Open Session 

[As per Judges Committee policy, minutes will automatically be approved 2 weeks after posting (Jan 12, 2004), unless comments are received]

Except as noted by an asterisk (*) below, all members of the Judges Committee and Lacey Given (US SAILING Race Administration Director) were present:

**Mr. Wrigley represented the Umpires Subcommittee, in Mr. Brown's absence.

Mr. Everingham called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.

A short introduction of JC members and guests followed.

AREA REPORTS

A John Dieselman reported there were 35 judges in Area A which he expects to remain stable in the future. Approximately 60% need renewal in '03 - '04, (8 - 10 of which their intentions are unknown).

D Burton Howell reported he is presently maintaining files on 40 US Sailing Certified Judges in Area D. Since the Spring Meeting there is one new Certified Judge in the Area and one Judge has relocated to Area F. He has one new Judge's application, which is being processed. There are two JITs who will probably submit their applications within a month. There are also two JITs who should be ready to submit their applications in 2004. He expects there to be one Judge who will not be renewed at the end of 2003.
There is a Workshop and Exam scheduled for November 8 and 9, 2003 at the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami. Walter Chamberlain will be the Instructor with David Brennan assisting.

K Warwick Coppleson reported that a Seminar was just completed in his Area. He has organized a mentoring program for training potential candidates that he is willing to share with other members of the committee.

F Gail Bernstein reported 1 new judge to be certified as the application is in. She is scheduling a training seminar early in 2004.

C Sandy Grosvenor reported renewals have been good and she has 3 applications in progress. A seminar will be held in December '03.

J Barry Ault reported a good year as a few new judges have been added with some applications in process. He is holding an Area seminar on Nov. 15th, '03. Barry is somewhat concerned about future #'s of judges in the Area, but is working on it.

UMPIRE SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT - KIRK BROWN

Here are the goals we set out for 2003. The status is in CAPS.

1. Team race Umpire Seminar ready to roll out in March. DONE
2. Rework slightly the written examination. Add questions and diagrams. Develop our questions database. DONE-MORE WORK NEEDED ON DATABASE
3. Complete the on-the-water assessment vehicle. DONE-ONLINE
4. Finalize our on-the-water assessor list. DONE
5. Finalize our approved seminar giver team. DONE
6. Develop an outline of seminar materials so the seminar is portable. Make plans to have the seminar portable in 2004. MOSTLY DONE-FINE TUNING IN PROGRESS
7. Develop a way to link up umpires who want work and events that need umpires. NOT DONE
8. Develop an event reporting system that allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of umpires working in the field so that we might provide better training where we see a need. DONE-LACEY TO HAVE THIS ON LINE
9. Add a boat driving training program through the existing resources at US Sailing. NOT DONE
10. Develop a TSS vehicle to do a real time series of test questions. NOT DONE
11. Insure that the website is current and up to date. DONE AND IN PROGRESS
12. Develop an on line umpire application. DONE
13. Develop a mentoring program for new umpires. DONE IN AN INFORMAL WAY.

For 2004, the USC has the following goals:

1. Develop a way to link up umpires who want work and events that need umpires.
2. Develop a database of test questions, 15 for Part A and 10 each for parts C and D.
3. Complete the work on the seminar.
4. Identify any additional assessors and seminar givers (if necessary).
5. Continue to develop the website.
6. Insure that items listed on the web conform to practices in place.
7. More clearly define the duties of each member of the committee.
8. Refine what we have done in 2003.

Assessors Seminar Givers
Kirk Brown Kirk Brown
Ted Everingham Ted Everingham
Steve Wrigley Steve Wrigley
Don Becker Don Becker
Steve Shepstone Steve Shepstone
Tom Farquhar Tom Farquhar
Barbara Farquhar Barbara Farquhar
Bruce Cook Tom Dugan
Don Makiowlecki Brad Dellenbaugh
Brad Dellenbaugh
Jim Capron

This has been a very productive year. We have certified 4 umpires, have 7 umpires that will have applications in during this year, and have 11 people working on certification.

Kirk S. Brown
Chairman

UPDATED CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS & APPLICATION FORMS

Mr. Everingham thanked Sandy Grosvenor, Kirk Brown, Burton Howell and Debbie Schoenherr for their work on getting the new forms tweaked and approved. Sandy reported that the certification updates and new forms have been posted to the website. The question was raised as to the date effective with the response being NOW! However all RAJ's were urged not to pull anyone's application, just review and update where necessary.

RACE OFFICIAL'S AT US SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mr. Everingham introduced this policy submitted by the Race Administration Committee to Ex-Comm and ratified at their September Meeting. All Championships are to adhere to the new policy in the future. See attached copy.

RULES ENFORCEMENT DISCUSSION

Is "self-policing" working? At Junior Regattas? At Open Regattas?

Barry Ault led off a discussion on blatant rule violations and sportsmanship at Youth Championships and Top Junior Regattas. There has been a general feeling amongst Judges attending these regattas that the rules and exonerations are being disregarded most of the time, including contact with damage and violations with many boats involved.
Discussion & Opinions of those present:

· Means Davis spoke about Opti events, stating that they have devised a system wherein Observers who witness violations of Part 2 blow a whistle to remind competitors to take action or the JC will.
· Allen Teske reports they often have the OA introduce the Judges who review their observations with the competitors after racing.
· Debbie Schoenherr suggested having a short talk with the competitors at the Skipper's meeting reviewing Fundamental Rule 2 and informing the competitors of the Judges expectations.
· Ron Ward feels very pessimistic after observing many events including Opti events where sportsmanship and rule adherence was very disappointing.
· Art Engel with the Rules Committee thinks the problem spans to Adults also. The Rules Committee is concerned that the competitors are afraid to protest as they feel they have a 50/50 chance of being dsq'd themselves.
· Other concerns related to Instructors of Junior programs and Collegiate Coaches not training their students in Rules, protests and self-policing.

Conclusions
· The need exists to inform & make policy.
· This is not a Rules problem.
· Interacting with competitors is a good policy.
· Penalizing by Judges protesting may be needed.

Suggested Solutions
· Emphasize @ US Sailing Level Instructors courses
· Inform competitors at Skipper's Meetings
· Require Jr. Programs to have a Rules seminar by a Certified Judge.
· Offer debriefs with the Judges at Junior Regattas
· Offer incident reviews (open forum) without consequences
· Institute the "Blow a Whistle" idea in the SI's as a warning
· Judges enforce the rules by filing a protest
· Have a coaches meeting with the Judges prior to the event.
· Offer Arbitration at more events.

Final Statement - A Judges job is to adjudicate and educate by promoting interaction between the RC, JC and Competitors.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2004

Judges Manual: The manual was released last spring. Please send in any comments, changes, additions, corrections etc. The Judges committee will begin working on updating the Manual for the release of the 2005 - 2008 Rulebook as soon as the new rules become available in July 2004. The new Rules will go into effect January 1, 2005.

The goal is to have the Updated Judges Manual available about November 1, 2005.

Workshops & Tests: The need is there to create a generic Course Presentation to be available around the country allowing more opportunities to attend seminars within shorter travel distances. This issue is being addressed at the moment and the Judges Committee plans on having this program available by the beginning of 2004.

Renewal policy questions were raised again with the following input:
· Should it be different for renewals as opposed to first time certification? There were some opinions for and/or against this idea. Many felt it was helpful in the Seminars to have a diverse range of expertise among the attendees.
· Could we offer a seminar online with a proctored Test within a certain timeframe? Would it be possible to separate the Seminar and Test?
· Our Insurance coverage relies on proof of certification or renewal.
· The need to approve a list of Instructors to ensure consistent presentation of the seminars is imperative.
· It was stated that renewal by ISAF is different for IJ than the US policy for National Judges.

Recruitment: Some Areas could use more judges where others are happy with their attrition rate.

SOARS

Sandy Grosvenor reported on updates and changes to the SOARS system on the website.
· Certification & renewal information with dates of seminars and tests
· Category for apprentice judges
· Password change (may no longer be necessary or a cookie to remember)
· Test site coming with new info to "play around with".
· Online Event report form to fulfill requirement regarding Policy #6 in Race Officials at US Championships?

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

The next meeting will be in Mobile, Alabama in March 2004.

Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Schoenherr, Secretary


Attachment: Race Officials at US SAILING Championships

GENERAL POLICY

1. No person may serve as a member of the protest committee or as the principal race officer at an event in which any competitor in the event is a close relative1.
2. Volunteers in any capacity are expected to subordinate their personal and individual interests to the interests of the event and the sport of sailing. See US SAILING Regulation 1.00.
3. The organizers shall use their best efforts to appoint US SAILING certified race officials2 to the protest committee or the umpire team, and to key positions on the race committee.
4. Except in illness or emergency, the protest committee shall consist of a minimum of three judges.
5. Whenever possible, the organizers shall use their best efforts to appoint:
a. A majority of US SAILING certified judges to the protest committee at fleet racing events.
b. A minimum of 50% US SAILING certified umpires at match and team racing events.
6. The organizing authority shall file an event report that includes the names and certifications of all judges, umpires and principal race officials.

EVENT POLICY

Ladder event, local level:
1. Recommend and encourage (but not require) the appointment of a US SAILING certified race officer (any level) as principal race officer.
2. Recommend and encourage (but not require) the appointment of a US SAILING certified judge (any level) as protest committee chairman.
3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a US SAILING Umpire for chief umpire.
4. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the US SAILING Area representatives to:
o The championship committee involved and
o The applicable race officials committee.1

1 For the purpose of this policy the term "close relative" is defined as an individual related to another person or the person's spouse within the third degree. This includes parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, spouses and close relatives of spouses including step- or in-law relatives.

2 In all cases, the corresponding ISAF certification will be acceptable in place of the US
SAILING certification. For example, an ISAF International Umpire may serve without
approval in place of a US SAILING certified Umpire
Ladder event, Regional Sailing Association or US SAILING Area level:
1. Recommend and encourage the appointment of a US SAILING Regional or National RO, but accept a certified US SAILING Club Race Officer.
2. Recommend and encourage the appointment of a US SAILING Senior Judge for protest committee chairman, but accept a US SAILING Judge.
3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a US SAILING Umpire for chief umpire.
4. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the US SAILING Area representatives to:
o The championship committee involved and
o The applicable race officials committee.2

Ladder event finals and national championship events:
1. Require the appointment of a certified US SAILING Regional or National Race Officer as PRO.
2. Require the appointment of a US SAILING Senior Judge as Protest Committee Chairman. Require a majority of the protest committee to be US SAILING certified judges.
3. At match or team racing events, require the appointment of a US SAILING certified Umpire for chief umpire. Require a minimum of one half of the umpire team to be US SAILING Umpires.
4. The only exception shall be a reduction in certification level. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the US SAILING Area representatives to:
o The championship committee involved and
o The applicable race officials committee.
5. If the requirements for an appointment cannot be met after allowing for exceptions, an appointment of a certified official shall be made by the applicable race officials committee

September 2003

1 The Area representative is the Regional Administrative Judge for appointments to the
umpire team.

2 The Area representative shall be the Area Race Officer for appointments to the race committee and the Regional Administrative Judge for appointments to the protest committee or umpire team.