tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post5890283853876430173..comments2024-01-22T09:45:29.790+01:00Comments on Racing Rules of Sailing - Look to Windward: Flog the Fact Finding Friday – Mid-Term ReviewJoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10346870418220762709noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post-58366584351206733122009-05-01T03:22:00.000+02:002009-05-01T03:22:00.000+02:00Thanks Dick, Mike B, John G, Countess and Chief Gr...Thanks Dick, Mike B, John G, Countess and Chief Grinning Bear.<br /><br />My aim, like any good coach, is to turn us all into 'self-coaching athletes'. We can learn form others, and we can learn, by reflection, from ourselves. But I'm happy to provide a bit of framework and facilitation.<br /><br />One of the key issues I had in mind when I proposed this series to Jos was that the sort of rules discussions we write in answer to rules problems in blogs and forums, have a much more discursive / persuasive / tentative / polemic style than a decision should, so an opportunity to adopt the decision 'register' was useful.<br /><br />Certainly I am advocating a deliberate, systematic approach, but I hope that, with practice, we will quickly and correctly apply the principles we have practiced without having to think about it. Note that the experienced IJs like Mike B, Jos, and Adriaan knock out their responses without too much time and pondering. That's where I'm sure we would all like to arrive.<br /><br />The subsidiary aim of course, is to provide a series of practices so that we can deliberately and systematically write good decisions for upcoming Judges exams.<br /><br />Mike B thanks for your support.<br /><br />Do you have any tips for the quick, accurate, brief and correct?<br /><br />I note that in some of your responses you prefix each conclusion with a rule number. Is this a technique you recommend? Why? Does it have advantages in particular circumstances?<br /><br />Dick,<br /><br />I agree with your 'Great Circle Route' as a systematic starting point. Hopefully, once we get to the automatic stage, we need to be less deliberate about the method.<br /><br />Instinctively leaving out irrelevant facts and interim conclusions is, I think a major factor in quick and brief.<br /><br />The hearing itself should be as short as possible, but what we're practicing here is making the bit that involves us alone, namely writing the decision quick. We wouldn't want parties to get the idea that the hearing was rushed and they didn't get a fair chance to tell their story. This is a matter of balance.<br /><br />John G,<br /><br />I've touched lightly on Olympic/International Jury decisions. Some people say that with no Appeals Committee hanging over their head (and perhaps with elite sailors with elite rules knowledge), these decisions seem to be written more sparsely than Club or regional level decisions are. Maybe they are, but think of our mainly club level audience: the decision needs to hang together and be easy to follow and not require too big leaps in rules knowledge. Think also of passing a judges exam: you wouldn't want to 'write it just like an Olympic Judge' and miss out some important fact or conclusion.<br /><br />As to my nickname, try these threads for lots of nicknames<br /><br /><A HREF="http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=47057&hl=name" REL="nofollow">Imitation thread: Where didja get your log in name??</A><A HREF="http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=7074&hl=anarchy+user+names" REL="nofollow">Anarchy User Names</A>Thanks everyone for participating.<br /><br />See you next term for Tokyo Topgun v Ulaanbataar Underdog, and maybe the further adventures of Brass SpidermanBrassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post-11686211321130298012009-04-28T11:18:00.000+02:002009-04-28T11:18:00.000+02:00Brass
Firstly, at this half way stage, I’ld like...Brass<br /><br />Firstly, at this half way stage, I’ld like to thank you for your advice and enthusiasm. It seems that the only way to learn this sort of thing is to practice doing it, but without proper feedback we would be just practicing making mistakes. It’s also good to learn with other people. <br /><br />It seems to me that the main point that you are teaching us is to adopt a methodical approach. So, while I have learnt a lot of specific things about writing up protests, it is that general discipline of being deliberate, and methodical that I am getting most out of. That seems to underlie the specifics. <br /><br />Having said that, the specific things you mention have learnt have also been very useful. <br /><br />One question I have concerns the Olympic decisions that are linked to this web page. Are they good examples for us? I understand that they were written that way, in part, for the benefit of the media.<br /><br />One further question. I assume that you have a good reason for calling yourself Brass, but are we ever going to find out who you are? Will you ever let it all hang out?John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post-71343010163161440882009-04-27T13:18:00.000+02:002009-04-27T13:18:00.000+02:00Good decision writing needs practice, and real tim...Good decision writing needs practice, and real time practice is best.<br /><br />Reading cases and Q+A gives you a style.<br /><br />I had been very bad (and lazy) at club level but could not hide when on IJ duty as I often was delegated as scribe as English is my language.<br /><br />I learnt early I had a lot to learn.<br /><br />Long may practice continue!<br /><br />Mike BAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170261917486213112.post-25574220188701760392009-04-27T02:57:00.000+02:002009-04-27T02:57:00.000+02:00I had to miss last weeks Fact Finding Friday. Seem...I had to miss last weeks Fact Finding Friday. Seems Life's other chores breaks rule 23.2 from time to time.<br /><br />Here are the things I think I have learned most so far by participating in the exercises. <br /><br />1. I am now more comfortable with my ability to identify what is a fact and what is a conclusion.<br /><br />2. And, using the "Protest Decision Wordings" spreadsheet to write the conclusions has enabled me to setup and better write a decision. Most importantly for writing the conclusions, almost word for word as they appear in the spreadsheet. <br /><br />3. And, the spreadsheet was also a valuable tool as a guide to me to write the facts found so it will be clear that the conclusions are supported by the facts found. <br /><br />4. Interestingly, I found I was first finding facts in a kind of rough draft form based on the diagram of the incident and the testimony given. Then, after I used the spreadsheet to write the conclusions, I would go back to my facts found and tweak the words to say, with more clarity, what I needed to say to find the conclusions. I think I will call this the "Great Circle Route" method or the Joe Friday "Just the facts Ma'am" method.<br /><br />5. And, my participation has also led me to realize that protest hearing must be dealt with in the briefest time possible. This in turn led me to develop a technique, a plan, to get to the decision before the bar closed. <br /><br />So for my mid term report I am proud to say that I am giving myself a B++. And, The Contessa Rosita di Verona and Grinning Bear both agree with by B++ grade. <br /><br />In fact Grinning Bear was just so all smiles about my grade. Then the Contessa and I went to a quiet corner to share a bottle of Mutlangen Gold.Dicknoreply@blogger.com