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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Judge’s Viewing Zone

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Tally sheet/DQ card

18. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.