Responsibilities and Duties of the Chief Judge

E&A TOURNAMENT COUNCIL

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE CHIEF JUDGE

In tournament water ski competitions the Chief Judge is the key person. He is one of the most important factors in the success of a tournament.

His ability and leadership can inspire a state of mind, professionalism and quality, to all the people involved in a competition.

He has total authority on the competition and only the Chief of Security can interfere, on certain conditions that are presented in the rules.

He must work closely with the organizers and overview the timing schedule, the work of the Jury members and have a good contact with the media.

He is responsible to solve a kind of problems that may occur (organization, equipment, reclamations) but above all, his main duty is to respect and apply the existing rules.

Equipment you must have with you:

IWWF Rules and any other rules related to the competition (Additional Rules etc.)
Paper, pens, pencils, etc.
Copy of IWWF and/or EA Ranking Lists (depending on the type of competition)
Timing Charts for Slalom and Jumping
Proper clothing according the rules
Jacket and tie for the ceremonies

Some time before leaving your home for the competition:

Contact organizer (at least 1 month prior to tournament)
Ask for the Information Bulletin, if you have not received it.
Read the Bulletin carefully.
Ask the Organizers more questions if something is not very clear.
Official Internet webpage, internet access
Contact email addresses, Skype
Officials panel (especiallyACJ, Scorer, Homologator)
Travel organisation (flight arrival & departure – pick-up/drop-off) for officials
Schedule
Number of skiers at previous comparable tournaments
Number of skiers per event – duration of events
Calculate 6 mins for 4 SLALOM passes & 6-8 mins‘ for 3 JUMPS & 4-5 mins for TRICKS
Climate – Lake – possible influence of weather
Get informed on the weather conditions for the next days (you can find info on the Internet, or ask the Organizers).
Installations ready for homologation?
Administration
Secretary – office supply
Computers & programs
Video setup – Slalom & Trick judging, Trick timing, Jump measurement
Speed control system

Upon arriving at the site - some issues should be at first examined

visit the facilities
meet with the people
gather information
start working

Contact Persons

Organizer(s) of the competition
Assistant Chief Judge
On-site technique
Homologator
level of homologation
ropes (enough shortenings)
slalom/jump switch
end course video(s)
boats
timing
ramp
trick course set-up
Calculator
number of skiers
starting lists - Finalize number of participants per category, per series and prepare starting order (you need this to make the final competition program)
number of skiers in Finals
checked ratings – age groups
get informed about the identity and age from passports
the performances from application forms and performance booklets and if needed, from E&A Ranking Lists
trick writing – shorthand writing
trick sheets deadline - preliminary/final
organize the payments concerning participation fees (depending on the Info Bulletin or type of competition) and late entry fees.
Office
Speaker
Safety Director
Medical Officer – Doping Control
Starter (Jetty Marshall)
make sure skiers are ready
individual handles & ropes checked
weight & speed control settings for jumping
on skier leaving dock
call name
start speed/rope length
weight
Kx/Px etc.
jump letter – official/skier choice
Pick-up boats
Video Operator(s)
enough battery & tape left
make time marks

Transportation

from/to hotel/accommodation
skiers/teams
Officials
Parking area.

On-site Control

Tournament layout
Optical slalom & jump course alignement
Location of trick course
Size & color of bouys
Jump ramp (watering system, wax - type of)
Safety space – room for falls/passes
Starting dock(s) (rain/sun protection)
Obstacles on the water
Change of setup necessary for different event (bouys in/out)
Jury installations (rain/sun protection - privacy)
Athletes areas (changing room, ski storage)

Official postings

Location of postings
tournament site
hotels/accommodation
Site plan
Time table
List of entries/skiers with valid qualifications
Grade of homologation
Start lists
Check postings

Boats

Speed control – software version (jump tables) checked by Homologtor?
Strong magnets for jumping!
Check boat course with drivers
Windscreen marker for end course video
Video installation
Timing control board for judges – recording of times
Set time intervals for rope shortening (30-60 seconds – 45 sec)
Flags
Gas supply

Ropes & Handles ( Homologator)

One type/brand of ropes (Spectra ropes)
At least 3 identical ropes per event – pre-stretched
Sufficient number of loops for shortenings
How to fix the loop on pylon
Official handles
Handle-board/-check
skier supplied ropes & handles

7. Use of bibs (spare (or blank) bibs at the start)

8. Timing ( technician “Olaf”)

Timing back-up (stop watches)
Trick timing – signal & back up
Documentation of times (slalom & jump)
Back up video taping (tricks, slalom, jump)
Weight scale @ starting dock

Video judging

Cameras - location
Monitors - location
Recording (tapes – cassettes – discs)
Battery or energy supply (responsible person)

Administration

Secretariat
Computers & printers
Copy machine, paper supply
Communication – walkie-talkies
Number, distribution, 1 or 2 circuits
CJ, Ass.CJ, boat, tower 1&2, scorer, starter, pick-up, safety,video operator, speaker, organizer, service

Safety

Safety officer
Safety team
Medical officer
First aid room/tent
Transportation - Ambulance
Hospital (contact)

Prepare list of officials ( Scorer - Waterski program, Excel table)

Slalom  one on each side, 2 on tower for gates
Trick review judge & timer
CJ reserve for review

Judges meeting

Discuss positions
Slalom – max 2 per region/country/etc.
Tricks – best panel
Jump – 1 per region/country/etc.
Do not use tolerances – aim for the center of the rules – CJ control!
Instructions for gate & bouy judging – call zero gate
Watch boat path on Slalom & Jump
Second driver to control boat path on video
Judge for steering of boat camera on slalom
Boat judge has to document boat times (J & SL) & speed control settings (i.e. jump letters etc)
Judges & drivers set speed control parameters  inform skier
First trick start (first movement, foot in binding over crest of wake, edging/pre-turn)
Uniformity of calling tricks (discuss flips, SS, Steps, Ski-Lines ...)
Make notes about scratched tricks (to explain to skiers)
Put names on trick sheets
Consistency of judging
Sample of trick writing for scorer
Trick video recall immediately after run (judge can ask for video review of single tricks)
Information about special rules
Time schedule
Time to be in position
Check walkie-talkie channels or communcation
How to fix the rope on pylon uniformly
Show X for fast 2nd segment on jumping
Show flags
Homologator & judges off-duty communicate observations immediately to CJ

Team captains/skiers meeting

Names of team representatives + mobile phone numbers for SMS (schedule changes)
Official information board(s)
Schedule of events
Driving patterns – starting dock(s)
Special rules
Gate judging
Handle throw before course entry
Jump timing – tolerances
Perfect pass trick mode
Speed adjustment before last 50m  afterwards responsibility of skier
Video trick scoring
Trick gates (end course signal)
Weigths in boat/weigth tank
Skiers rest time between passes (30 sec tricks, 45 sec slalom from end of course)
Second segment timing rule for jumping
Slalom switch usage
Handle measurement before start  handle kept by starter
Inform 3 skiers ahead of turn about handle change & trick release
Rope release rule
Team captains turn off mobile phones on getting into the boat (interference)
Pick-up system (swimming in)
All bouy timing in slalom
Starting speed for preliminary & final
Change of Kx setting possible once between passes
Number of skiers in the final – ties
Display of jump distances
additional bouys & obstacles on the water
Start lists
Use of bips
Skiers ready @ start (1’ for every missing starter, 1’ for repair) – fairness!
Mode of training
Deadline for trick sheets (whom & where & when – preliminary & final)
Correction till 1 hour before start possible
Form of trick writing
Level of homologation
Protest time (30‘) – protest fee equivalent of SFr 250
Responsibility of skiers/team captains to report on rule violations/observations

Supervise official training

During the tournament:

Before start
Supply Officials with radios & start lists
Judges in position
Check ready: Video, pick-up boat, safety in position, back-up timer
Forerunner or simulation passes
Flags, soap in boat
Check trick writing
Watch for boat course & wakes/rollers
Simulation passes after breaks
Call for judges decisions
Schedule changes  2/3 appointed judges
starting order changes  majority event judges

After the tournament:

Check & sign results
Post results with posting time (for protests)
Get 5 copies of complete results
Report to TC (esp. on rules deviations etc)
Secure video recordings of slalom, jumping & tricks and send within 7 days to region TC

Remember:

PROTEST = appointed judges

REQUEST = event judges

Unsportmanlike conduct - rule 1.10

Protests 30 minutes after results are posted – 9.01

Intended fall in tricks – 15.02