Mentors: The name of Stanley Underwood was forwarded to me as another outstanding mentor of officials (including me). If you get a chance, be sure and say "Thank You" to those who have mentored you and feel free to pass their names on to me.
USATF National Championship Applications: Later this month, applications for the 2020 USATF championship meets will be available online. Be aware of the following:
Don't Miss Renewing Your Background Check: The required Background Screens for officials are good for two years. You will receive email reminder 30-days before your screen expires. Be aware, however, that though it may come from "coaching@usatf.org" and may be addressed to "Coach" it still applies to officials. If your Background Screen expires, your certification becomes invalid. If you have questions about when your Background Screen is set to expire, contact your Association Certification Chair.
You can contact Mike Armstrong via email at USATF.Officials.Chair@gmail.com.
Hi Folks,
Over the past several months we have all worked lots of track meets. Hopefully you have worked your local association meets as well as conference and national level meets outside your association. Now that we are all done - okay, at least until cross country starts and the cycle begins again, it’s time to reflect.
Every year I take time to reflect on the last season. I ask myself questions about what I did, where I would like to go or be next year and five years from now. What did I learn? What did I do well? What area(s) can I improve upon? I know, this sounds like a job interview or performance evaluation, and that’s okay.
Because that’s exactly what this is!!
Most of us have an area of expertise. Occasionally we step outside of our little world and help with another event, but when we do, are we apprehensive or a little unsure of ourselves? If so, that’s a good thing, because it makes us stop, review procedures, look into the rulebook to make sure we are making the correct calls and interpreting the rules properly. But, how many of us do that in our areas every time we show up for a meet? How many of us do that every season? This is my challenge to you: take the time to read your current rulebook - USATF, NCAA, NFHS. Look up the rules interpretations available on the NCAA rules website. Check out the NFHS pre-meet notes. Both give insights into how the rules evolve and how to correctly apply them in your event.
I have another challenge for you: take a realistic look at your performance last season. Did you do the best job you could every week? Continue Reading
Have a great day, and I hope to see you on the track later this summer or on the cross country course as we head into the fall. As always, if you have any suggestions for new training tips, please forward them to me at nocvctraining@usatf.org.
If you are planning to take the NTO test in December at convention, please confirm this by email. Send a message to:
Betsy Reed @ usatfnv.officials@gmail.com
Be sure to include your full name, association, certification number, and indicate that you understand the NTO Assessment includes two parts, a written exam and an oral assessment, and that both parts will be given on Thursday, December 5.
On a recent Weather Channel broadcast (August 19), meteorologist Kelly Cass stated that 12 people have died from lightning so far this year in the US. Several people injured by lightning previous weekend. Please watch this valuable video Kelly Cass did showing the 5 different ways lightning can affect you.
To the USATF Officials,
It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2019 officials who have been selected for induction into the National Officials Hall of Fame. The officials across the country truly appreciate all the hard work each of these individuals have done to make our sport great and to help their colleagues over the years.
The 2019 Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday evening, December 6, 2019 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. We invite you to join us in celebration of the National Officials Hall of Fame Banquet.
The following individuals will be inducted on that evening: Doug Allen Roger Burbage Carroll DeWeese John Shirey
In closing, allow me to add my personal congratulations to these individuals on their induction. This is an honor that is well deserved.
Sincerely,
Karen Krsak, Chair Hall of Fame Committee
To the current members of the National Official Hall of Fame, a family member of one who is no longer with us or you know of someone who is in the Hall of Fame already but may not be receiving this newsletter, please let them know of this opportunity. We have acquired a new vendor to create our rings. The vendor is Jostens who is renowned for their design and rings. If you are interested in ordering one of the rings, please send me an email to n2track@aol.com and I will send you back the order form. Below is a picture of the ring and yes they come in silver and gold which the order form will explain in detail.
Many officials would like to work para meets, but do not know of when and where they occur. Adaptive Sports USA maintains a calendar of events each year. They have a process for meets to register their events for sanctioning. Once they have applied and have been approved, they are put on the calendar. The link to the list is as follows: https://adaptivesportsusa.org/events-calendar/
Some events have dates that do not move and can be counted on year in and year out. The dates of others move all over the place. Some of the meets have US para athletics sanctions and some have World Para Athletics sanctions. In addition, many local groups have meets for athletes with physical disabilities and are not on the Adaptive Sports USA list. Here is a list of some events typically on the Adaptive Sports USA list and when they are normally held. Every one of these is always short on officials. Please follow this link for a complete list of meets and Carroll’s closing comments.
The application process for officials to express interest in working any of the 2020 NCAA Track & Field Championships opened in late August. Information about the application, selection process and a link to the application portal can be found in the Officiating section of the NCAA Playing Rules Page. Any official that has applied in the last 2 years should have received an email on August 26th with your log in information. Any official that has not applied in the past 2 years should register as a new user. Questions can be directed to Nathan Smurdon, NCAA National Officials Assignor, at ncaaofficials@gmail.com.
I have just been made aware that the USATF Outerwear Store, Boathouse, has reopened their digital doors until September 16. If you are in need of the official outerwear gear such as jackets or rain gear, please click the link below. You will need your certification number to complete your order. https://usatrackandfield2019.itemorder.com/sale
The International Association of Athletics Federations has emailed the IAAF News Edition 206 dated August 30, 2019 to their subscribers. As of this writing, this edition has not been posted their webpage. You can click here to download your copy today.
In the January newsletter there was a piece about Oregon’s Charlie Couture, whose dedication to long and triple jump pit preparation is second to none. There is an USATF official who has spent many a year working with Charlie. This official’s specialty is very much final pit preparation, making it appear to be a smooth and a featureless sea of sand.
Guy Strahon is a “kind and generous” local Eugene, OR, resident and U.S. Army veteran. He just happens to have helped construct the Hayward Field west grandstand that was built in 1974-5 to replace the original structure on the University of Oregon campus. From his vantage point as a carpenter on the immense structure, Guy had a bird’s eye view of Steve Prefontaine’s workouts under the watchful eye of Coach Bill Bowerman. Of course, Guy couldn’t stop his work to marvel at Prefontaine’s prowess, but he managed to sneak peeks whenever he could. That grandstand was the one from which track fans looked upon the finishing straight for the 1976, ’80, ’08, ’12, and ’16 Olympic Trials, their rhythmic clapping helping push athletes to achieve their dreams.
Guy’s tool of the trade is“sand smoother” of his own making. It consists of one of those telescoping pool cleaning poles affixed to a piece of metal-secured wood that can be pushed and pulled across the sand. Because the pole is far longer than a normal rake, Guy can reach across the entire pit.
So how does Guy, who had honed his sand leveling art for 23 years at this fabled track, feel about the demolition of Hayward Field and the former grandstand he helped bring to life? He is his customary ebullient self about it, “I was sad to see it torn down but I am really excited about the future at Hayward Field. I can’t wait to see the new.
On behalf of USATF Southern Association and the Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation, we are pleased to invite you to officiate at the USATF Masters Indoor National Championships on March 13-15, 2020 at the Carl Maddox Field House (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Please return your application at a timely manner. We are looking forward to another successful Masters meet in 2020. We hope you are able to join us.
2020 Masters Indoor National ~ Letter and/or 2020 Masters Indoor National ~ Application;
If you have questions, please contact Gloria Louis, Coordinator of Officials
Greetings from Alabama,
Certification Chair, Connie T. McClinton is hard at work!!! EDM training is open and ongoing to all officials. Officials reminded of the three important requirements from USATF to be qualified to officiate: Current USATF membership, SAFE Sport, and Background Screening up to date!! Officials encouraged to read monthly USATF newsletter with reference to topics of interest for officials. As officials are promoted, and new officials come on board, we are notified and encouraged to welcome them to the family. Currently, we have 82 USATF Certified Officials: 11 Apprentices; 31 Associations; 27 Nationals and 12 Master Level Officials. Cert. chair encourages all to strive to do your best!!
To download the entire newsletter from Dora and the Alabama Association, click here . . .
Section VII Long Distance and Road Racing (Running and Walking) Finish Line~ Rule 244
1. The finish shall be of a material which will adhere to a fixed position on the running surface. The line shall be placed so that the finish of the course is the edge of the line closest to the approaching runners.
2. Should there be an extensive painted design adjacent and prior to the finish line, the exact location of the finish line shall be clearly stated in instructions to all competitors.
3. A tape may be held above and parallel to the finish line and at right angles to the course by individuals who are not serving as judges. The individuals holding the tape shall be positioned so they do not interfere with the view of the judges. This tape is not itself the finish line, but is there only to indicate the approximate location of the actual finish line to approaching runners. 2019 USATF Competition Rules - 138
4. In events using transponder reading devices located on the running surface, the device shall be of a color in contrast to the running surface and other parts of the device to indicate the finish line. The first device shall be placed so that the edge of the contrasting color closest to the course is the finish line. Any additional or backup devices shall be placed beyond the finish line. See Rule 165.15.
5. Races may use separate points along the finish line as the crossing location of the first men’s and first women’s finishers.
6. Official places and times shall be determined according to Rules 163 and 165. In addition to an authorized finish line imaging system, an officially designated video or photograph may be used to review the order of finish.
At its annual Congress in September, the members of the IAAF will vote on a number of important rule changes that will take effect on November 1, 2019. Some of the most significant changes will be highlighted in the N.O.C. Newsletter during September and October.
Language being deleted from the existing rule is indicated by strikethrough typeface, while language being added appears in bold typeface.
Rule 145 – Effect of Disqualification; Section 3
3. If a relay team is excluded from competition under Rule 125.5, it shall be disqualified from that event. Performances accomplished in a previous round of that event shall remain valid. Such disqualification shall not prevent any athlete or relay from that team taking part in all further events, (including individual events of a Combined Event, other events in which he is simultaneously participating and relays) in that competition. 4. If the offence is considered serious, the Competition Director shall report it to the relevant governing body for consideration of further disciplinary action. Purpose of the rule change: To impose consequences when member(s) of a relay team received yellow and/or red cards.
Rule 146 – Protests and Appeals; Section 4 (d) when a protest is made by or on behalf of an athlete or team which did not finish a race, the Referee must first ascertain whether the athlete or team was or should have been disqualified for a breach of the Rules unrelated to the matter raised in the protest. Should that be the case the protest shall be dismissed. Purpose of the rule change: To avoid an unnecessary DQ (e.g. when athletes do not finish a hurdles race) when DNF is the usual method. Also, this provides for a process [complementing Rule 127 note (ii)] if such an athlete or team then protests, seeking a rerun or advancement. Section 6 6. The protested performance of the athlete and any other performance achieved by him while competing “under protest” will become valid only if a subsequent decision to that effect is made by the Referee or an appeal to the Jury of Appeal is made and it is upheld. In Field Events, where, as a result of an athlete competing “under protest”, another athlete is allowed to continue in the competition when he would otherwise not have done so, such athlete’s performances and eventual results will remain valid irrespective of whether the “under protest” athlete’s immediate oral protest is successful. Purpose of the Rule Change: Previously, the Rules did not address this situation, although it provided guidance in green text. The change formalizes the text as a rule.
Rule 168 – Hurdles 6. All races shall be run in lanes and each athlete shall keep to, and go over the eachhurdles in, and keep to his own lane throughout, except as provided in Rule 163.4. Unless there is no effect or obstruction upon any other athlete(s) in the race, and Rule 168.7(a) is not infringed an athlete shall also be disqualified if he directly or indirectly knocks down or significantly displaces a hurdle in another’s lane. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification, unless Rule 163.4 applies. 7. Each athlete shall go over each hurdle. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification. In addition, an athlete shall be disqualified, if: (a) his foot or leg is, at the instant of clearance, beside the hurdle (on either side), below the horizontal plane of the top of any hurdle; or (b) in the opinion of the Referee, he deliberately knocks down any hurdle. he knocks down or displaces any hurdle by hand, body or the upper side of the lead leg; or (c) he directly or indirectly knocks down or displaces a hurdle in his or in another lane in such a manner that there is effect or obstruction upon any other athlete(s) in the race and/or another rule is also infringed. Note: Provided that this Rule is otherwise observed and the hurdle is not displaced or its height lowered in any manner including tilting in any direction, an athlete may go over the hurdle in any manner. 87. Except as provided in Rules 168.6 and 168.7, the knocking down of hurdles shall not result in disqualification nor prevent a Record being made.
Purpose of the Rule Change: To eliminate subjectivity in determining if an athlete shall be disqualified. Under the change, an athlete who moves or knocks down a hurdle with her/his hand shall be disqualified.
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Annual Meeting Information
In case you were not able to open the links embedded in the above news items, they are below:
If you have an item you would like included in the newsletter, please send your submissions to NOCnewsletters@gmail.com. The submission deadline is the 25th of each month in order to be included in the subsequent issue. We will accept announcements, articles and other news-type items that are national in scope. Local announcements and opinion pieces will not be included. Please be aware that all submissions are subject to approval by the N.O.C. Executive Committee.
If you are the official’s coordinator for a national championship or major regional meet and would like to have it listed on our calendar, please visit our new Applications page (http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/-groups-officials-/Applications.aspx) and submit it. All applications are subject to review before posting.