Questions about Technical Panels (ISU, national, local level)

[Sylvia]

Starting a new thread with @Dobre's questions posted in another thread:

I am curious about the process for people who become callers. As they represent the ISU rather than a specific country, do they apply through the ISU rather than through their own Federation to become a caller? Or do they need to apply through their Federation first? And how are assignments made for different events? I remember someone saying once last year that the specialist was invited by the host of the GP. Is that accurate? Are callers selected from a pool of people who are willing to travel to a certain event? (Often they are regionally local, though obviously not always).

SPECIAL REGULATIONS & TECHNICAL RULES SINGLE & PAIR SKATING and ICE DANCE 2016: http://www.isu.org/inside-single-pa...igure-skating-rules/regulations-rules-fs/file

Rule 410 Process for nomination and appointment of Officials
1. In accordance with Rules 121 and 122, every ISU Member must, annually before April 15th, nominate to the ISU Director General those individuals who are recommended as follows:
...
e) for ISU Seminar and ISU Examination to become an International Technical Controller and first appointment;
f) for ISU Seminar and ISU Examination to become an ISU Technical Controller and first appointment;
g) for ISU Seminar and ISU Examination to become an International Technical Specialist and first appointment;
h) for ISU Seminar and ISU Examination to become an ISU Technical Specialist and first appointment;
i) for ISU Seminar to become an ISU or International Data & Replay Operator and first appointment;

 

[Jun Y]

Many (most?) technical specialists are previous competitors and/or coaches. Sergei Ponomarenko, Jason Dungjen, Peter Cain, Vanessa Gusmeroli, are just a few that came to mind. I assume they are required to recuse themselves from events involving their own students (or children).

 

[gkelly]

Cross-posting from US ice dancing thread:

Perhaps someone can clarify who does what on the technical panel. It was my understanding that the tech specialist makes the call (CAN in this case) and the tech controller (USA) makes the tie break if their is a disagreement between the tech specialist and the assistant tech specialist (POL). So every element really requires a confirmation of 2 callers.

I don't know about dance specifically.

I have gotten to overhear some calling on the singles at local events. Each member of the panel will look for different features, especially on the step sequences. The ATS and TC will chime in "yes" or "no" whether the skater achieved that feature, and then the TS will add that info to the features s/he was keeping track of and call the level.

Any of them could then say "Review." That could be because the ATS or TC disagrees with the call, but more likely because there was something ambiguous about what the skater(s) performed that they want to see again, in slow motion if applicable.

The question of overruling the initial call (or not) will only arise if there is a review.

I have heard that for pairs calling especially on side by side elements member of the panel will watch the man and the other will watch the lady.

I expect that dance tech panels divide the labor similarly.

The Handbook for Technical Panels: Ice Dance specifies the following procedure for calling key points in pattern dances:

How should the calling of Key Points be
organized among Technical Specialist and
Assistant Technical Specialist?
▪Key Point for man or lady performed
separately: called by the Technical
Specialist.
▪Key Points for man or lady performed
simultaneously: Key Point for lady called by
the Technical Specialist. Key Point for man
called by the Assistant Technical Specialist.
▪Key Point for both man and lady: called by
the Technical Specialist. The Technical
Panel may be organized so the Assistant
Technical Specialist has the duty to double
check one of the partners and the Technical
Controller has the duty to double check the
other partner.

So it seems there can be some flexibility from one panel to another on exactly who is responsible for what.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I have been a TC, TS, ATS, Data Operator and Video Replay Operator. Depending on the size and type of event, sometimes done more than one role, including judging.

At international events there is definitely a process for who calls what and what they look for. And it is a very strict protocol as well. Local club comps you sometimes just wing it with who does what.

The national federation is responsible for nominating potential judges and technical panel people. They would have to do a certain number of events to be considered. Then in Frankfurt in July they do the International seminar which involves various exams (technical and practical).

Those looking to those roles will be specialists in their field (singles, pairs, dance or synchro).

Currently I have my eyes set on working towards Data and Video internationally. To get nominated by the national association I have to do a certain number of types of events (Nationals or international benchmark). Will see how it goes. Too old to be a judge (have to get nominated before you are 50) but can do this.

 

[Dobre]

I have been a TC, TS, ATS, Data Operator and Video Replay Operator. Depending on the size and type of event, sometimes done more than one role, including judging.

At international events there is definitely a process for who calls what and what they look for. And it is a very strict protocol as well. Local club comps you sometimes just wing it with who does what.

The national federation is responsible for nominating potential judges and technical panel people. They would have to do a certain number of events to be considered. Then in Frankfurt in July they do the International seminar which involves various exams (technical and practical).

Thank you.

How are panel members chosen for international events? (Challengers/GPs/Worlds)

So technical panel members must meet their own federation's criteria first prior to working internationally. As technical panel members represent the ISU rather than their country, how is that separation created then? (How is the selection process for working at a specific competition different for a technical panel member than a judge, for example?)

And is training renewed every year or periodically or every time the rules or pattern dance changes? Or does a specialist receive approval for a certain length of time?

 

[MAXSwagg]

I have been a TC, TS, ATS, Data Operator and Video Replay Operator. Depending on the size and type of event, sometimes done more than one role, including judging.

At international events there is definitely a process for who calls what and what they look for. And it is a very strict protocol as well. Local club comps you sometimes just wing it with who does what.

The national federation is responsible for nominating potential judges and technical panel people. They would have to do a certain number of events to be considered. Then in Frankfurt in July they do the International seminar which involves various exams (technical and practical).

Those looking to those roles will be specialists in their field (singles, pairs, dance or synchro).

Currently I have my eyes set on working towards Data and Video internationally. To get nominated by the national association I have to do a certain number of types of events (Nationals or international benchmark). Will see how it goes. Too old to be a judge (have to get nominated before you are 50) but can do this.

Good luck!

 

[Aussie Willy]

Thank you.

How are panel members chosen for international events? (Challengers/GPs/Worlds)

So technical panel members must meet their own federation's criteria first prior to working internationally. As technical panel members represent the ISU rather than their country, how is that separation created then? (How is the selection process for working at a specific competition different for a technical panel member than a judge, for example?)

And is training renewed every year or periodically or every time the rules or pattern dance changes? Or does a specialist receive approval for a certain length of time?

If you look at page 34 and Rule 410 as per the link above, that has the relevant information. But if you are not sure after reading it then please ask and see if we can help.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting to this relevant thread:

I don't understand how someone can be coach on some events and Technical specialist at other event
Doesn't make any sense to me.

@Moustaffask8r, the ice dance technical specialist at the Brisbane JGP was not the coach of a current JGP dance team -- did you mean the ATS at the Riga JGP?

ETA: I thought there was an ISU rule or policy that did not allow current coaches to be on technical panels in their discipline at the same level?

 

[Aussie Willy]

Re-posting to this relevant thread:

@Moustaffask8r, the ice dance technical specialist at the Brisbane JGP was not the coach of a current JGP dance team -- did you mean the ATS at the Riga JGP?

ETA: I thought there was an ISU rule or policy that did not allow current coaches to be on technical panels in their discipline at the same level?

ISU Constitution Rule 121, Section 3 (k) talks about Conflict of Interest in regards to Personal, Commercial and Family Relationships. Commercial would mean coaches. But this applies to officials generally.

http://www.isu.org/isu-statutes-con...onstitution-and-general-regulations-2016/file

In our area, we have rules around parents who are judges, tech panel, data, accountants, etc not being allowed to be on panels that their children are competing in, coaches with students not being on the tech panels for events their students are competing in and even know a situation where a parent of a higher level skater was not allowed to judge those level of events even if the child wasn't competing because of a perception of conflict. I also know of tech panel people who have recused themselves from a panel because a family member was a coach of a skater in an event and didn't want to causes trouble.

Most of it is about perception, but even on social media you have to be very careful about what you post because you never know who it will get back to and how others are going to view it. I also make a point of not friending skaters on Facebook when they send me invites. However I will "Like" higher level skater's pages just so I can follow what they are doing and wish them well or congratulate them on their performances. Particularly if I don't have a personal relationship with them. The only exception to this are my adult skating friends who are friends outside of skating.

Unfortunately being such a small community, everyone does know everyone else.

 

[Sylvia]

2017-18 list of ISU and International Technical Controllers and Technical Specialists (in Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance, Synchro) span pages 13-24: http://www.isu.org/inside-single-pa...ications-fs/12127-isu-communication-2111/file

 

[Lara111]

2017-18 list of ISU and International Technical Controllers and Technical Specialists (in Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance, Synchro) span pages 13-24: http://www.isu.org/inside-single-pa...ications-fs/12127-isu-communication-2111/file

It there something like that for US?

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

It there something like that for US?

There is a directory of judges through the USFS Membership portal.

 

[Jun Y]

2017-18 list of ISU and International Technical Controllers and Technical Specialists (in Singles, Pairs, Ice Dance, Synchro) span pages 13-24: http://www.isu.org/inside-single-pa...ications-fs/12127-isu-communication-2111/file

Are these newly appointed officials? This is a pretty short list.

 

[Lara111]

There is a directory of judges through the USFS Membership portal.

I was wondering about assignments to the competitions this year.

 

[gkelly]

Are these newly appointed officials? This is a pretty short list.

No, I think that's all of them.

I certainly recognize some names of officials who have had their appointments for years.

 

[Jun Y]

No, I think that's all of them.

I certainly recognize some names of officials who have had their appointments for years.

So the officials on the list are those who are and will be judging ISU championships for this season only, right? Because there must be more officials who have the same level of qualifications in other years.

Sorry I am not well versed in ISU personnel rules. Thanks for clarifications.

 

[Aussie Willy]

So the officials on the list are those who are and will be judging ISU championships for this season only, right? Because there must be more officials who have the same level of qualifications in other years.

Sorry I am not well versed in ISU personnel rules. Thanks for clarifications.

Yes that is correct. Those who are current can judge ISU or International events. If they are not on the list they cannot judge those events.

Further information is in the link in the first post in this thead. The rules for officials are in the 400s section of that document.

 

[Deleted member 19433]

I was wondering about assignments to the competitions this year.

That's another document in Members Only, under the General Info section (Official Selections / Assignments).

 

[minuet]

I do the data and replay for our local events here. Just finished Sectionals for NL. I love sitting on the panel and listening to the discussion and entering the calls. It is very professional and I take a lot of pride in my work. I'm looking at trying to pursue a higher level further down the road once my schooling is finished. As an uber fan it's a great way to get involved since I can't judge due to not having passed the junior bronze free skate.