This section is applicable to all Race Officials, Chief Steward, Steward’s on the panel, Clerk of the Course/Race Director and Assistant Clerks of the Course.
What is people management?
It is about communication with competitors and other officials, whether they be other race officials, club officials, pit crews or members of the public. The key is that you speak to people in the same way as you would wish to be spoken to.
It is important that we do not engage in unacceptable communication even if the person we are talking to is.
Just because the person is in your face, possibly yelling and swearing, maintain control and just reply in a quiet positive voice.
There are two excellent documents produced by SPARC (now called Sport New Zealand) called ‘People Management’ and ‘Becoming a More Effective Official’. It is important that you read, understand and absorb the information in these documents.
Note: Where it says Coaches, in our sport they are team managers, parents and pit crew.
Radio Etiquette
The radio is an important item of equipment and is your link with all the other officials at the track. Only use it when necessary, think about what you are going to say, keep to the point and be aware that competitors could be listening to you as well with a scanner.
When initially establishing radio contact with someone at the track the correct procedure is that you identify who you are calling first and then tell them who you are, eg. “Fred this is Joe.“ lf you are concerned about high noise levels or if you have a tendency not to hesitate a second after you’ve activated the microphone by pushing the button, call like this “Fred Fred this is Joe“ (A Mayday call is repeated three times) Fred would then answer by saying “Joe this is Fred go ahead“ (this means go ahead with your message or any variation to suit). At the end of your message, hesitate a second before you release the microphone button to avoid cutting your message short.
Without getting too pedantic some of these words may be useful in high noise situations.
Affirmative |
means |
Yes |
|
Negative |
means |
No |
|
Go Ahead |
means |
proceed with your message |
|
Roger |
means |
l understand your message |
|
Say Again |
means |
Repeat your last message |
|
Standby |
means |
You cannot answer immediately but will do so |
|
Over |
means |
l’ve sent my message, l expect an answer |
|
Out |
means |
l’ve sent my message, l don’t expect a reply |
(The terms Over & Out are not used together when talking on a radio.)
The correct radio procedure to be used would therefore be :-
“Fred this is Joe”
“Joe this is Fred go ahead”
“Fred I have a PNR completed on Junior Rotax 23”
“Joe thanks. On my way to collect. OUT”
Although not part of the KartSport New Zealand Training Modules, the Tait Radio Academy have a number of interesting short video clips starting with "Basic Radio Awareness" that may be worth reviewing if you wish to further your understanding of radios - http://www.taitradioacademy.com/courses/basic-radio-awareness/ . |
Pre Judging
It is important that we do not pre judge a competitor. You may have knowledge that in the last 3 meetings kart 61 has been in the Steward’s room for line changing. At each event every competitor has a clean record and shall only be judged on what happened on the day.
In the Steward’s room the Steward’s may only open a competitor’s licence before a hearing to obtain the correct details of the competitor and are not permitted to look at the penalty section.
Example: Kart 61 is in the Stewards room for line changing in heat 2. After the hearing the Steward’s panel confirm that Kart 61 is guilty. They then look at the penalty section and find there are 3 entries for the same incident under the Rule and the competitor has been relegated to last place twice and excluded from the heat in the last entry. The Stewards determine the penalty from this information using the “Penalty Table” (C9.3) and fine the driver $200.00, exclude them from the heat and endorse the licence for 3 months with a further suspended $300 fine.
When the Chief Steward hands down the penalty his/her best people management has to be in place.
Talking to a competitor
If you need to talk to a competitor –
•Do ask him/her to come to neutral ground.
•Do crouch down if the person you are talking to is considerably shorter than you (a child) so that you are at eye level.
•Do ask other people who are attempting to get involved to please remove themselves.
•Do talk positively and quietly.
•Do be able to quote the rule number to the competitor – this is absolutely crucial.
•Don’t start a discussion with a competitor while they are in a group of others.
•Don’t talk to a minor without their parent/legal guardian.
•Don’t allow other persons to get involved with your discussion with the competitor.
•Don’t raise your voice, just because the competitor may be yelling at you.
•Don’t point your finger at the competitor.
•Don’t make threats to a competitor.
•Don’t say to the competitor, “You should know the rule number, you have a Tier 1 rating.”