Mid-Atlantic Cycling Officials Information

Last Updated 2/7/2010

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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 

Click here for Who Worked What in 2009

2010 Annual Update Webinar Recording
      We did a combined MABRA/VCA Update Clinic using Webinar technology.  The recording of the session is available for your review 2010 Annual Update Webinar Recording.  It is 125 meg, and over two hours long.  It plays in Windows Media and worked fine in QuickTime on my MAC.  If you want to review the slides w/o the audio, 2010 Update Clinic.

2010 Clinic Dates Set:

Entry Level Clinic, PLAN D, Sunday 2/14/10, Clinic conducted by Jim Patton.

I'm continuing the march through the alphabet.  We conducted the Annual Update by Webinar on Saturday during the snow storm -- you can view it above.  An Saturday, 2/14/10, I will conduct the Entry Level Clinic.  If there are new people, I will restart the entire clinic.  If there are no new people, I'll simply restart the clinic. The schedule MAY be revised depending on interest.  Check back and watch your e-mail

Agenda -- 2/14/10 -- Crofton Town Hall
    8:00 Start Entry Level Clinic
    9:30 Continue Clinic for those who started earlier.
    1:30 Complete Entry Level Course Work and start the Exam
    4:00 Review of the test and wrap-up Entry Level Clinic

DIRECTIONS:

  · CROFTON TOWN HALL, 1576 Crofton Parkway, Crofton, MD — suggest Google Maps to see the location
- From Rt. 3 turn South on Rt 424 (K-Mart Shopping Center). Turn Right on Duke of Kent Street.
- The Town Hall is on your left at the "T" intersection with Crofton Parkway (it looks exactly like all the other houses around it.

Alternate Entry Level Clinics:

-  Snow Date - February 14,  VCA Clinc, http://www.vacycling.org/2010/flyers/clinic.pdf, Contact Ruth Stornetta
-  February 14, PCA Clinic, Entry Level and Annual Update, Clinic starts at 9:30 AM. 
        DeSales University, Center Valley, PA, contact Ellen
        http://www.desales.edu/assets/desales/CampusMap/DSUmap708.pdf
-  March 6,  NJBA Clinc, Somerset, NJ, Contact Debbie
          

Entry Level Motor Referee Clinic (C-MR Clinic) -- Saturday, February 20 (West County Library, Odenton, MD), 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 - 5:00.   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.

DIRECTIONS:
  ·         West County Area Library
      -          1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton 21113

Level B-Clinic -- Saturday, March 6 (West County Library, Odenton, MD), Clinic conducted by Jim Patton.

Attendance at this clinic requires prior approval -- Contact Jim Patton
Clinic hours: 9:00 -- 4:45
Current requirements include:
      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.
       Successfully complete the 1 day USAC Regional B Race Official Training Course.
           -  70% minimum score on USAC Regional B Race Official Exam
           -  Exam is in three sections: General, Road/Cross, and Track.  Candidate must pass the General and one of the other sections to be upgraded.
 

DIRECTIONS:
  ·         West County Area Library
      -          1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton 21113

 

FOR PROMOTERS -- MABRA 2010 Calendar Building:

The MABRA Calendar-2010 is being updated daily as I receive information.  Please send your race information to me and our Permits Team (date, race name, location, type of race and promoter's contact information) to schedule a 2010 event.  If you want a date that has already listed, it is up to YOU to contact the other promoter and arm wrestle for the date.  Please remember that the MABRA policy is for one and only one BAR event on any day.

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.

Who worked in 2008?

Check the current spread sheet HERE.  Additions, errors -- contact Jim Patton.
 
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--January 31, 2009
Seiko S149 Printing Stopwatch Manual

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.
       Successfully complete the 1.5-2 day USAC Regional B Race Official Training Course.
           -  70% minimum score on USAC Regional B Race Official Exam

Regional "A"
    Road
       · 2 seasons minimum as a level B official
        · 21 years old
        · Minimum of 25 races officiated
            o At least 2 of the 25 must be stage races
            o 5 events as Chief Judge
            o 5 events as Chief Referee
            o At least 4 of the 25 must be at the national level or higher
    Track
        · 2 seasons minimum as a level B official
        · 21 years old
        · Minimum of 25 races officiated
            o 5 events as Chief Judge or secretary
            o 5 events as starter
            o 5 events as Chief Referee
            o At least 4 of the 25 must be at the national level or higher

         Successfully complete the 3-5 day USAC Regional A Race Official Training Course
           -  75% minimum score on USAC Regional A Race Official Exam
 

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
410-721-7650 (evenings before 9)
202-781-1591 (days)
301-332-3358 (cell)