Becoming a Race Official

Alpine Canada’s greatest asset is our dedicated volunteers who help organize and run events. Volunteers staff the race office, help in the start and finish areas, work as gatekeepers and assist with timing, slipping and course setup.

Officials, many of which are volunteers, play a critical role in young ski racers achieving their goals and dreams. Competition would not be possible without dedicated officials and other competition volunteers. It takes a team of race officials to host an event in partnership with the local clubs and ski resorts. Alpine Canada in cooperation with the National Alpine Officials' Committee has established standards and developed tools that will allow provincial associations to deliver their officials' educational programming efficiently and in a professional manner. . Contact your local Provincial Sport Organization Officials Chairs to get started today!

Officials' Committee Chair

John Lambert (Ontario) - jlambert_56@sympatico.ca or officials@alpinecanada.org

Provincial Sport Organization Officials Chairs

British Columbia - Mark Schwenck - schwenck@telus.net

Alberta - Don Boyce - dlboyce@telusplanet.net

Ontario - Pete Dyson - dysonp@alpineontario.ca

Quebec - Claude Marquis - claude.marquis53@gmail.com

Canada District West* - Aron Klassen (Saskatchewan) - aron@acelandservices.com

*Canada district West includes; Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Nunavut and the North West Territories.

Canada District East* - Henrik Tonning (New Brunswick) - henrik.tonning@gnb.ca

Canada district East includes; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundlad and Labrador

ALPINE CANADA OFFICIALS’ CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

LEVEL 1

Level 1 manual | Level 1 presentation

This is the entry-level course. It is an overall introduction to race organization and the various officials’ positions with particular emphasis on timekeeping and gate judging. There are no course prerequisites or required experience. Participants will benefit more if they have practical experience.

Course attendance automatically qualifies the participant as Level 1 Alpine Official. Parents of entry level and K1-level racers find this course an excellent introduction to race officiating and in gaining insight into the racing program as a whole.

Course description:
Time required: Three hours.
Course fee: Set by the provincial alpine associations’ officials’ chair – includes manual and officials’ pin
Prerequisites: None
Exam: None

LEVEL 2

Level 2 manual | Level 2 presentation

This level is the second of three officials’ courses and is designed for those who have already taken the Level 1 course and have then obtained the necessary practical experience to qualify for Level 2.

Level 2 has been designed as a detailed introduction to the methodology of alpine ski racing, the types of races, rules, points systems as well as preparing officials for the managerial positions of chief of gates judges, chief of course, chief of race, start referee, finish referee and referee (coaches). It is a fairly intensive course and does not cover in any detail the material presented in Level 1.

The objectives of the course are to develop officials capable of functioning at a carded-level race and to provide a base of experience and knowledge to course participants to allow them to assume greater responsibilities at higher-level races.

Course description:
Time required: Eight hours plus a one-hour exam (may be done in one day or two evenings).
Course fee: Set by the provincial alpine associations’ officials’ chair – includes manual and officials’ pin.
Prerequisites: Level 1 certification and practical experience in at least three different 
officials’ positions from two different categories which cover a minimum of eight days race experience.
Exam: One hour – multiple choice, true/false and short answers. Open book.

LEVEL 3

Level 3 manual (updated) | Level 3 presentation

This level further prepares officials for all chief positions and for minimum-entry qualifications for the Technical Delegate (TD) Program. It is designed for those officials who have obtained Level 2 and since then have gained specific practical experience as covered in the Alpine Officials’ Certification Program. It is an interactive course in which the major emphasis will be discussion and exchange of ideas, opinions and race experiences by the participants. An examination of the course outline will show the variety and depth of the material covered.

The level requires the official to gain all necessary knowledge (experience not included) to manage races at the national or FIS level. The course directs the participant to use the FIS ICR Book and apply the rules and their interpretation in precise circumstances. This level develops the volunteer’s judgment and leadership skills in concrete situations.

Course description: 
Time required: 12 hours. Generally given on a weekend but can be given over four evenings.
Course fee: Set by the provincial alpine associations’ officials’ chair – includes manual, course materials and officials’ pin.
Prerequisites: This course is only open to those who have the necessary prerequisites or are identified as being very close to having the necessary practical experience to take the course. Participants must be recommended by their provincial alpine associations’ officials’ chair.
Exam: Two-hour open book exam.

LEVEL 4

This level is for those officials who have gained further experience at national or international level races and who have demonstrated superior knowledge and ability as an official. The provincial alpine associations’ officials’ chair must recommend the Level 4 nominee to the national Officials’ Committee.

Admission for coaches into the officials’ program
All Canadian Ski Coaches’ Federation (CSCF) Level 1 and higher can attend the Level 2 officials’ course without any other criteria of eligibility.
Prerequisite for referee – Level 2 CSCF and Level 2 official certification.
All Level 3 or 4 CSCF coaches can attend a Level 3 officials’ course without criteria of eligibility.

Officials’ recognition and identification
All officials will receive a national pin in recognition of their certification level.

Officials’ requirements to maintain certification
Upon qualification, the initial period of certification and practical requirements to maintain certification for each officials’ level is as follows:
Level 1    Three years    Activity as an official
Level 2    Three years    Work a minimum four race days in a three-year period and an officials’ update every two years.
Level 3    Two years       Work a minimum of  four- race days a year and an officials’ update every two years.
Level 4    Two years       Work four days a year as a TD or chief level or to the satisfaction of the officials’ chair. Attend an officials’ update every two years.

TECHNICAL DELEGATE PROGRAM

A technical delegate (TD) is a person who has advisory control over pre-race and race operation and together with other members of the jury has complete control over the competitive operation of a race. He or she along with the jury have the final decision in all matters of racer protection and have the authority to cancel, postpone or annul the race if necessary. In all cases, the TD is the representative of the governing body by whom he/she is appointed.

Technical delegate levels and criteria
A TD must have a broad working knowledge and experience as an official and have demonstrated an ability to handle a variety of on-hill situations in a calm and knowledgeable manner. The requirements for certification at the various levels are:

Regional technical delegate (only Ontario) 

Level 2 officials’ certification. 
Recommended by the divisional and provincial alpine association’s officials’ chair. 

PSO technical delegate – Technical (T)

Level 3 officials’ certification. 
Recommended by the provincial alpine association’s officials’ chair for TD certification. 

PSO technical delegate – Technical/speed (T/S)

Level 3 officials’ certification. 
Certified in technical, downhill and super-G events. 

National technical delegate

Level 4 officials’ certification. 
Licensed divisional TD (T) and/or (T/S). 
Recommended by the provincial alpine association’s officials’ chair to the Alpine Canada Officials’ Committee. 

FIS technical delegate

The first step in entering the FIS TD program is nomination by two members of the national ski association, one of those members must be a licensed FIS technical delegate. The nomination must be signed by the PSO officials’ chair and PSO president prior to being sent to the Alpine Canada Officials’ Committee. The Alpine Canada Officials’ Committee TD sub-committee makes recommendations if the nominee should enter the FIS-candidate program and is accepted by the FIS commissioner for Canada.
If accepted, the candidate follows the program outlined in ICR 602.

*The minimum criteria to be assigned as a PSO/national technical delegate are the following:

Regional technical race: Level 2 
PSO technical race and speed event: Level 3 
National race events: Level 4. 

RACE ORGANIZATION

The organizing committee of the sponsoring club or association is responsible for the overall conduct of an event.

The officials that are needed for an event will depend on the particular needs of the event and the availability of people. Nearly all of the activities needed to stage a FIS race take place at lower-level races. The various procedures will differ as will the number and qualifications of the various officials involved. For example, at a high-level race there will be a chief of awards and presentations to research and obtain prizes and to arrange a special awards ceremony. At a lower- level race, the race chairperson or the chief of administration (race secretary) will obtain the prizes and will quite often award them at the award ceremony. Further examples: the area ski patrol handles first aid and often security rather than a special team assembled just to cover that particular race; the chief of course will probably also act as chief of equipment and do course maintenance. In each case, the goal is accomplished and the rules were followed. 

Race organizing committee
The actual running of a race is done by the race organizing committee (ROC); the ROC’s chief or chairperson heads the committee. The race committee appoints the chief officials, assistants and crews.

Race jury
The jury is responsible for all decisions pertaining to the race, for the arbitration of protests and for upholding the rules. The jury members must collaborate closely with the race committee through the chief of race. Jury members include the technical delegate (chairman of the jury), chief of race, referee, assistant referee (for speed events) and two non-voting jury advisors - the start referee and finish referee. Jury members must be qualified with specific officials’ certifications for the level of race event.

Qualifications for jury members:

Downhill and super-G races

Chief of race:

FIS - Level 3 - Official certification
PSO race - Level 2 certification

Assistant referee: 

Coach with at least a Level 2 coach certification, plus Level 2 officials’ certification.

Referee:  

Coach with at least a Level 2 coach certification and a Level 2 officials’ certification or a FIS or division licensed speed TD

Technical delegate:

 FIS - FIS technical delegate

PSO - Technical delegate - speed certification and minimum Level 3

Technical events

Technical delegate:   

FIS - FIS technical delegate
PSO - Minimum of Level 3 divisional technical delegate
Regional races - Level 2

Chief of race:   

FIS - Level 3 official
PSO - Level 2 official

Referee:

Level 2 coach and Level 2 officials’ certification.

Assistant referee: 

Level 1 or 2 coach 

Introductory program 

Start and finish referees:

In addition to the above, there are two jury advisors - start referee and finish referee. They are appointed by the race committee.

They are responsible for the start and finish areas respectively.

They advise the jury concerning competitor disqualifications and may with the approval of the jury allow provisional starts/re-runs.

All races, including weekly races must have one Level 2 official and three Level 1 officials in charge.

Note: the above are minimum qualifications for race jury positions

Supporting the Coaching Staff - Under Development

Becoming a Board Member - Under Development