1. 2018-2019 Radio Protocol & Techniques
Prepared by
Laura and Mark Sullivan

2. Radio Protocol & Techniques
Radios are crucial instruments important for communication and control during a ski race.
Successful use will enhance the event, providing a more productive and secure environment.
Mis-use can create delays, cause confusion and frustration for all.

3. Radio Protocol & Techniques
There currently is no accepted standard radio protocol for all ski races as there is for aviators and emergency personnel.
Each ski resort typically has their own protocol which may deviate slightly or greatly from other ski resorts.
Reviewing, discussing and establishing standard radio protocol for the event will enable the event to operate more efficiently and professionally.

4. Who gets a radio at an event?
Radios must be provided to all Jury members plus Start and Finish Referees. These radios must function on a single reserved frequency and be free of interference ( ).
Communication MUST be available to and from patrol and/or medical personal, often this is by radio. Review with the Jury the exact protocol for requesting medical assistance.

5. Who gets a radio at an event?
The Course Crew should have a separate radio channel. Request from the Jury to the Course Crew should be made through the Chief of Race.
Others that may benefit the race by having a radio are Spotters (Eyes of the Jury), the Connection Coach(es), Timing Personnel and the Race Administrator.

6. Radio Protocol & Techniques Before the Event:
Know the Rules U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ALPINE COMPETITION GUIDE ACR
Who gets a radio? What metrics do these radios need to meet?
What are the commands/ protocol for speed events, yellow flag ?

7. Radio Protocol & Techniques Before the Event:
2. Identify… Who May Call “Start Stop” or “Start Stop/Yellow Flag”
When necessary to address critical situations
ANY Jury member,
ANY Eyes of the Jury (Connection Coach) or
ANY Jury Advisor (Start Referee or Finish Referee )
MAY call a “Start, Stop”
No other official is authorized to call a “Start Stop”!
Failure to comply may result in a “radio walk-over”, effectively
canceling the Start Referee’s ability to receive the transmission

8. Radio Protocol & Techniques Before the Event:
Review The standard radio protocol with all race officials receiving radios. Clarity of speech and meaning is imperative for the Jury. Distribution of a written protocol is helpful.
Practice “Start Stops” and “Course Clear” sequences so those unfamiliar with these routine radio calls know what to expect.

9. Radio Protocol & Techniques Before the Event:
Perform radio checks It is your responsibility to ascertain that your radio is operating properly. Check to see if the radio both transmits and receives messages successfully.
Is the radio turned on?
Does the “PTT” (Push To Talk) button work?
Check that the radio is assigned channel.
Make sure that radio contact is available to and from medical personal.
Check volume

10. Radio Protocol & Techniques Before the Event:
Perform radio checks (cont.)
Is antenna attached correctly and operational?
Is the battery fully charged?
Are there spare batteries? (Esp. for the start referee, or if you are in a remote location) Keep spare batteries warm
Are there any known “dead” spots on the course or ski resort?

11. Radio Operating Techniques
Transmit Button Hold transmit button down for at least one second before you begin your message this will insure that the first part of your communication is not cut off.
Repeater /PPT Button If the resort uses a repeater system you may have to hold the “PTT” button slightly longer to avoid having the start of your transmission cut off Remember to release the “PTT” button after speaking!

12. Radio Operating Techniques
Position It is good practice to hold the face of the radio at 45 degree angle to your face when speaking. Place radio opening roughly inches from your mouth.
Volume control Having the volume at the maximum capacity will drain the battery.
Battery life Can be extended if the radio can be kept warm.

13. General Rules for Radio Use
Do not Use obscenities
Never Transmit personal or confidential information. Be aware there are many ears listening.
Brevity is important! Speak only when you have to and keep chatter to minimum. Five seconds is a good target.

14. General Rules for Radio Use
3. Brevity is important! (cont.)
Gather your thoughts before you speak
Use plain language.
Speak slowly and give every word equal force to carry through weak or static signals
Pause after logical phrases
Remember that miscommunication can result in situations that are not secure for participants

15. General Rules for Radio Use
Listen
Grasp/understand the topic
5. Clarity Raising your voice in the microphone will not improve the clarity of the transmission on the receiving end.
6. Only one person can speak at a time.
7. Step on/walk over” Do not try and break in on “another radio user.
8. Stay On your assigned channel!

16. General Rules for Radio Use
Identify Yourself and the person with whom you want to communicate at the beginning of a transmission. The recipient should respond to the communication.
Example: Transmitter - “TD to Chief of Race” Recipient “Go for Chief of Race”  
Acknowledge instructions If they are understood, with
“copy”,
“received” or
“acknowledge”
If instructions are not understood reply with
“repeat”

17. General Rules for Radio Use
Let the recipients know when you are done with your transmission. “Out” is appropriate.
A course hold should only be released by the person who requested the course hold!
Volume Keep volume at level appropriate for listening but not disturbing others. Volume control is especially important at the start area. Radio communication can sometimes present unfair advantages or cause distress for other athletes.

18. Radio Protocol Suggestions
If an area does not have an established radio protocol, here are some suggestions:
The following suggestions/examples are intended for review and use as a working document. They are to be enhanced and revised in an effort to promote the clearest, most expedited communication for events.

19. Radio Protocol Suggestions
“Review Rules /Practice Commands” Start Stop Commands and Yellow Flag
Rule: ACR Commands
On the command “start stop” or “start stop, yellow flag” the Start Referee must close the start. He must respond immediately via radio confirming that the start is closed, and state the start number of the last competitor to have started as well of the start number of the competitor held at the start (“start stop confirmed, number 23 on course, number 24 at the start”)
The Jury member who called the “start stop” is also responsible for requesting yellow flag (s) that are necessary to stop competitor (s) on course

20. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Course Clear
Example Note: “Course Clear” is often controlled by the Chief of Race or Start Referee. This depends on the officials’ level of experience.
CR “CR to the eyes of the Jury, clear the hill from the from the bottom up.”
FR “Finish Referee, clear”
RF “Referee on coaches’ knoll, clear”
TD - “TD, clear on Upper Peak”
SR “Start Referee, clear”
CR - “CR to Start and Timing, course is clear, send the first forerunner (or next racer on next interval if this was a long hold). Out” A long course hold generally requires a clear from the bottom up; a short one (gate/flag repair) may clear from that position.

21. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Start Stop NO YELLOW FLAG
Example (slalom event)
TD - “Start Stop”
SR - “Copy, Start Stop confirmed, number 33 on course, number 34 at the start”
TD - “This is the TD, racer 33 is a DNF, equipment blocking the course”
SR - “Copy”
TD - “Course clear, Start Start. ( or resume Start) Clear to send #34, out”
SR - “ Copy, Start Start, racer 34 in gate
SR - “Racer 34 on course, Out”
Note: It is not necessary to have the Start Referee announce each bib number in the gate unless the there is a change to the running order such as a rerun insertion.

22. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Start Stop YELLOW FLAG (GS or Speed Event) Start Stop, Yellow Flag
Review “Who” May Call “Start Stop "or “Start Stop/Yellow Flag”
Jury Member/Eyes of Jury/Jury Advisor
Yellow Flag location (s) Identify Yellow Flag location(s) and or # (s). If an incident occurs it is important to clearly state the incident position and Yellow flag (location, or #) to avoid “Yellow Flagging "of an athlete below the incident site of the “Start Stop”

23. Other Necessary and Planned Interruptions:
Course Maintenance: Most course maintenance issues do not require a “Start Stop”. Depending on the type and level of event, a Jury may schedule course holds at regular intervals, e.g. after first seed or set number of starts. An exception is if a broken gate or other material poses an inherent risk to competitors on the course.  Otherwise experienced race crew members can operate within the start interval.
When it is necessary to have a hold for an extended period of time for course maintenance, the Chief of Course or another Jury member can inform the Start Referee to interrupt the race to complete the task.  On fixed interval events, it is common to indicate the requested amount of time in terms of number of intervals - “We will need a 4 interval hold for maintenance.”
Timing Hold:  If required, a radio request for a timing hold is communicated by the Chief of Timing & Calculations to the Jury and the Start Referee.  It is further communicated by radio to Jury positions along the course and by voice communication to those in the start area.   If a hold is required to address critical situations, any Jury member or Jury Advisor may then call for a “Start Stop”.

24. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Start Stop YELLOW FLAG Example (GS or Speed Event) Includes Jury Member/Eyes Jury/Jury Advisor
Jury Member
Radio Communication
Jury Member-
“Start Stop, Start Stop, Yellow ( Identify Flag location, or the assigned Yellow Flag #)!!
Start Referee -
“Copy, Start is stopped. Racer 56 on course, holding 57. Yellow flag 56!”
Eyes of Jury
@ Yellow Flag location -
“Yellow Flag out, 56 is stopped. Racer 56 will return to start for a rerun”
If Medical is not required
Jury Member -
“Racer 55 is a DNF. Continue hold for B-net/ course repair”
Start Referee -
“ Copy, holding 57 at start for course repair.

25. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Start Stop YELLOW FLAG (cont.)
Example (cont.)
Jury Member
Radio Communication
If medical is required
“Medical required at (location).”
Start Referee -
“Medical notified; in route to (location).”
(After athlete is transported and repairs are complete)
“Athlete being transported. Repair is complete. (location) is clear. Resume start.”
Start Referee -
“Confirm (location) is clear. Finish (or nearest exit location) please notify when medical exits the course.”
Finish Referee (or nearest exit location) -
“Medical is clear.”

26. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Start Stop YELLOW FLAG
Example (cont.)
Jury Member
Radio Communication
Start Referee -
Confirm course is clear. Please clear from the finish up. Timing?” (Each Jury member/Eyes of the Jury/Jury Advisor clears their section moving up the hill).
“Start is clear, resuming with racer 57 on next interval.”

27. Radio Protocol Suggestions
The following suggestions were prepared by
Ted Savage FIS TD (USA) #473
Suggested Radio Terminology
There is a big difference in the meaning of “GO” and “NO” but not much of a phonetic difference. Your choice of words could be confusing and cause a problem.
Here are a few suggestions in terminology that will help avoid misunderstanding.

28. Radio Protocol Suggestions
WORD or PHRASES
INSTEAD OF
MEANING
NEGATIVE
Nope NO
THAT IS CORRECT
Yup
Yes, Confirm
AFFIRMATIVE
As above
ROGER
ACKNOWLEDGE
Eh? (CAN)
Confirm you understand
SAY AGAIN
Hunh? (USA)
Repeat last message
GO AHEAD
Yeah what
Listen, proceed w/message
CORRECTION
Oops…..
I made a mistake-correct version
DO YOU READ
Are ya there?
Called you once or more, reply
STAND-BY
Wait a sec will ya
Busy, please pause for a moment

29. Radio Protocol Suggestions
WORD or PHRASES
INSTEAD OF
MEANING
HOLD
Oh GOD…stop…
Hold further racers at start
CLEAR TO SEND
Let ‘em rip
Start or Restart the race
WILCO
Okey Dokey
Message understood, please comply
OUT
Message ended, no reply expected
OVER
Huh, Eh
Message completed, reply expected
CHECK
Got it
Understood
CONTACT
I see ‘em
Visual contact at this position
CONFIRM
Is that right eh?
My version…It that correct?
VERIFY
Who Says?
Check info with the source
READ BACK
Get it?
Repeat this message back to me
WORKS TWICE
……..
Send every phrase twice
Ah, Ummmmmm
I have nothing of value to say

30. Radio Protocol Suggestions
Strict radio procedure is only a necessity when transmission conditions are difficult.
In most cases when contact is established and you have developed a rapport with your Jury member, you can dispense with the “over’s” and “do you read’s”.
It is however prudent to use specific, and pre-determined terminology in order to avoid any misunderstanding and to end all contacts with “out” so that others on the channel know you are finished.

31. Radio Protocol & Techniques
“Thank You, OUT”