Post Office Box 1260
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Bus: (401) 683-0800
Fax: (401) 683-0840
JUDGES PROGRAM
The US SAILING Judges Program aims to improve the quality, consistency, and fairness of racing. US SAILING invites experienced sailors who are willing to serve on protest committees, juries and appeals committees to submit their qualifications for review. More than 500 applicants have been appointed US SAILING Judges or Senior Judges. The names of these judges are listed on the US SAILING website: (http://raceadmin.ussailing.org/Judges/Find_a_Judge_New.htm), to assist organizing authorities, classes, sailing associations, and yacht clubs in finding qualified judges to serve at their events. The Judges Program is administered by 11 Regional Administrative Judges.
If you wish to apply for an appointment as a US SAILING Judge or Senior Judge and you are willing to serve, please follow the Instructions to Applicants for the US SAILING Judges Program attached to this letter. Your Regional Administrative Judge will review your application and send forms to each of your references. Your RAJ may also solicit independent references. All references must be US SAILING members. Appointment is for a four-year period. Judges must keep a record of their activity with SOARS (Sailing Officials Automated Reporting System.)
US SAILING is committed to attracting and developing new sailors who are willing to serve in its Judges Program. We recommend that protest committees include at least one member who is qualified but may not yet have the judging experience to be a certified US SAILING Judge. If you have questions about the Judges Program or you would like to get experience serving on protest committees, please contact your Regional Administrative Judge.
The Judges Program delivers some of US SAILING's most visible and valuable services. Judging gives sailors an opportunity to give something back to the sport. It also provides opportunities to meet people and travel to places that you might not have otherwise.
Thank you for your interest in the Judges Program.
Sincerely,
Donald R. Becker, O.D.
Donald R. Becker, O.D.
Chair, US SAILING Judges Committee
/ 15 Maritime DrivePost Office Box 1260
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Bus: (401) 683-0800
Fax: (401) 683-0840
Judges Program
The US SAILING Judges Program was developed in 1977 to improve the quality, consistency and fairness of judging and the administration of the rules. US SAILING invited experienced sailors who were willing to serve on protest committees, juries and appeals committees to submit their qualifications for review. Since then, more than 450 applicants have been named US SAILING Judges, Senior Judges, and Umpires.
The Judges Program provides qualified judges and umpires for sailors and race organizers. A Regional Administrative Judge (RAJ) is appointed in each of US SAILING’s 10 geographic areas (with two in Area H) by the Board of Directors to assist area race organizers in staffing juries and protest committees, to oversee the screening, training and approval of candidates, and to monitor the performance of US SAILING Judges and Umpires in each area.
Composition of the Protest Committee or Jury
A protest committee or jury is a group of individuals with the responsibility to hear and decide protests and such other duties and responsibilities as has been given to them by the organizing authority under RRS 89. The desirable characteristics of a jury are:
· the chief judge holds a US SAILING appointment;
· a minimum of three members, but often five and sometimes more for principal events;
· as broad a geographic representation as exists among the competitors;
· no conflict of interest under RRS 63.4;
· one or more members with active sailing experience in the same or similar classes, and
· one or more members with local knowledge.
Referral of Judges and Umpires and Approval of Juries
The Judges Committee will refer the names of US SAILING Judges and Umpires to an organizing authority on request. Requests for members of an International Jury constituted under RRS Appendix M, should be made to the Chair of the Judges Committee. Requests for all other judges and umpires should be made to the RAJ for the area in which the event will be held.
Levels of Certification as a US SAILING Judge
Judge
A US SAILING Judge is qualified to judge any local or regional event in the US. To be certified as a Judge, one has demonstrated a thorough knowledge and understanding of the current racing rules, and the protest process. They also must possess judicial temperament, a reputation for mature judgment and have an outstanding reputation for integrity. Additional requirements include experience in race management and significant experience as a racing sailor. Judges must attend a workshop and pass a written test prior to becoming a judge and again each time they re-certify. Judges are certified for a four year period.
Senior Judge
A US SAILING Senior Judge is qualified to judge a regatta of any size anywhere in the US. To be certified as a Senior Judge, a Judge must have additional national and/or international experience. The process for applying to be a US SAILING Senior Judge can be found on the US SAILING Judges website at: www.ussailing.org/judges.
International Judge
US SAILING Senior Judges with significant international experience may be nominated by US SAILING for appointment by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) as International Judges. Further information about ISAF's regulations governing their International Judges Program can be found on the Race Official section of the ISAF website at: www.sailing.org. The process for obtaining a nomination from US SAILING can be found on the US SAILING Judges website at: www.ussailing.org/judges.
Responsibilities and Personal Conduct of Judges
US SAILING Judges and Umpires must maintain current membership in US SAILING, and file annual reports. The report is the primary basis for continuing appointment and upgrade. Failure to submit an annual report may result in removal of the Judge’s name from the Directory.
Personal conduct of judges and umpires must be above reproach before, during, and after an event. US SAILING Judges and Umpires must comply with the Judges Standards and Practices outlined in the Judges Manual. They are expected to be mature and temperate, moderate in their use of alcohol, especially careful of medications and in full control of their faculties. A judge who has engaged in serious misconduct should be dismissed from the jury immediately. If the Judges Committee receives a report alleging inappropriate conduct by a US SAILING Judge or Umpire, it will investigate the report and may take disciplinary action.
Insurance
US SAILING provides liability insurance coverage for US SAILING Judges and Umpires when acting as a member of a protest committee or jury, or while judging on the water. US SAILING provides this insurance for the benefit of its judges and umpires. No application is necessary for events held in the United States.
US SAILING also provides insurance coverage for hull and liability protection for a powerboat used by umpires or judges in the execution of duties connected with an event. Application for this coverage is required. Contact US SAILING for information on these and other types of insurance coverage available in the conduct of an event.
JUDGES PROGRAM
Instructions to Applicants
Attached is an application form for the US SAILING Judges Program. Please follow the instructions and return your completed form to your Regional Administrative Judge (RAJ). It may take several months to process your application because your RAJ will conduct a thorough review of your qualifications with your references.
The program is for experienced judges. If you wish to have an informal discussion of your qualifications with your RAJ before submitting your application, contact the RAJ serving your US SAILING region. The names and addresses of the RAJs are enclosed.
The qualifications were developed carefully by a special task force of experienced national and international judges and continue to be reviewed by the US SAILING Judges Committee. Each qualification is equally important. No one can be appointed a US SAILING judge without reasonable compliance with each standard.
The purpose of the Questionnaire is to permit you to outline your qualifications. Please respond carefully and completely to each question. Here are a few points to guide you.
1. The Judges Committee believes that a US SAILING Judge must possess significant yacht racing experience, in a position that requires onthewater application of the yacht racing rules. The RAJ will find it helpful if you are as specific as possible about your racing experience.
2. Judging is not limited to hearing protests and requests for redress. It requires familiarity with every aspect of racing and race management.
3. Sometimes a US SAILING Judge is expected to bear all outofpocket expenses. The purpose of the "Preference" section is to insure that you will not be recommended to judge where that is not possible. Placing limitations on your service with respect to expenses will have no effect on your application.
4. Please be careful not to confuse judging with race committee work. They are not the same, and race committee participation may not be used as judging experience.
5. Please supply the names of at least three (3) references. (Please do not use any current RAJ as a reference.). We prefer that references be US SAILING Judges or Senior Judges. At least one reference must be a US SAILING Senior Judge or a Canadian Yachting Association "Gold" Judge. All references must be familiar with your protest committee/judging work, have served with you at the events you consider your four most significant judging experiences, and must be members of US SAILING.
If, after reviewing the qualifications for appointment, you determine that you are not yet qualified, please do not give up! Inform your Regional Administrative Judge of your interest in judging so that a program can be worked out for you to gain the necessary experience. Remember that not all jury members are required to be US SAILING Judges. Your RAJ will be able to recommend you for judging service with US SAILING Judges before you receive your appointment.
/APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION
AS A US SAILING JUDGE
Please refer to the Instructions for Applicants before completing this application. Please print or type. / 15 Maritime DrivePost Office Box 1260
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Bus: (401) 683-0800
Fax: (401) 683-0840
Last Name: / First Name: / Birth Date:
Mailing Address:
Business Telephone: / Home Telephone: / Email:
Primary Yacht Club and/or Class Ass'n Membership: / Sailing Association:
US SAILING Member #: / Expires: / Area:
YACHT RACING EXPERIENCE
Number of years racing:One Design: / Offshore: / Handicap or PHRF:
Number of seasons racing as:
Skipper: / Navigator/Tactician: / Watch Captain or other Crew:
RACE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
Please name the four most significant regattas in which you served as an active member of the Race Committee (but not as a judge) either performing general race committee work, hearing protests, or both:Dates / Regatta & Location / RC Role / Hear Protests?
1
2
3
4
PROTEST AND APPEALS EXPERIENCE
Number of times serving on protest committees at club or inter-club regattas:As committee member: / As Protest Chairman:
If you have served as a regular member of a Regional Sailing Association appeals committee, please enter:
Dates of Service: / Organization:
JUDGING SERVICE PREFERENCES
Times of the Year Available to Serve:Types of Regattas Preferred:
Willing to travel at own expense: / Anywhere? / Abroad? / US SAILING Area? / Other? (Please explain)
JUDGING AND JURY EXPERIENCE
List your four most significant experiences as a judge at an international, national US SAILING event, national one-design or major regional championship regatta, or at other significant regattas. Please refer to the definition of judging on the instruction sheet. Remember, service as the Chair or as a member of a race committee is not judging. Also, please include the number of hearings at each event in which you personally participated as a member of the protest committee. Note that a Protest Committee is classified by the way it is constituted. With reference to the Racing Rules of Sailing, RRS 89, the following classifications are used:
· Class A: A committee appointed by the race committee.
· Class B: A jury, which is separate from and independent of the race committee.
· Class C: An International Jury meeting the requirements of RRS Appendix N.
Dates / Regatta and Location / PC Class / Chief Judge / Num of Hearings
1
2
3
4
WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE AND TEST
Workshop location (city, state): / Workshop dates: / Test location (when passed) / Date test passed:
REFERENCES
Please supply names, mailing addresses, and phone numbers of three (3) individuals with whom you have worked as a judge. At least one must be a US SAILING Senior Judge. The others must be US SAILING or Canadian Yachting Association members who are familiar with your protest committee and judging work and have served with you at the events that you have listed above. US SAILING RAJs may not be used as references.
Name / Address / Phone / Certification
1
2
3
OTHER COMMENTS OF THE CANDIDATE
I hereby apply for certification as a US SAILING Judge. I have reviewed this application carefully, and all of the statements therein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signed: / Date:
Please mail (or email) the completed form to your Regional Administrative Judge (RAJ). See our website at www.ussailing.org/judges for address/email of your RAJ.
(JudgeApplication.doc, revised: July 2011)