Special Olympics Maryland 2019 Winter Games Snowshoeing Pre-Competition Webinar February 18, 2019 Ron Freeman Snowshoeing Venue Director Zach Cintron SOMD Sports Director Maryland This webinar is being recorded for possible sharing on the Internet
Agenda Welcome & Introductions Snowshoeing Competition Team Schedule Events Course Layout Warm-up / Training Staging Awards Rules Reminders Weather & Attire Families & Spectators Miscellaneous Q&A
Snowshoeing Competition Team Ron Freeman Trish Miles Melissa Powers Dave Gill Ken McLaughlin (Co-venue director) (Co-venue director) (Operations Lead) (Announcer; start line coordinator) (Finish line coordinator) This webinar is being recorded for possible sharing on the Internet
Winter Games Schedule (Tentative) Sunday February 24, 2019 TIME TRIALS Time Event Location 9:00 AM 2:00 PM Delegation Registration Control Center 2 nd Floor Lodge 10:00 AM 11:45 AM Snowshoeing venue setup Whitetail Courses 11:00 AM 1:30 PM Lunch Whitetail Dining Area 1:15 1:45 PM Snowshoeing Warm-ups Mountain Ops Building 2:00 2:45 PM 400M+ Time Trials Mountain Ops Building (for 400M, 800M, 1600M, and 4x400M) 2:45 3:15 PM 25M/50M Time Trials Mountain Ops Building (for 25M and 50M) 3:15 4:00 PM 100M/200M Time Trials Mountain Ops Building (for 100M, 200M, 4x100M, and 4x200M) 3:00 6:00 PM Delegation Housing Check-in Control Center 4:30 5:45 PM Dinner Whitetail Dining Area 6:30 7:30 PM Opening Ceremony Whitetail Patio 10:00 PM HOD Meeting Ramada Plaza
Winter Games Schedule (Tentative) Monday February 25, 2019 (AFTERNOON SESSION) Time Event Location 11:00 11:45AM Lunch Whitetail Dining Area 12:00 3:00 PM Snowshoeing Competition Snowshoeing Venue Tubing Park 12:45 PM Start for Snowshoeing Awards Snowshoeing Venue Building 4:30 PM Snowshoeing Coaches Meeting Snowshoeing Venue 5:30 6:45 PM Dinner Ramada Plaza 7:00 PM Athlete Social / Dance Ramada Plaza 7:30 8:30 PM Family Reception Homewood Suites
Winter Games Schedule (Tentative) Tuesday February 26, 2019 Time Event Location 6:00 AM Breakfast Hotels 8:00 AM Delegation Registration Control Center 9:00 AM Alpine Course Inspection Whitetail Courses 9:15-12:30 PM Snowshoeing Competition Tubing Park 10:00 AM Alpine Novice Slalom Whitetail Course 10:30 AM Alpine Int. Slalom Whitetail Course 11:00 AM Alpine Adv. Slalom Whitetail Course Alpine Glide Finals Whitetail Course 11:30 AM Lunch Whitetail Dining Area
Winter Games Schedule (Tentative) Monday SNOWSHOEING DETAILED SCHEDULE (Finals) Date Time Event 2-25-19 12:15 PM Warm-ups 12:45 PM 4x200M Relay (Trad. & Unified )* 1:00 PM 1600M Race 2:00 PM 100M Race 2:45 PM 25M Race 3:15 PM 400M Race 4:15 PM Coaches Race may follow end of competition 4:30 PM Coaches meeting
Winter Games Schedule (Tentative) Tuesday SNOWSHOEING DETAILED SCHEDULE (Finals) Date Time Event 2-26 9:15 AM 200M Race 10:15 AM 50M Race 11:15 AM 800M Race 11:30 AM 4x100M Relay (Trad. & Unified ) 4x400M Relay (Trad. & Unified )
General Overview of Whitetail This session is being recorded for posting on the Internet.
Snowshoeing Venue Overview Time Trials Location (Sun) Staging for Time Trials (Sun) Awards & Family Services (Mon/Tues) Competition Area for Finals (Mon/Tues) Main Lodge and Dining Area Staging for Finals (Mon/Tues) This session is being recorded for posting on the Internet.
Snowshoeing Venue Finals (Mon & Tues) This session is being recorded for posting on the Internet.
Snowshoeing - Families & Spectators Snowshoeing Spectators Spectator space is limited due to the narrowness of the course. Interior space at the Mountain Ops building is limited and should ONLY be used for competitors and coaches, during Time Trials. Spectator space will be marked on the snow; please assist with directing spectators to their proper locations. Spectators may want to bring their own folding chairs for comfort. Spectator Walking Passes are not required at the Snowshoeing venue. Parking NO PARKING at the Mountain Operations parking lot all vehicles are to park in the general parking lots in actual parking spaces (not in the grass, etc.). This session is being recorded for posting on the Internet.
Warm-ups / Training Delegations are welcome to use the competition area as warm-up and practice areas on Monday & Tuesday. Please accommodate the Snowshoeing personnel during set-up and if/when you are asked to vacate the course. Be mindful of other snowshoeing participants and alpine skiers (on Sunday) who may be using the general area. 13
Staging & Athlete Pick-up The Time Trials location is in the operations/maintenance building The Finals location will be in the new shelters and buildings at the Tubing Park The goal is to have the Staging times/heat sheets for each distributed electronically Sunday evening and printed copies at the hotels on Monday Times are real time Competitors must be in staging by the stated time There will be an area of chairs near the start line for athletes to use to put on snowshoes prior to race. Coaches will be allowed in the Staging Area to assist with equipment etc. (if any problems arise, coach(s) will be asked to leave) Athlete Pick-up following events: At Awards Area, following presentation of awards (inside the concession building by the Tubing Park)
Awards Will be presented as each division finishes In the lodge/concession building at the Tubing Park Please do not bring snowshoes into awards area, if at all possible. If attending an awards ceremony for a given race will make an athlete late for their next event, the athlete should skip the awards presentation and go to staging for their next event (the award for the earlier event will be presented to the athlete later with full honors)
Awards /Results Information Delegations need to have someone dedicated to the awards area for meeting athletes after the presentations. The posting of results for Snowshoeing will be located outside of the building on the wall.
Rules Highlights: Equipment Factory installed toe/heel traction claws okay Minimum Size: 17.78cm x 50.8cm (7 x 20 ) Request for an exception for significantly physically smaller/younger athletes can be made at Time Trials on Sunday, but requests Monday/Tuesday will not be approved. Foot secured via direct mount binding Additional spikes are not okay Poles are optional Equipment and clothing consistent throughout competition (though will allow for weather changes) 17
2019 Events 25M Race* 50M Race* 100M Race 200M Race 400M Race 800M Race 800M Unified Race 1600M Race 4x100M Relay 4x200M Relay 4x400M Relay 4x100M Unified Relay 4x200M Unified Relay 4x400M Unified Relay Coaches Race *The 25M Race and the 50M Race are considered events for athletes not yet able to compete in the other events. 18
2019 Events Snowshoeing athletes may compete in up to three individual events plus 2 relays (1 per day). Exceptions: Athletes in the 25M Race may only also enter the 50M Race Athletes in the 50M Race may only also enter the 25M Race or the 100M Race Athletes in 50M Race may only also enter the 4x100M Relay if also entered in the 100M Race The rationale is that the 25M and 50M events are for athletes at the fundamental ability level and if the athlete is capable of competing in the 200M race then he or she doesn t belong in a fundamental event. 19
2019 Events Relays open only to athletes/partners able to race at least 100 meters. In order to participate in a relay, the athlete/partner must train for the relay with the other members of his/her relay team. 800 Meter Unified Race - Athletes and partners are to run as a tandem pair. Each person within the pair is to finish the race within five (5) seconds of one another. Failure to finish within five (5) seconds of one another will result in a DQ. A combined time of both the athlete and the partner will be recorded as the official time. The athlete and partner may hold hands however pulling, carrying, or any action deemed unsafe will result in disqualification. 20
Rules Highlights: Starts Mass start, no lanes for races longer than 100M Lanes for 25M, 50M and 100M When a race involves a curve/turn, a waterfall start will be used to equalize distances Two command start Racers ready Athletes must become still at this point Go and horn (flag for hearing impaired) Start with tips of snowshoes behind the starting line.
Rules Highlights: Starts Two false starts = DQ A false start occurs when an athlete/partner significantly moves any body part before the start signal after coming to a still set position after the Racers ready command and before the starting Go signal.
Rules Highlights: The Race Only officials and athletes/partners on course Two-Minute Rule Athlete must progress at least 20M every 2 minutes in any race 100M or longer. If athlete falls, has difficulty with equipment, or leaves course, has two minutes to correct. May not progress more than 3M without both snowshoes attached to their feet.
Rules Highlights: The Race Course adaptations / Expected terrain for Time Trials 50M Races Straight the entire distance Virtually 100% flat, including access to staging & start line and exiting at finish 100M Race Mostly straight the entire distance; may have a slight angle at 50M - Likely 100% flat, may have short uphill section at finish 400M Race Out-and-back course Straight 90M to start; slight curve to go uphill; turnaround point at 200M, with repeat of curve on return Approx 100M of course is flat followed by fairly steep 100M stretch (and downhill) followed by flat stretch
Rules Highlights: The Race Course adaptations for Winter Games Competition Oval Loop 200M loop with 100M extension This loop will affect every distance greater than 100M
Rules Highlights: Finish An athlete/partner competing in Snowshoeing has finished the race when his/her torso reaches the vertical plane of the finish line. The torso is distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands and feet. Must be wearing both snowshoes when crossing the finish line.
Rules Highlights: Relays Exchange rules are virtually identical to that for track relays (for those familiar with track relays) Exchange zone is 20M in length Exchange starts when the receiving racer first touches the baton Exchange is completed when the baton is in the hand of only the receiving racer If the baton is dropped, the person who dropped it must retrieve it (this is typically the incoming racer) How Officials Will Position Athletes/Partners at Winter Games Official will demonstrate/indicate the beginning line and ending line of the exchange zone Official will physically position the racer in the middle of the zone The racer may then move to wherever their coach has trained them to start in their zone Coach boxes will be located in the proximity of the exchange zones
Rules Highlights: Relays A relay team consists of 4 competitors, any team with fewer than 4 competitors must forfeit. Each competitor must complete one-fourth of the distance of the total relay. No competitor may complete more than one leg of any one relay. Unified Sports relay teams shall be made up of two Special Olympics athletes and two Unified Sports partners.
Rules Highlights: Relays Run orders Preliminary run orders for all races given to Ron Freeman at the conclusion of Time Trials No changes to run order on Monday/Tuesday No changes after that except for medical scratches Any other change requests will result in team racing for participation ribbons only
Disqualifications Improperly overtaking or impeding another competitor, or in any other way interfering with another competitor. Preventing another competitor from passing. Leaving the designated the course. Making two false starts. Making an improper exchange on the relay exchange area. Failing to adhere to the two-minute limit. Progressing more than three (3) meters without both snowshoes attached to the feet. Crossing the finish line without both snowshoes on the feet. Receiving physical or verbal assistance at any time after he/she crosses the start line to begin the race or before he/she crosses the finish line.
Rules Highlights: Miscellaneous Only the head coach from a delegation may file a protest. Course layout will be such that no race finishes on a curve. Course layout and schedule may be adapted based on the conditions. Locations of Coaches Boxes will be determined on Monday.
Coaching During Competition Coaching during competition is contrary to the goals of Special Olympics as it provides an unfair advantage to athletes/partners who are to be competing in their events independently. Coaching is not permitted by any coach, spectator, family member or non-competing athlete/partner. Coaching is prohibited in the start area and while the athlete/partner is on the competition course. This webinar is being recorded for possible sharing on the Internet
Coaching Continued What is coaching? Coaching is any specific assistance (words or actions) that helps an athlete gain an advantage over other athletes. Examples of coaching include statements like put your skis downhill and it will be easier to get up. Actions like skiing or running alongside a course to help the athlete across the finish line. The main purpose of this policy is to provide fair competition for all competitors. General cheering or encouragement is not considered coaching. Statements like Go John Go! or Hooray! are general and will not give an athlete an advantage. This webinar is being recorded for possible sharing on the Internet
Consequences of Coaching The consequences of coaching include: Athlete/Partner If, in the official s judgement, an athlete/partner receives assistance from coaching, the athlete/partner is DQ d from the race and will receive a Participation Ribbon for the event. Person who did the coaching If the race officials can identify the person who did the coaching, that person will: For a 1 st offense, be required to leave the race course for the duration of the event. For a 2 nd offense, be ejected from the Winter Games. This webinar is being recorded for possible sharing on the Internet
Delegations and Coaching HOD s and coaches are strongly requested to ensure that their athletes are not DQ d by a member of their delegation providing coaching while an athlete/partner is competing. Please speak to other members of the delegation as well as family members to provide this information regarding DQs and coaching during competition. This webinar is being recorded for possible sharing on the Internet
Weather and Attire The weather is being checked constantly. Please be prepared for all conditions (cold, warm, rain). Please make sure individuals stay hydrated. Layers are ideal to add or remove clothing, as the weather is unpredictable.
Families & Spectators Family Hospitality / Merchandise In main Whitetail lodge 2 nd Floor. Spectator space is somewhat limited more an issue of being narrow along the course than anything else. Interior space at Mountain Ops building is limited and should ONLY be used for competitors and coaches. Spectator space will be marked on snow; please assist in directing spectators to their proper locations. May want to bring folding sports chairs for comfort.
Miscellaneous Coaches have the opportunity to adjust competitive events following Time Trials based on the individual s performance at Time Trials. Any changes must be given by the HEAD COACH / HOD / AREA DIRECTOR to Ron Freeman by the conclusion of Time Trials. Results will be posted as races finish in a location TBD at the Snowshoeing venue Be sure to stop at Snowshoeing Control Center (table) each day to see if there is anything for your delegation. Parking is available in the main lot; no vehicles from delegations are permitted to park in the Mountain Ops parking area. 38
Miscellaneous A shuttle will be running from the lodge to the snowshoeing area on Monday & Tuesday. Lunch will be served at the main lodge (starting at 11:30) On Monday, eat lunch before coming to the snowshoeing venue On Tuesday, eat lunch after all snowshoeing competition and awards have been completed We may need assistance from delegations due to a possible low number of volunteers (Tuesday is the biggest concern) Dance Theme: Monster Mash 39
Miscellaneous Evaluation Survey (closes on 03/25/2019) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019wg_eval Those who complete the survey will be entered to win an SOMD prize (Athletes, Coaches, Families, Partners, etc.)! Please have everyone from your delegation fill out the survey! Coaches can receive feedback from athletes and enter the athletes responses for the survey as a separate entry. Please ask everyone to thank the Ski Whitetail staff This session is being recorded for posting on the Internet.
Miscellaneous In Case Athletes/Partners in Snowshoeing Go Over To Alpine as Spectators Spectator Walking Pass They will need to go to Family Hospitality in main lodge upper level to get a walking pass. A waiver will need to be signed. Only people who sign the waiver can have a ticket. Not needed for walking passes in the Snowshoeing area. This session is being recorded for posting on the Internet.
Overnight Emergencies Mike Czarnowsky, VP, Programs Ramada Plaza Mobile: 410-241-6280 Steve Bennett, Sr. Dir. Competition & Coach Dev. Ramada Plaza Mobile: 304-991-1421 These are intended for true emergencies please be respectful with these numbers and use them as needed for emergencies only.
Check-in Process and Info Delegations must check-in at the Control Center each day opens at 8:00am. For any unused tickets they must be returned to the Control Center by 1:00pm on each day (Sun., Mon. & Tues.). Bibs will be distributed on Sunday for coaches, athletes, partners delegations are basically on their own for skiing. Bibs will be used throughout the event. Coaches, please have a plan to collect the bibs at the end of each day and have them ready for competition on the following day. Parking please only park in the Public Parking areas and obey the signs from Whitetail especially Snowshoeing.
Food Services The Delegation dinner at Winter Games will be hosted by the Ramada Plaza on Monday and will be buffet style. Please eat and then clean your table to make room for others to eat. Dinner on Sunday will be at Whitetail leading up to the Opening Ceremony. The Dance will be held at the Ramada Plaza in the same location as the dinner. Please be courteous and vacate the tables when dinner is finished so that staff can turnover the room for the dance. Families will not have the option to purchase dinner tickets to eat with the Delegations, only officially registered delegation members will have tickets for the dinner. Breakfast will be available at the hotels for delegations. Lunches will be available at Whitetail Resort.
Questions & For More Info For answers to questions related to the 2019 Winter Games, or any other sportrelated issue, please contact the appropriate personnel: Sports Director Kendall Zeswitz (kzeswit@somd.org) Alpine Sports Director Zach Cintron (zcintron@somd.org) Snowshoeing Sports Director Melissa Anger (manger@somd.org) Baltimore City & Baltimore County Ron Freeman (rfreeman@somd.org) This webinar is being recorded