Officiating Race Walk Presented by Barbara Hensley and Les Chih January 21, 2018 USATF Ohio Association Clinic

Race Walk Basics USATF Rule 232.2: RW ‘is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground so that no visible (to human eye) loss of contact occurs. The advancing leg must be straightened (ie, not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until the leg is in the vertical upright position.’ One foot on ground at all times Leading leg straight at knee from first contact to vertical

Basic Rules 1) Loss of contact signified by: ~ 2) Bent knee signified by: > Perfect Loss of contact Bent knee Judges have sole authority on the race. Head Judge’s decision is final. The running/track referee have no jurisdiction over race walks.

Judging Requirements Minimum of (3) – Maximum of (5) for track Minimum of (6) – Maximum of (9) for road Specific RW certification levels needed for Olympic Trials, National Level events, eligibility to apply for records Takes (3) Proposal for DQ (Red) cards, each from different judge, to DQ athlete Judges act independently (no conferring)

People Needed Chief Judge (can serve as Referee) Five Judges (for National Level track races) Head Judge selected among the five Apprentice Judges (if present) One Recorder (RW Official) One or two officials One Card Collector (Runner) Starter, umpires, lap counters, finish line, aid station, timers. etc.

Equipment Needed Recorder’s table with chairs (esp. for road races) Judge’s white tally sheets (numbered or add judge #) Judge’s red DQ cards (numbered or add judge #) Yellow paddles for all Judges Red paddle for head Judge Pencils with erasers or pens Clip boards Disqualification board and easel Dry markers

Equipment Needed (con’t) ~ (loss of contact) and > (bent knee) magnets for the white board Summary sheet Zip lock bags Stapler Water! Rule book

Judges Duties Look for loss of contact and bent knees in your area “as seen by the human eye” Judging area is 45 deg as the athlete approaches you and 15 deg past you Judges shall act in an individual capacity Judges must be visible to the athletes Video replay not allowed Teach the apprentices

Basic Operations The Officials Coordinator or event organizer is responsible for Contacting judges with needed certification level(s) Determining who is providing needed equipment The assigned Judges select a Chief Judge Chief Judge Decides on placement of table and (DQ) board Reviews the rules with judges/officials/head umpire Synchronize watches. 99% of time will use real time can only use race time if on track and timing clock is visible to all Places remaining judges on track or course Chief judge gives final instructions to the athletes.

Judge’s Viewing Zone

Basic Operations (con’t) For ‘Major Races’, want 3 Judges in the first 100 m at start of race and at final 100 m as athletes finish. This should include the Chief Judge If a Judge is not satisfied with the athlete's form, the Judge will show the yellow paddle to the athlete indicating > or ~ (and/or call out bib number) Judge will note on the white tally sheet bib number, warning, and time of day

Basic Operations – (con’t) If the athlete makes an infraction, the Judge writes up a proposal for disqualification on the red DQ card with bib number, infraction, time of day, and signs it NOTE: Warnings are NOT required prior to writing Red Cards if athlete is CLEARLY in violation The Runner will pick-up the cards, verify they have required information and deliver to the recorder’s table. The official/recorder tallies the red cards, making sure no judge wrote more than (1) card per athlete

Basic Operations (con’t) Three red DQ cards from 3 different Judges results in disqualification (Pit Lane use allows 4th card) Official notifies the Chief Judge who shows the red DQ paddle to athlete. If there are additional DQ’s after the race, the Chief Judge will notify the athlete Therefore, after finishing, all athletes must stay in the finish area until Judges Summary is completed and they are released

Pit Lane – If Used IAAF added Pit Lane in 2014 IAAF 230.7b: Pit Lane shall be used for any race where the applicable regulations for the competition so provide and may be used for other races as determined by the relevant governing body or Organisers USATF RW Committee amended Rule Book to include Pit Lane information in 2016 Provides time-out after 3rd Red Card to give athlete opportunity to ‘fix’ gait issue Time varies from 30 – 120 seconds depending upon length of race. (IAAF 230.7c) If not enough time to show penalty paddle & use Pit Lane, add penalty time to finish time Takes 4th Red Card from 4th judge to DQ Requires (2) additional officials to record time in/out

Things to Watch For Start of race & ‘kick’ at end Tendency to lift Middle to end Tendency for bent knees as athlete tire Running or jogging can result in Chief Judge issuing immediate DQ w/o 2 other Red Cards See Rule 230.3f for details

Tally sheet/DQ card

End of race Continue to record all the red cards on the summary sheet All judges report to the officials table and turn in tally sheets and DQ cards DQ’s do occur after the race Head Judge notifies the athlete That is why the athletes are held 10 minutes by the finish line helpers Summary sheet filled out by the official and reviewed by the head. Both sign off Summary sheet is turned in to the scorer’s table and posted by results http://www.livestream.com/victorysports2/video?clipId=flv_c78e86ba-e285-4689-b780-4a186673ecb9

Judging Resources USATF Officials’ Webpage – RW section RW Handbook (rules, best practices, etc) Forms Certification tests Paddle sets available from Gary Westerfield Lots of U-Tube videos show ‘How to RW’ and provide training suggestions. Watching is good way to develop ‘eye’ for proper technique.

Need is Critical! Association MUST conduct at least (1) RW Championship / year to maintain USATF Accreditation There are not enough certified judges within reasonable (1-2 hr) driving distance for ANY Ohio RW event!!! NAIA Colleges include RW as track event – need judges for qualifying times for next level.