- Overheard radio communication can present an unfair advantages or cause distress for other athletes.

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Radio Protocol Suggestions

��If an area does not have an established radio protocol, here are some suggestions:

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The following suggestions/examples are intended for review and use as a working document. They are to be enhanced and revised in an effort to promote the clearest, most expedited communication for events.

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Radio Protocol Suggestions

�“Review Rules /Practice Commands”� Start Stop Commands and Yellow Flag

Rule: ACR 705.5 Commands�

On the command “start stop” or “start stop, yellow flag” the Start Referee must close the start. Start Referee must respond immediately via radio confirming that the start is closed, and state the start number of the last competitor to have started as well of the start number of the competitor held at the start (“start stop confirmed, number 23 on course, number 24 at the start”)

The Jury member who called the “start stop” is also responsible for requesting yellow flag (s) that are necessary to stop competitor (s) on course.

Radio Protocol Suggestions

Course Clear

Example �Note: “Course Clear” is often controlled by the Chief of Race or Start Referee. This depends on the officials’ level of experience.

• CR - “CR to the eyes of the Jury, clear the hill from the from the bottom up.”
• FR - “Finish Referee, clear”�
• RF - “Referee on coaches’ knoll, clear”
• TD - “TD, clear on Upper Peak”�
• SR - “Start Referee, clear”�

CR - “CR to Start and Timing, course is clear, send the first forerunner (or next racer on next interval if this was a long hold). Out” ��A long course hold generally requires a clear from the bottom up; a short one (gate/flag repair) may clear from that position.

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Radio Protocol Suggestions

Start Stop NO YELLOW FLAG

Example (slalom event)

• TD - “Start Stop”
• SR - “Copy, Start Stop confirmed, number 33 on course, number 34 at the start”
• TD - “This is the TD, racer 33 is a DNF, equipment blocking the course”
• SR - “Copy”
• TD - “Course clear, Start Start. ( or resume Start) Clear to send #34, out”
• SR - “ Copy, Start Start, racer 34 in gate
• SR - “Racer 34 on course, Out”

Note: �It is not necessary to have the Start Referee announce each bib number in �the gate unless the there is a change to the running order such as a rerun insertion.

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Radio Protocol Suggestions

Start Stop YELLOW FLAG ��(GS or Speed Event) �Start Stop, Yellow Flag�

• Review “Who” May Call “Start Stop "or “Start Stop/Yellow Flag”�

Jury Member/Eyes of Jury/Jury Advisor�

• Yellow Flag location (s)�� Identify Yellow Flag location(s) and or # (s). If an incident occurs it is important to clearly state the incident position and Yellow flag (location, or #) to avoid “Yellow Flagging "of an athlete below the incident site of the “Start Stop”�

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Other Necessary and Planned Interruptions:

Course Maintenance: Most course maintenance issues do not require a “Start Stop”. Depending on the type and level of event, a Jury may schedule course holds at regular intervals, e.g.: after first seed or set number of starts. An exception is if a broken gate or other material poses an inherent risk to competitors on the course.  Otherwise experienced race crew members can operate within the start interval.

When it is necessary to have a hold for an extended period of time for course maintenance, the Chief of Course or another Jury member can inform the Start Referee to interrupt the race to complete the task.  On fixed interval events, it is common to indicate the requested amount of time in terms of number of intervals - “We will need a 4 interval hold for maintenance.”

Timing Hold:  If required, a radio request for a timing hold is communicated by the Chief of Timing & Calculations to the Jury and the Start Referee.  It is further communicated by radio to Jury positions along the course and by voice communication to those in the start area.   If a hold is required to address critical situations, any Jury member or Jury Advisor may then call for a “Start Stop”.

Radio Protocol Suggestions

Start Stop YELLOW FLAG ��Example (GS or Speed Event) Includes Jury Member/Eyes Jury/Jury Advisor�

Radio Protocol Suggestions

Start Stop YELLOW FLAG (cont.)

Example (cont.)

Radio Protocol Suggestions

Start Stop YELLOW FLAG

Example (cont.)

Radio Protocol Suggestions

The following suggestions were prepared by

Ted Savage FIS TD (USA) #473

Suggested Radio Terminology

There is a big difference in the meaning of “GO” and “NO” but not much of a phonetic difference. Your choice of words could be confusing and cause a problem.

Here are a few suggestions in terminology that will help avoid misunderstanding.

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Radio Protocol Suggestions

Radio Protocol Suggestions

Radio Protocol Suggestions

Strict radio procedure is only a necessity when transmission conditions are difficult.

In most cases when contact is established and you have developed a rapport with your Jury member, you can dispense with the “over’s” and “do you read’s”.

It is however prudent to use specific, and pre-determined terminology in order to avoid any misunderstanding and to end all contacts with “out” so that others on the channel know you are finished transmitting.

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Radio Protocol & Techniques

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“Thank You, OUT”