Mid-Atlantic Cycling Officials Information

Last Updated 3/13/2012

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NOTE -- Many of the new links are to PDF documents that require Acrobat 5.0 or higher.  Click here for a free download 

2012 Clinic Dates Set:

Entry Level Motor Referee Clinic (C-MR Clinic) -- Saturday, March 3, (West County Library, Odenton), Clinic conducted by Jim Patton.
 
Clinic covers basics of using a motorcycle during bicycle races.  The course material assumes that all attendees are licensed officials and fully understand basic referee duties and responsibilities.  The clinic is a classroom only event -- motorcycles are not required for the clinic.  The clinic material is based on the Motorcycle Handbook which can be downloaded at http://www.usacycling.org/forms/rules/04_motoref.pdf or www.skooterrefs.com .  There will be a multiple choice test on the USAC rules of racing that apply to the motor referee duties at the end of the clinic (reviewing the road race rules prior to the clinic is highly recommended).  Attendees who successfully complete this clinic will be designated C-MotoRef.

The clinic is planned for 09:15 - 4:45.   Lunch (probably Subway sandwiches) will be included  Fee for this clinic is $25 payable in advance.  To be registered for this clinic, please forward the clinic fee to Jim Patton, 1803 Roxboro Place, Crofton, MD 21114.  For additional information, contact Jim Patton, jim@jimpatton.net.

Library Information:
West County Area Library
1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton 21113
410-222-6277

Cross Officials and Promoters Pre-season planning meeting -- July 22 (Maryland City at Russett Library), Clinic facilitator Jim Patton.

1:00-4:45   Review 2011 (What was good, and not so)
                    How do we improve 2012? 

Library Information:
Maryland City at Russett Branch
3501 Russett Common, Laurel, MD 20724
301-725-2390

We communicate via an e-mail list and we manage our races on www.usac-officials.org:

The MACO e-mail list has been replace by a new incorporated in our new Scheduling website.  If you have an active license, go to www.usac-officials.org and sign-up under the "e-mail" pull-down.

Digging deeper than e-mail, all of our assignments are now made using the www.usac-officials.org website.  When you register on the site, select MABRA as your association.  You'll still be able to go to the other associations and request races, etc., but you'll be logged into our MABRA area initially.  There is now a User's Guide available to fully understand the capabilities of this valuable tool.

Computer for the Finish Line:

MABRA finish lines will now use a new Macbook and iMovie to easily record and pick the final placings.  The Macbook is VERY user friendly.  iMovie is even easier to use.  To help you become familiar with  program, here is a link to the iMovie HD Getting Started.  We'll only be using the basic record and playback features!  Recording is a simple "click".  Play back is a touch on the space bar to start and stop; the left and right arrow keys do the frame-by-frame.  No more monitors, no more IR remote control, just a computer screen!

Learn about UCI Bike measurement:

Here is a link to a primer on measuring bikes using the UCI measurement jig Link.  MABRA owns one of the basic jigs and it will be used to measure bikes at our local Time Trials.  This is in preparation for National Championships.  Check out the link.

New Printing Stopwatch

We have a new Seiko S149 printing stopwatch that should be easier to use than our old one.  Here is the Seiko S149 Manual for early study.

Motorcycle Handbook:
 
The Motorcycle Handbook on-line.  Go to the SkooterRefs website, clicking on Training Information  will take you to the download page.            

Reference Lists and Information:

USAC-Officials.org User's Guide
MABRA Calendar w/ CR assignments
Officials List
USACSchedule of Fees
USAC Rulebook (Current) (New format, contains all USA Cycling rules)
UCI Rules (Current)
Race Official's Administrative Handbook
Officials Manual Part 1 General Officiating Principles
Officials Manual Part 2 Officiating Road Events
Officials Manual Part 3 Officiating Track Events
Update Clinic Slides--February 19. 2011
Cat C Clinic Slides - Large file
Cat B Clinic Slides (2010), General, Road, Track
Seiko S149 Printing Stopwatch Manual
2011 Cross Clinic Slides
2011 Annual Update Slides for MABRA
USA Cycling New Rules Webinar (about 2 hours)

Clothing:

USAC has a full clothing program available on-line.  All your needs should be covered, including patches.  Click here or a direct link.

Meet your Finish Line Camera!!!


The 25 Most Important Things To Know About Officiating-- Article from January 2001 Referee magazine, click to download PDF.  Great food for thought for ALL officials (any sport)

General Questions (and the correct (perhaps) answers):

1. Motors Referee Information -- Including a great Road Racing Handbook, see SkooterRefs website

2. So, you want to Up-Grade?  Here are the guidelines:

Regional "B"
      Minimum age, 19 years
      At least one season of experience
      Worked 10  Regional events in road, track, or cyclo-cross as an official
           - The official must show that the event work was in a variety of positions for each of the disciplines in which an upgrade is sought.
       For a full review of the new module based Cat B upgrade program, click here

Officials Level A Program -- 12/2010

Welcome to a very important stage in your career as an official. When you reach level A, you have made the transition from a local and regional official to a national-level one, and you are immediately on the radar screen of the National Technical Commission and the staff of USA Cycling. This means you have access to higher level races and are offered the opportunity to apply for National Championships, UCI races, and NRC races. However, we require a lot of our top officials, so do not take this step lightly. We assume a level A official is dedicated to being a professional cycling official. There will be more responsibility, more evaluations, and more continuing education. If none of that daunts you, read on.

Requirements for Upgrades

All of the experience requirements below are from the time a person became a B level official. All requirements are also specific to the discipline (road or track). In other words, if you have to have 25 races, then it is 25 races for road AND 25 races for track if you are doing both.

General Requirements

> Minimum age of 21 years
> 25 races in any position
> At least 4 of the 25 must be at the national level or higher (NRC races, National  Championships, UCI races, etc.)
> Two seasons minimum since reaching B
> Take the level A upgrade clinic and pass the test with at least a 75%
> Take level B module 0, 12,13, and 14

Road Upgrades

> Of the 25* races since becoming a B, at least two must be stage races
> Must be Chief Referee at 5 races minimum
> Must be Chief Judge at 5 races minimum

     Only two Cyclocross races count for the road upgrade experience.

Track Upgrades

> Must be Chief Referee at 5 races minimum
> Must be starter at 5 races minimum
> Must be Chief Judge or Race Secretary at 5 races minimum

 

3. Motor Referee Program, including upgrade process
 
C-Motoref (C-MR)
This would be the starting point for someone who is an official but who has not necessarily done any motoreferee work.
  • Must have a level C officials license or better at the time of the first motoref clinic.
  • Successfully completes the initial course (one-day seminar, with test)
  • Works at E-C level events
  • Works at B level events if under the tutelage* of a level A motoref
  • Works A level events if under the tutelage* of a level A motoref with a recommendation of the Motoref Commission
B-Motoref (B-MR)
This is a motoref that has some gained substantial experience since earning the C-MR certification. This person will have experience in criteriums, road races, and time trials. He or she may also have participated as a motoref in level B or A races with caravans per the stipulations above.
  • Must have a level B road officials license
  • Detailed resume documenting 10 road events as a C-MR

o At least 5 events as circuit or road race events
o At least 2 events as lead or follow moto for a Criterium

  • Two recommendations from A-MR, International Commissaires, or Regional Coordinators
  • Recommendations must include data from documented personal observations at events
  • Works up through B level events
  • Works A level events if under the tutelage* of a level A motoref
A- Motoref (A-MR)
This is the highest level certified. This person has experience at all levels of motorefing, including work with large caravans. This person also has extensive understanding of the rules of cycling, the relationship of the motorefs to the commissaires, and the nature of international rules and interpretations.
  • Attends and passes the level A motoref course
  • Has a minimum of one season as a B motoref before upgrading**
  • Detailed resume documenting 15 events as a B-MR
o At least 10 circuit or road race events
o At least 3 events at the National Calendar level or higher
  • Three recommendations from A-MR and international commissaires
o Recommendations must be based on documented personal observations at events.
o At least one recommendation must come from an international commissaire or a member of the motoref commission.
  • Works all events.
* Note that under this usage of “tutelage”, the fact that an A-MR is present is not sufficient in itself. If this A-MR is not someone who is going to help the other motorefs or the schedule is not conducive to that being possible, then this situation should not be allowed and is not counted as a qualifying resume experience.
** Two years would be better, and it would take some serious recommendations for a single year to be acceptable

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jim Patton
jim@jimpatton.net
1803 Roxboro Place
Crofton, MD 21114
301-541-7175 -- Google Voice number - Text OK