Rules and Regulations
Rules Committee Mission
The mission of the Rules Committee is to formulate a framework of rules consistent with high school ski racing nationally, taking into consideration the purpose of our ski league, which is to encourage and train young people in the sport and enjoyment of alpine skiing. Our league attempts to be inclusive rather than exclusive, yet we want to provide ample challenge our better, more experienced racers.
Due to the size, location and other unique features of our race league, the coaches have to wear many hats. It was proposed and accepted that we review the USSA Alpine Officials Manual, adapt as necessary to fit our league and make copies of our additional rules available to each team. This is to help everyone involved to understand some of the complexities of organized ski racing while using the knowledge within to facilitate our own races. Please note that at this time that SKIER SAFETY IS THE CHIEF GOAL OF ALL RACING.
With this in mind the rules committee has examined the following topics:
Rules Jury and Technical Deligate
Race Administration
Race Scoring
Further Documentation
We follow all of the FIS/USSA official rules for alpine ski racing. In certain instances, however, we have needed to clarify/document how these rules should be interpreted when applied to a high school racing league. Wherever FIS guidelines don't apply to the running of a high school race, we have attempted to interpret how the rules apply to us without changing the overall intent of the official rules.
Further documentation is available related to the following topics:
2004-2005 MIAA State Championship Tournament Rules for Alpine Skiing
RUNNING AND SCORING
Rules are formulated by the USSA, FIS, and the ICR.
1) See chart IV in the AO manual. Note that we added assistant starter to the list
2) We have decided that forerunners should ski all courses. These should be JV, coaches, or hosting mountain personnel. Chief of course should ski course.
3) Running Order. The running order for a given heat will begin with the team designated as the Chief of Race, then follow numerically. For example, if Belmont is the COR, the running order is Belmont(5), Scituate(6), Hingham(7), Natick(9), Norwell(10), Needham(11), NDA/BC High(0), St.Sebastian's(2), Sacred Heart(4). There will be 10 heats, each consisting of one skier from each participating school. Skiers in the first heat shall have bib numbers ending in zero, skiers in the second heat will have bib numbers ending in a one, and so forth up to the tenth heat which shall consist of skiers with bib numbers ending in nine. Junior Varsity skiers will race at the conclusion of the varsity race, when allowed.
4) Scoring - low point system.
Individual
score = order of finish
DSQ = number of entries that day
DNS = number of skiers in the league
Team
team score = total scores of the top six racers
1st place = 0.75points
2nd place = 2 points
3rd place = 3 points
etc.
DNR=# of teams +1
Throw-outs
individuals get one "throw-out" race if there are more than 3 races.
individuals get two "throw-out" races if there are more than 5 races.
team throw-outs MAY (or may not) be granted by the BOG.
team throw-outs should be requested in advance whenever possible.
last minute team throw-outs are only for "acts of God".
team throw-outs will be awarded points based on the year average.
5) Gatekeeping. The League President shall assign each team gakekeeping responsibilities based on team size. Assigned team(s) responsible for #4 gatekeepers at Blue Hills, and #6 gatekeepers at Ragged Mountain (or other mountains) for 1/2 the day. A +1 penalty will be added to the team score for EACH absent gatekeeper (no exceptions). The Chief of Gatekeepers is responsible for assigning such a penalty and notifying the Scorer.Chief of Race is responsible for making ruling Re: inclement weather by noon. Chief of Race is also responsible for providing two scoring assistants for the following race. These assistants are necessary in order to assist with running scoresheets from the finish line to the posted scoresheet (new rule, 2003-04).
TYPICAL RACE
1) Personnel
Technical Delegate oversees race
Chief of Race runs the race
Chief of Course inspects the course, primarily for safety
Start Referee starts racers and watches top gates
Assistant Start Referee organizes racers to proper seed order
Finish Referee watches last few gates and finish line
Assistant Finish Referee assists Finish Referee as necessary
Time Keepers one for each course responsible for recording times
Backup Time Keepers responsible for recording all times as backup
Gatekeepers observe proper passage through gates. Record DSQs and return scoring sheets to Chief of Gatekeepers ASAP following each run. Gatekeepers and Chief of Gatekeepers must remain on the mountain until race results are certified to testify before jury if needed.
2) Pre Race
A) Seeded list is prepared, numerical only.
B) Chief of Race has been chosen and will decide if race will be cancelled because of inclement weather or lack of snow.
3) Race
A) Coaches and racers arrive and prepare to race
B) Coaches list racer names and bib numbers clearly on appropriate scoreboard. It is the responsibility of each skier and coach to verify the accuracy of this information prior to certification of the race results. Failure to comply with this rule shall result in disqualification and may result in additional team or individual penalties, as determined by the BOG.
C) The Course is set and inspected by the Chief of Course, and Okay is given to the Chief of Race.
D) Skiers and coaches shall inspect the course. Any skier who "skis" or "races" the course during the inspection period shall be disqualified.
E) Personnel take positions
F) Forerunners ski course
G) Chief of race confers with T.D. and OKs race start
H) Racers ski course per running order
I) A skier who believes he/she is entitled to a re-run shall IMMEDIATELY ski out of the course and notify the closest gatekeeper. He/she shall then ski down adjacent to the course to the vicinity of the finish and request a re-run from the Finish Referee. Failure to comply with this rule may result in disqualification.
J) Provisional and permanent re-runs are skied
K) Course is closed
4) Post Race
A) Chief of race gathers defaults from gatekeepers
B) Coaches record protests, if any, and notify Chief of Gatekeepers, COR and scorer ASAP and prior to the certification of the race results (see item "f"). Failure to comply with this rule may result in disqualification.
C) Jury meets if necessary
D) Jury notes are recorded and delivered to the Chief of Race
E) Changes, if any, are made to the scoreboard
F) Scorer certifies race results and removes posted score sheet
JURY AND ADMINISTRATORS
1) The Jury of a race is usually comprised of the following members.
Technical Delegate who is a USSA official and assigned by the sanctioning group i.e.:Ski East BOG, USSA, BWD, NCAA. His or Her role is to guide and help race administration to a legal and safe race.
Chief of Race who is a USSA official and usually is the Host Team Coach. Role is to run the race and make sure all issues are attended to.
Chief of Course is appointed by the Ski East BOG. His or Her role is to make sure the course is safe and within the parameters of the race. i.e.: GS vs. Slalom.
Referee who is appointed by the coaches or team captains and is outside the host organization. Reviews the course and represents the competitors on the jury.
Assistant Referee who is the referee assistant and shares the same duties and responsibilities.
Two other non-voting members of the jury are the Start and Finish Referees. They are appointed by the League President and are represented by their voice only.
2) Because the rules are sometimes subject to interpretation, we have the jury to make these interpretations if necessary. Because of the limited time an personnel, disputes will be handled as follows:
A) A "Fast Track" jury to arbitrate disqualifications on the mountain will consist of the TD, COC, COR, and Chief of Gatekeepers. A hearing will take place as soon as feasible, or at the conclusion of the race. A skier and/or his coach may appeal the findings of this hearing and request that the dispute will be taken before the formal jury.
B) The formal jury will consist of one coach from each participating team. After the initial vote, in case of a tie, the TD will be the tiebreaker. In this case, the TD may vote twice.
C) The TD will be the head of the Jury, but the COR will be responsible for bringing all information bearing to the decision to the meeting.
3) Therefore it was discussed and concluded that to run a race fairly, safely, and within the parameters of national ski racing, a race administration group was necessary to run, oversee, and act as the eyes and ears of the race. This administrative group would consist of the following:
A) TD who would oversee and guide the race. Recommended that he or she be appointed for the season for Ski East to help things run fairly and smoothly throughout the season. He/she is a member of the "Fast Track" Jury.
B) Chief of Race who would be appointed weekly from the participating teams and could staff and execute the race.
C) Chief of Course who would inspect the course and report to the COR on course safety, etc. Recommended that he/she be a permanent position or rotated through the season but come from the veteran ski racer core. Member of the "Fast Track" jury.
D) Start Referee who may rotate with an assistant through the season. Duties are to watch the starts and first few gates if necessary.
E) Finish Referee who also may rotate with an assistant. Duties are to watch the finish line and possibly the last few gates. Responsible for awarding reruns.
F) Chief of Gatekeepers organizes and oversees the gatekeepers who have been assigned to officiate the race. Collects gatekeeper score sheets and delivers them to the scorer immediately following each heat. Member of the "Fast Track" jury.
4) It should be noted here that a coach-as-an-administrator's primary duty is to the race and the league as a whole. We assume a coach will not accept this role without some assistance of other coaching staff within his/her organization. We expect to have some members of the administration be jury members. |
