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The HOCR uses umpires to monitor all racing for safety issues and penalties. This role differs from that of a rowing referee at most regattas, including other head races. While most umpires are licensed referees, it is not required to be considered for the umpire team.
HOCR Umpires:
Observe all parts of the race
Initiate safety response when needed by employing the Safety Protocol (umpires are not first responders)
Assess penalties for unsafe or inappropriate behavior violating the regatta rules
Report all penalties, with descriptions and relevant information
Regatta assignments for umpires fall into four categories: Station Lead Umpires, Umpire Central, Appeals, and Umpires.
We begin recruiting our team in February or March with targeted direct invitations for Station Lead Umpires and a small number of other umpires and then a general solicitation of interest and availability to a broader distribution list. The majority of the team is pre-selected by June, allowing people to plan and book their travel earlier than the opening of the volunteer registration portal. If you have an interest in joining the distribution list for a future HOCR, please email us at umpires@hocr.org.
Station Lead Umpires
Station Lead Umpires
Each umpire station has a Station Lead Umpire who is ultimately responsible for the decisions from that station. All Station Lead Umpires are licensed referees (USA or in their home country), receive additional training for this role, and demonstrate an advanced understanding of the nuances of head racing and specifically at the Head Of The Charles.
A small number of Station Lead Umpires are also given the designation of a Senior Lead Umpire. A Senior Lead Umpire has the additional authority to shut down racing if there is an incident those poses an immediate and significant danger to competitions if the race were to continue. These Senior Leads oversee umpire stations 9 (Anderson Bridge) and 13 (CBC).
Umpire Central
Umpire Central
The Umpire Central team compiles all incoming information from the umpire stations; audits the submissions for accuracy, duplication, or other issues; confirms information with umpires on the course when necessary; approves penalties for public view; and provides information to the Appeals Team on penalties reported.
Appeals
Appeals
The Appeals team handles questions and appeals to an assessed penalty from competitors.
Unlike most regattas, per the regatta rules, there is no ability to protest any incident during the race or the outcome of the race. Crews who received a penalty other than a course violation (buoy or arch penalties) may appeal that penalty with the Appeals team.
The Appeals team lead and jury members are licensed referees drawn from the pool of Station Lead Umpires and senior referees. As with the stations along the course, umpires are assigned to Appeals for one shift. This is the one area where Umpires have interactions with the athletes. The Ombudsmen and jury members field questions and adjudicate disagreements about penalties that have been assigned. Decisions of this team are final and there is no further recourse for an athlete beyond Appeals.
Umpires
Umpires
Our team deploys approximately 85 people across 17 stations to observe racing and report on safety issues and penalties. Of this group, approximately 90% are licensed USRowing referees or licensed referees in their home country. The remainder are volunteers, most of whom have been umpires at the HOCR® for many years. All umpires complete mandatory training on the HOCR® Rules of Racing and the Umpire role at the HOCR®.
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