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NCAA Cross Country Umpire

2021-2022

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Cross Country Umpire & Marshal Experience

  • Brendan O’Leary
  • Ben Greenbaum
  • Enrique Henriquez
  • Ryan Cowley

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Best Practices

  • To assure an equitable and safe competition
  • Focus of Officials
    • Not be on uncovering infractions and disqualifying
    • But rather on facilitating competition between athletes
    • Keeping the playing field level
    • Preventing unfair advantages
  • You should know the rules
    • But should also know the difference between being an official
    • And being officious

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Best Practices (Role of the Umpire)

  • Remain Conscientious to their duties
  • Render an objective report of observations
  • Benefit of the doubt to the athlete
    • If you think it happened, it didn’t
    • If you know it happened, it did
  • Umpire’s motto Triple A: Be Awake, Be Aware, Be Alert
  • Only the referee can disqualify. The umpire’s job is to report.
  • Record violations but also “Runner Down” “Collisions” “Forced off”
    • Might be a focus of a protest

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Part III Cross Country Rule 20

  • Section 7 Article 2 Duties of Umpires

  • To detect and report, in writing without waiting for a protest, all apparent violations to the head umpire
  • In doing so they (the umpire) do not assume responsibility for disqualification
  • Only the referee can make a disqualification
  • Yellow flag may be used to indicate apparent violations and incidents of concern
    • Note in the absence of a cadre of umpires, notification of violations will be reported by cell phone to the head umpire for the WCC Championship

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Part III Cross Country Rule 22

  • Section 2, Article 2 Electronic Devices

  • Coaches, athletes, competitors and officials shall not use video or audio communication devices
    • Radio transmitters or receivers, mobile phones, smart watches, computers, unmanned aerial systems (drones) or any similar devices in the competition area
  • Except as authorized by the games committee for meet administration
    • Note: Authorization for cell phone use by officials has been granted by WCC

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Part III Cross Country Rule 21

  • Section 4 Legal Running

  • A competitor may run anywhere on the course at any pace or any change of pace as long as they do not use any body or arm action to impede another runner’s progress
  • A competitor may pass another runner legally on either the right or left side
  • A competitor may cut in front of another runner, provided that the overtaking runner has one full stride. This also applies to the curved line start

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Part III Cross Country Rule 21

  • Section 5 Running Violations

  • Jostles, cuts across or obstructs another competitor so as to flagrantly impede the other runner’s progress (direct contact is not necessary - any action that causes another runner to break stride or lose momentum is grounds for disqualification)
  • Cuts in front of another runner without proper clearance or at least one full stride on the curved line start
  • Veers to the right or to the left so as to flagrantly impede a challenging runner or forces the challenging runner to run a greater distance

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Part III Cross Country Rule 21

  • Section 5 Running Violations

  • Voluntarily leaves the course or clearly abandons the race, then returns to continue the race
  • Tries to force a way between two leading runners and makes direct contact so as to impede the progress of either
  • Gains a meaningful advantage by failing to complete the prescribed course that is defined by a legal marking system

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Part III Cross Country Rule 18

  • Section 3 Course Markings

  • The entire course shall be clearly marked using either natural or artificial boundary markers
  • The boundary markers shall be continuous throughout the entire length of the course clearly designating both the inside and outside boundaries
  • The course shall have kilometer and/or mile markings throughout the course
  • Only official markings are permissible on or near the course

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Part III Cross Country Rule 21

  • Section 5 Running Violations

  • Note: the referee, after consulting with the appropriate officials, shall not disqualify a competitor who is pushed or forced by another runner to briefly step off the course without material advantage gained

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Part III Cross Country Rule 20

  • Section 15 Marshal

  • Shall have full charge of all areas used for competition
  • Shall allow persons only with valid authorization to enter
    • And remain in the competition area during the race
  • Shall limit all persons from interfering with fair, orderly and sporting conduct of the race

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Part III Cross Country Rule 22

  • Section 2 Assistance and Electronic Devices Assistance
  • For the purpose of this rule, the following shall be considered assistance and therefore not allowed:

  • A competitor using any wireless electronic device during competition
  • Using any device or technology that provides the user with an unfair advantage over another athlete
  • Pacing in races by persons not participating in the same race
  • Pacing by lapped competitors or those about to be lapped
  • Pacesetting by any technical device that benefits the field

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Umpire Incident Report Form

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Part III Cross Country Rule 20

  • Section 7 Umpires Article 1 Duties of Head Umpire

  • Instruct umpires as to rules and violations (doing that now)
  • Place umpires where they can best judge possible violations
  • Position umpires at various points on the course to observe all areas
    • Specifically at points where confusion may occur
  • Secure and clarify from the umpires the facts of all apparent violations
  • Report all apparent violations and incidents of concern to the referee
  • Remind umpires of any procedure differences in meet specific “technical manual” (None for WCC)

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Newhall Community Park

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Newhall Community Park

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Race Day

  • Safety (Officials, Athletes & Spectators)
    • Anticipate & Preventative Officiating
  • Runner Down and Injuries
    • Protect and Get Help
  • Regular Official’s Uniform (Official’s Badge) (WCC Shirt Provided)
  • Equipment (Phone, Flag, Clip Board, Weather Writer & Pencil) (Raingear)(Stool/chair)(Water & Snacks)
  • Officials “Check In” 9 AM (Usually one hour before first race)
  • Documenting (Violations and Runners Down)
  • Communications (415) 518-4209 Brendan O’Leary

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Newhall Community Park - Concord, Calif.

         �The 2021 West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships will be held on Friday, October 29, 2021 at Newhall Community Park in Concord, Calif.��WCC CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULEWOMEN’S RACE (6K) – 10:00 AM PTMEN’S RACE (8K) – 11:00 AM PT