tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post3718079163207109470..comments2024-01-22T09:45:29.790+01:00Comments on Racing Rules of Sailing - Look to Windward: Support your local JudgeJoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346870418220762709noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post-65553506913997014962008-05-14T01:10:00.000+02:002008-05-14T01:10:00.000+02:00I totally support the idea of;Mentoring Judges and...I totally support the idea of;<BR/><BR/>Mentoring Judges and Judge's in Training. If every Judge took one "under his or her wing", we could double the pool of excellant judges in a year.<BR/><BR/>Provide more local and regional training, and certainly not always that which accompanies the certification process and test. <BR/><BR/>At our recent "roundtable" held in Newport, RI this spring, Judges in attendance were begging for more training oppornunities. Many said they would like more work, and were seeing fewer protests, and hearing fewer hearings. <BR/><BR/>US Sailing has done a great job improving particularly it's race management training but also it's Judges program. The Judges program is moving target as the program improves rule book to rule book. That said, the Judges certification program is less "training" and more validation of skills and rules knowledge, with an overview of approved procedure, all required for approval of their certified judges, and issuance of US Sailing insurance coverage. I would assume the ISAF International Judge course is similar, in that you need to be fully knowlegable and conversent on the rules and skills as a judge to "pass".<BR/><BR/>We as Judges need to organize more oppornunities for "students of the rules" and those who judge to socially interact and work towards providing better judging for the competetors and our sport.<BR/><BR/>Ron Hopkins<BR/><BR/>PS: By popular demand, watch for details on a full day, "Judges Roundtable", Fall 2008.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post-31460154907332103112008-05-13T03:01:00.000+02:002008-05-13T03:01:00.000+02:00Support your local Judge!Interesting concept. Yes ...Support your local Judge!<BR/><BR/>Interesting concept. Yes both the local clubs, regional organization and national organization needs to support the local judges. I have found that this does occur and have been reward greatly both from the experience and the great individuals I have met. I have made great friends and continue to lean on in my quest of becoming a better judge. This is where I think the organization falls a little apart. Like most group with limited budget it is spent on the sailors not the officials. I have been luckly to maybe in the right spot at the right time but I have had some IJ who had the foresight to say "Hey this guy has some skills and hasthe right thinking process". Others have come along and said your right, what can we do? Answer his questions, help him develop his skill set. This is where I think we are weak at. I have that this is like going back to school. There is a process and language for sailing and one needs to understand it.<BR/> Do not get me wrong, as I have said, I am enjoying it, and I have commented on that this is sometimes harder than my normal job.<BR/>Oh by the way, why am I doing this. I got a engineering degree paid by sailing (teaching) and got hired because of sailing as the interviewer was interested in my sailing. So it is giving back to the sport to what the sport gave back to me.<BR/><BR/>Robert Stewart P.Eng <BR/>Alberta<BR/>CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com