A
1
Chief Official
2
Overview:
3
The Chief Official’s job is to oversee the whole event. This person has a significant amount of experience and training in the canoe and kayak industry and is your go to person for any questions. If you are participating in a different role then Chief Official, you will be contacted by your event’s chief prior to the event.
4
Position Explanation:
5
This is the events go-to person for any questions, problems or instructions. Prior to the event, they are responsible for organizing all volunteers and officials with their duties and informing them on their positions based off of their experience.
6
7
On the day of the event, the Chief Official will start off by talking with all of the volunteers about the overall plan. This includes going over any questions, comments or concerns that may be brought up at this time. This meeting will also involve the ‘Safety Officer’, who will go over the safety plan and any important notes for the day.
8
9
Next, they will be responsible for holding a coaches meeting. This meeting will also include the head coach of the event, or the provincial coach; depending on what event it is. Specific rules or regulations will be brought up as well as a general outline of the day, and any of important information that either of these people feel is necessary.
10
11
Throughout the day, the Chief Official is responsible for keeping the event running and successful. She/he will act as an unbiased judge if there are conflicting results from the referees or judges. They will also act as the main communicator between all the officials on and off the water. If there is a complaint for a coach or disagreement with an athlete’s results, it is the Chief Official’s job to solve and overall decide on the course of action. She/he will be the final decider for any calls that are made throughout the day.
12
13
Starter
14
Overview:
15
This position is generally done by someone who has experience in the sport and understands how a race is run. As a volunteer who isn’t a starter, you would look to this person to hear when a race is starting.
16
Position Explanation:
17
A starters job is to organize the start line of a race, then star the race. This would mean lining up the athletes, then counting down the start of the race.
18
19
The referee will organize the athletes into their proper position roughly 20 meters from the start line. They will then say “Starter you have the race”; in order to pass the athletes over. From here, the starter will instruct the athletes to move forward together to the starting line. They need to be sure that when they start the race, all athletes are either on or before the line. If an athlete is out of position, they will then instruct them to move, in order to re position the line. This would be called out by saying the athletes boat number, followed by the instruction; “Number 4 move back”.
20
21
Once the athletes are all in line, the starter will then call “Ready, set”, followed by the air horn which signifies the start of the race. In some races, there will be a double horn to start the race. The athletes then must ensure that they start after the second horn has sounded. If they start before this, it will be considered a false start. If an athlete moves out of the line, prior to the start of the race, it will also be considered a false start.
22
23
Note: When the starter announces, “One minute to start”, all other radio communication must cease until the start has been completed.
24
25
Once the race is on, it is the starters job to make sure that there are no false starts. This means making sure that no athletes start paddling prior to the horn being blown. If there is a false start, the starter must call the athletes back re-line up again. If there is a false start and the athletes are past the 50-meter mark, then it is the referee’s job to call them back. The starter must ensure that they receive the signal of a “Good Start” from the finish line, after calling the start of the race.
26
27
Starter Assistant
28
Overview:
29
30
Position Explanation:
31
The starter assistant often includes tasks such as holding the microphone and the radio for the starter. If in the case the starter wants you to radio to someone, they will instruct you to do so and explain what you are to ask. They are also responsible for making sure the finish is in contact with the starter. It is very important that the finish line can hear when the starter counts down, then sounds the horn.
32
33
The starter assistant also helps watch for false starts. This means watching when the starter says go and seeing if any boats are over the starting line. It also would be a false start if a boat starts before the horn is blown.
34
35
Finish Line Chief Judge
36
Overview:
37
38
Position Explanation:
39
While the race is going on, the Finish Line Chief Judge is watching the race and making sure that everything is going to plan. They need to make sure that the judges and timers are in the right places and then need to ensure that they have communication with the start line. They also need to make sure that the race had a clean start and that there are no penalty calls from the referees.
40
41
Once the race is over, it is the job of the finish line chief judge to make sure that all of the judge’s cards match, and there are no conflicting results. They then need to write this information down on the draw, making sure that each athlete matches up with their time and placement. This draw then goes to the competition secretary from a runner, in order to be processed and posted.
42
43
Finish Line Judge
44
Overview:
45
46
Position Explanation:
47
A minimum of two judges, plus the chief judge are required for an event. Each judge is required to bring their own pair of binoculars, however ‘judges slips’ and writing materials will be supplied.
48
49
After watching a race, each judge must imminently complete a ‘judges slip’, which is a piece of paper which states which athletes placed where. The judges will watch the designated finish post in order to get the correct placement. If there is a differ in placements between the judges, then the chief judge must make the final decision on the results of the particular athlete
50
51
In addition to the placement of each athlete, the judges must record any obscurities that may affect an athlete’s placement or succession in the race.
52
This could include but is not limited to:
53
The athlete not wearing official club colours/jersey.
54
The athlete not wearing a required PFD (as required by the Sprint Racing Discipline Competition Rules Handbook).
55
The athlete has an incorrect, not fastened properly and/or obstructed back/deck number.
56
The athlete is not the correct athlete as per the competition list.
57
A boat is not in its designated lane.
58
The athlete is not in their boat when the bow crosses the line.
59
60
Video Recorder
61
62
Position Explanation:
63
The recorder must stand at the finish line with the judges. They will then use the assigned device (usually an ipad) in order to record the finish line as athletes cross. It is important that the video is not broken between athletes, meaning that the volunteer must start recording prior to the first athlete crossing, and continue on until the final athlete has cleared the finish line area.
64
Position Requirements:
65
66
Finish Line Timer
67
68
Position Explanation:
69
Prior to the start of a race, a finish line timer must know how to properly use the assignment equipment. This means practicing starting and stopping it. After a race is completed, they are responsible for computing and recording the correct time for each athlete, then giving the times to the chief finish line judge. It is important that the finish line timers can hear the starter, in order to properly time the race.
70
Note: Once the starter calls “one minute to start”, all other radio communication must cease until the start has been completed.
71
72
Position Requirements:
73
74
Competition Manager
75
Overview:
76
77
Position Explanation:
78
The competition secretary is the recorder of all changes and results that happen at the event. Before races begin, coaches will come to the competition secretary with any last-minute adjustments that may need to happen in connection to their athletes. This could include by is not limited to scratches, conflicts, doubles change, corrections or other possible issues. The competition secretary is then responsible for making these changes and updating the Chief Official. If there are any questions or concerns that the competition secretary cannot answer, they are to ask the Chief Official. All athlete changes must be brought to the competition secretary and cannot be handled by anyone else.
79
80
During the races, the competition secretary is responsible for inputting the results into their ‘competition secretary computer’. These results will include the time, placement and standing for each athlete; which will then be posted for athletes and coaches to see. Depending on if the event is a qualifying event, the competition secretary must then post the qualifying draw once they are able to.
81
82
Spotters/Safety Watch
83
Overview:
84
85
The job of this volunteer is to watch the athletes that are on the water and preform a rescue if the situation calls for it. They must be constantly watching for any problems or emergencies at all times. Athletes are not to be on the water if there is not a safety boat out.
86
87
Position Explanation:
88
89
Spotters will be parried with a boat driver for the event. They will be given a boat number and a bin of supplies. Depending on where the boat is positioned on the course, they are to be watching the racing athletes or the warming up athletes.
90
91
If an athlete does dump, the safety officer will instruct a specific boat to go and assist. “Safety Boat 2, please perform a rescue.”, will be said over the radio. Safety boats are then to go and rescue the athlete. They are to ask the athlete prior to helping them if they require assistance. It is the coach’s duty to inform their athletes that if they dump and receive help, they will be disqualified from the race.
92
93
In the chance that the athlete says no to help, the safety boat is required to go back to the athlete within 10 minutes if they have not gotten back in their boat. At this time, the athlete is required to get in the safety boat and is to be brought back to shore.
94
95
96
Referees
97
Overview:
98
99
The referees’ job is to make sure that all boat crews are accounted for and that each race is completed properly as per the Sprint Racing Discipline Competition Rules Handbook.
100