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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 SCHEDULE�WOMEN’S RACE (6K) – 10:00 AM PT�MEN’S RACE (8K) – 11:00 AM PT�