USSA Officials Seminar Sprint Procedures
Agenda Why sprint? What is sprint? Sprint schedule Setup of sprint start and finish Sprint courses How to organize a sprint Jury work Athlete racing rules Video examples
Why Sprint? Renew, improve media & spectator interest Popular with young skiers Close and exiting races Spectator friendly, in view Can be held in new places Short loop; tactic, technique, speed Can be held in stadiums Needs less courses, snow, preparation New skiers do well
Photo finish
What is Sprint? Qualification time trial same course as final heats (1-1.5 km) 15 second start interval best ranked skiers start first (no/less overtaking) Rounds of elimination heats heat size of 4 or 6 top 2 or 3 skiers advance to next round new heat starts every ~5 minutes
Example - Schedule Sprint Heats Time Event 09:00 W Qualification 09:30 M Qualification 12:30 W Quarterfinal 1 12:35 W Quarterfinal 2 12:40 W Quarterfinal 3 12:45 W Quarterfinal 4 12:55 M Quarterfinal 1 13:00 M Quarterfinal 2 13:05 M Quarterfinal 3 13:10 M Quarterfinal 4
Competition Schedule Sprint Heats Time Event 13:20 W Semifinal 1 13:25 W Semifinal 2 13:35 M Semifinal 1 13:40 M Semifinal 2 13:50 W Final B 13:57 W Final A 14:07 M Final B 14:15 M Final A
Start Setup of start and finish Split holding pen one part for all athletes one part for current/next heat Jury member organizing next heat s athletes Lowest number (or winners) choose lane first Line up on pre-start/holding line (1 m in front) Starter takes over: To the line! No movement BANG!
Finish Setup of start and finish Well marked finish lanes (flags, tassels) At least 4 lanes of 3 m (10 feet) each Lanes even/equal across (use forerunners?) Well marked start of finish zone (skier can not switch lanes inside zone unless overtaking) Finish photo/video camera If tie, best qualification time advances/wins
Courses Sprint Courses From 1-1.5 km (3 minute race optimal?) Should include some straight uphills Should avoid sharp corners in critical points (start or before finish) Corners should be fenced/v-boarded (to avoid short-cuts)
Courses Sprint Courses Close course before start? Can use marked corridors somewhere on course skiers must stay in marked corridors must be on straight sections => makes overtaking easier Finish stretch should not be downhill Finish zone should be at at least 100 m straight Course should be in view from stadium - and with video/vcr available (planning!)
Example - Sprint profile
How to Organize a Sprint Important elements: Qualification: Needed at all (16 or 24 competitors in class)? start interval (15, 20 or 30 sec)? start order (goal to limit overtaking) Draw for best seed, by points for others information to qualifiers (as soon as possible) length of break before final heats? Plan for bib handout after qualification Often done in meeting w/coaches or? Extra bibs (1-16 or 1-24)
How to Organize a Sprint Important elements: Start crew need constant information (who advanced?) information from timing room Starter confident, strong voice (false start procedure?) TD and Jury positioned, separate tasks (see later slide) Announcing in communication (radio) with Chief of Race?
How to Organize a Sprint Important elements: Information and communication to athletes&coaches information board at start and finish announcer coaches in finish (or start) area for Jury information (DQ, etc)
Result formats
Athlete racing rules What are the athletes responsibilities?
Individual racing rules Competitors by their way of skiing shall contribute to an honest sport event, and to the safe progress of the race in order to determine the result of the race based on its merits
Individual racing rules Overtaking is allowed at all times, but the responsibility for any obstruction or collision shall be upon the skier overtaking, provided the skier being overtaken does not act improperly.
Individual racing rules Breaches of the racing rules are considered as follows: Off-track: Shortening the distance to be skied with one or both skis inside any marked curve Impeding: Deliberately impeding, blocking, charging, or pushing any other competitor with any part of the body or equipment Cross-track: Improperly crossing the course in front of, or in any way interfering with another competitor
Individual racing rules cont.. Breaches of the racing rules are considered as follows: Slowing down: Unnecessarily slowing down thereby causing another competitor to slow up or collide Assistance: Permitting to give and/or receive assistance during the race. Team skiing: During a race any action that in any way is beneficial to the result of another skier is considered team skiing, and all involved skiers shall be disqualified.
Jury Work Jury organization Examples of Jury cases
Jury organization during race Responsibilities and positions Start - start procedure and start rights Photo-Finish video - determine ranking Course - determine obstruction Finish zone (100 m) - determine proper skiing in lanes VCR machine - review cases, assist w/decision Finish area - inform team leaders, make decision
Disqualification The Jury(TD) decides whether an infringement of the racing rules has taken place and whether the competitor shall be disqualified. A disqualification must be announced at the end of each heat/round, both to the competitor s team leader/coach, and over the public address system for the benefit of the spectators. Protests against any decisions concerning infringements of the racing rules will not be accepted.
Jury Work Cases causing protest or Jury discussion during Olympics/Pre-Olympics skiing inside V-boards in corner skier crash (causing tangle) ski stepped on (causing crash) counter-protest from involved skiers/country false start not stopped changing lanes near start of finish zone changing lanes inside finish zone
View parts of Olympic video