SOUTHERN VERMONT JUNIOR COUNCIL
RULES AND REGULATIONS
2001 - 2002

The following set of rules and regulations were developed by Program Directors and coaches from the member programs of the Southern Vermont Junior Council.

Editor's Note: We have endeavored to get these rules correct but they have not been officially validated by the Southern Vermont Council. Note also that they are two years out of date. Please refer to your coaches and to the officials of the SVC for specific questions. Thank you.

The purpose of these rules and regulations is to:

• increase the safety of racers at all Council-sponsored races,
• ensure greater consistency among member programs in the way and manner in which Council-sponsored races are conducted,
• establish uniform standards on the use of equipment at all Council-sponsored races in order to safeguard the well being of racers and to provide for greater equity among racers with respect to equipment availability,
• more actively support and promote alpine ski racing through the establishment of Council-wide requirements for membership in various race organizations and associations, and
• to assist racers and their parents in gaining a better understanding of why and how certain things are done at Council-sponsored races and the process used for the selection of top race finishers and Council team members.

For ease of use, all rules and regulations are arranged and presented by Race Series and, where appropriate, by age group classification.

Please refer to the VARA calendar for additional rules and requirements for junior racing.

CLAYTON LEAGUE RACE SERIES
JUNIORS 8 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER
(race series primarily for J5s)

MEMBERSHIPS

All racers must have current memberships in VARA (Vermont Alpine Racing Association) and the Youth Ski League of the United States Ski Association (USSA).

EQUIPMENT

One Ski Rule: Only one pair of skis can be used for the entire season to race in all Clayton Series races. Slip skis are not allowed for course inspection.

Helmets: Each racer must wear an approved helmet at all Clayton Series races.

Speed Suits: Speed suits are not allowed to be worn at any Clayton Series race.

RACES:

First Run Start Time: Races start at 9:30 am

Second Run Start Time: Second run start time is determined by the host mountain. The second run typically begins one hour after the last racer completes the first run.

Seeding for Runs: The race field is divided into cells of equal size, with the cells rotated the first run of each race to allow each racer the opportunity to race in the first seed. Seeding for the second run is based on first run finish times. The top 15 finishers are raced in reverse order, followed by all remaining racers in order of finish time. Racers not completing the first run race at the end.

For each race, the previous race's first cell moves to the end of the start list. We determine the number of cells by the number of races, so that everyone gets to start in the first cell once. We determine the number racers in each cell by dividing the number of racers by the number of races.

(Note: Each cell will have the opportunity to start first at some point during the year.  In the first race cell "E" (if there are five races, example A,B,C,D,E) runs last, in the second race cell "E" runs second to last and cell "A" will move from the front to the back, etc.)

Number and Format: 1 dual slalom; 2 open slaloms; 1 terrain

Timing of Runs: Racers are individually timed on each run. All runs are electronically timed, with back up timing always used.

AWARDS

Based on the combined time of both runs, ribbons will be awarded to the top 10 boys and top 10 girls.

RACE ENTRY FEES

There is no charge to race in any Clayton Series race.

IN ORDER TO ALLOW EACH RACER SOME QUIET TIME IN THE STARTING GATE TO MENTALLY PREPARE FOR HIS OR HER RUN, TO DEVELOP HIS/HER OWN PERSONAL PRE-RACE RITUAL, AND TO RECEIVE ANY LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COACH, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE START AREA BE AS LEAST DISTRACTING TO THE RACER AS POSSIBLE. FOR THIS REASON, PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE START AREA.

PARENTS, RACERS, AND COACHES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER TIMING BUILDINGS FOR ANY REASON DURING A RACE. ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED BY THE HOST MOUNTAIN ARE ALLOWED IN THE TIMING BUILDING.

SOUTHERN VERMONT JUNIOR COUNCIL LEAGUE RACE SERIES
JUNIORS 8 TO 12 YEARS OF AGE
(primarily J4 race series)

MEMBERSHIPS:

All racers must have current memberships in VARA (Vermont Alpine Racing Association) and the Youth Ski League of the United States Ski Association (USSA).

EQUIPMENT:

One Ski Rule: Only one pair of skis can be used to race on for the entire season at all Council-sponsored races and at Junior IV-V State Championship races.

Helmets: The SVJC complies with all rules and regulations of the United States Ski Association (USSA) and recommends the use of helmets at all times. The USSA requires helmets to be worn by all racers at USSA-sanctioned giant slalom races.

RACES:

First Run Start Time: Races start at 9:30 am

Second Run Start Time: Second run start time is determined by the host mountain. The second run typically begins one hour after the last racer completes the first run.

Seeding for Runs: The race field is divided into cells of equal size, with the cells rotated the first run of each race to allow each racer the opportunity to race in the first seed. Seeding for the second run is based on first run finish times. The top 15 finishers are raced in reverse order, followed by all remaining racers in order of finish time. Racers not completing the first run race at the end.

For each race, the previous race's first cell moves to the end of the start list. We determine the number of cells by the number of races, so that everyone gets to start in the first cell once. We determine the number racers in each cell by dividing the number of racers by the number of races.

(Note: Each cell will have the opportunity to start first at some point during the year.  In the first race cell "E" (if there are five races, example A,B,C,D,E) runs last, in the second race cell "E" runs second to last and cell "A" will move from the front to the back, etc.)

Number and Format: 2 slalom 3 giant slalom

Timing of Runs: Racers are individually timed on each run. All runs are electronically timed, with back up timing always used.

AWARDS

Based on the combined time of both runs, medals will be awarded to the top 3 boys and top 3 girls; ribbons will be awarded to the 4^th through 10^th place finishers for both boys and girls.

RACE ENTRY FEES

There is a $10 per racer entry fee for each Council-sponsored race. Fees are payable to the host mountain.

IN ORDER TO ALLOW EACH RACER SOME QUIET TIME IN THE STARTING GATE TO MENTALLY PREPARE FOR HIS OR HER RUN, TO DEVELOP HIS/HER OWN PERSONAL PRE-RACE RITUAL, AND TO RECEIVE ANY LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COACH, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE START AREA BE AS LEAST DISTRACTING TO THE RACER AS POSSIBLE. FOR THIS REASON, PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE START AREA.

PARENTS, RACERS, AND COACHES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER TIMING BUILDINGS FOR ANY REASON DURING A RACE. ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED BY THE HOST MOUNTAIN ARE ALLOWED IN THE TIMING BUILDING.

SOUTHERN VERMONT JUNIOR COUNCIL
JUNIORS 13 TO 14 YEARS OF AGE

MEMBERSHIPS

All racers must have current memberships in VARA (Vermont Alpine Racing Association) and the United States Ski Association (USSA) and a competitor’s license.

EQUIPMENT

Skis: Two pairs of skis can be used for the three disciplines.

Helmets: The SVJC complies with all rules and regulations of the United States Ski Association (USSA) and recommends the use of helmets at all times. The USSA requires helmets to be worn by all racers at USSA-sanctioned giant slalom, downhill, and super giant slalom races.

RACES:

First Run Start Time: Races start at 9:30 am

Second Run Start Time: Second run start time is determined by the host mountain. The second run typically begins one hour after the last racer completes the first run.

Seeding for Runs: The race field is divided into cells of equal size, with the cells rotated the first run of each race to allow each racer the opportunity to race in the first seed. Seeding for the second run is based on first run finish times. The top 15 finishers are raced in reverse order, followed by all remaining racers in order of finish time. Racers not completing the first run race at the end.

For each race, the previous race's first cell moves to the end of the start list. We determine the number of cells by the number of races, so that everyone gets to start in the first cell once. We determine the number racers in each cell by dividing the number of racers by the number of races.

(Note: Each cell will have the opportunity to start first at some point during the year.  In the first race cell "E" (if there are five races, example A,B,C,D,E) runs last, in the second race cell "E" runs second to last and cell "A" will move from the front to the back, etc.)

Number and Format: 2 giant slalom; 2 slalom; 1 super giant slalom

Timing of Runs: Racers are individually timed on each run. All runs are electronically timed, with back up timing always used.

AWARDS

Based on the combined time of both runs, medals will be awarded to the top 5 boys and top 5 girls.

RACE ENTRY FEES

There is an $18 per racer entry fee for each Council-sponsored race. Fees are payable to the host mountain.

IN ORDER TO ALLOW EACH RACER SOME QUIET TIME IN THE STARTING GATE TO MENTALLY PREPARE FOR HIS OR HER RUN, TO DEVELOP HIS/HER OWN PERSONAL PRE-RACE RITUAL, AND TO RECEIVE ANY LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COACH, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE START AREA BE AS LEAST DISTRACTING TO THE RACER AS POSSIBLE.  FOR THIS REASON, PARENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE START AREA.

PARENTS, RACERS, AND COACHES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER TIMING BUILDINGS FOR ANY REASON DURING A RACE. ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED BY THE HOST MOUNTAIN ARE ALLOWED IN THE TIMING BUILDING.

SOUTHERN VERMONT JUNIOR COUNCIL
JUNIOR IV-V STATE TEAM

COUNCIL TEAM TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:

All Junior racers 8 to 12 years of age racing in the Southern Vermont Junior Council League Race Series are eligible to compete for a position on the Southern Vermont Junior Council Team to represent the Council at the Vermont State Championship.

SCORING:

There will be 10 contested runs based on the 3 giant slalom and 2 slalom races scheduled for the season. Each racer is ranked in order of his or her finish on each of the 10 runs, with boys and girls ranked separately.

QUALIFYING FOR THE COUNCIL TEAM:

Half the total number of contested runs will be used to determine placement on the Council Team. If all 5 races are held (10 runs), a total of 5 contested runs will be used. If only 4 races are able to be held (8 runs), then 4 contested runs will be used.

Selection to the Council Team is as follows:

• the race field will be separated into males and females
• the sum of the racer’s best finish rankings on 5 out of a possible 10 runs will be used
• in case of ties, the best finish within the 5 contested runs will be used to break the tie

NUMBER NAMED:

A total of 50 racers will be named to the Council Team. The number of boys and number of girls named to the Team will be determined by the Council on an annual basis.

REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING NAMED TO THE COUNCIL TEAM:

Regardless of final ranking and standing, only racers who are current in their memberships to VARA and the Youth Ski League of USSA are eligible to be named to the Council Team and to participate in the State Championship.

SOUTHERN VERMONT JUNIOR COUNCIL
JUNIOR III STATE TEAM

COUNCIL TEAM TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:

All Junior III racers (13 and 14 year olds) are eligible to compete for a position on the Southern Vermont Junior Council Team to represent the Council at the Vermont State Championship.

SCORING:

There will be a total of 13 contested finishes based on the 2 giant slalom, 2 slalom, and 1 super giant slalom races scheduled for the season. The super giant slalom will be a one run race. All other races are two runs, with both individual and combined runs counting as a contested finish.

Each racer is ranked in order of his or her individual and combined times on each of the 13 finishes, with boys and girls ranked separately.

QUALIFYING FOR THE COUNCIL TEAM:

Half the total number of contested finishes will be used to determine placement on the Council Team. If all 5 races are held (13 finishes), a total of 6 contested finishes will be used. Whenever there is an odd number of total contested runs, the number of qualifying runs is always to be rounded down to the nearest whole number (e.g., ½ of 13 contested run equals 6½ and is rounded down to 6)

Selection to the Council Team is as follows:

• the race field will be separated into males and females
• the sum of the racer’s best finish rankings on 6 out of a possible 13 finished will be used
• in case of ties, the best finish within the 6 contested runs will be used to break the tie

NUMBER NAMED:

A total of 50 racers will be named to the Council Team. The number of boys and number of girls named to the Team will be determined by the Council on an annual basis.

REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING NAMED TO THE COUNCIL TEAM:

Regardless of final ranking and standing, only racers who are current in their memberships to VARA and USSA and who have a valid competitor’s license are eligible to be named to the Council Team and to participate in the State Championship.

SOUTHERN VERMONT JUNIOR COUNCIL
PROGRAM RULES AND REGULATIONS
2001 - 2002 SEASON

GENERAL:

• Coaches are to encourage all racers to read the mountain rules sheet and to follow all area rules.
• Coaches are to actively encourage all racers to attend the awards presentations at each Council-sponsored race.
• Emphasis should be placed on free skiing time after the race. The method used to permit free skiing and access to the lifts after a race is to be determined by each host mountain.
• The Council recommends that all coaches working in programs have a current Basic First Aid and CPR card.

MEMBERSHIPS:

• All programs/clubs must be members of VARA and the USSA and have current year memberships.
• All coaches must be current members of VARA and USSA/USSCA.
• Each mountain is responsible for assuring that all of its racers are members of VARA and USSA or Youth Ski League and that all of its coaches are members of VARA and USSA/USSCA.
• Program rosters with the names, sex, and age class of each racer must be submitted to the Council Chair no later than January 15^th.
• The names, addresses, and work and home telephone numbers of all Program Directors, Head Coaches, Head Age Class Coaches, and, at the discretion of the Program Director, other program coaches, must be sent to the Council Chair as early as possible at the start of the season (but no later than December 30^th) so that a Southern Vermont Junior Council Directory can be prepared and distributed to all Program Directors.
• The Program Director must also send to the Council Chair the name, address, and telephone number of the Age Class Chair if he or she is a coach in that Program.

RACE REQUIREMENTS:

• Seeding:
  • Modified Brown Bibbo is to be used at all races for all age groups.
  • Brown Method is to be used for the first run at all races.
  • The race field is to be divided into cells of equal size based on the total number of races scheduled for each age group. The cells are to be rotated the first run of each race to allow each racer the opportunity to race in the first seed. After each race, the first cell is to be moved to the end of the start order and the second cell moved up the first seed (e.g., first race: A-B-C-D-E, second race: B-C-D-E-A, third race: C-D-E-A-B, etc.)
  • Bibbo is to be used for the second run at all races.
  • Based on first run finish times, the top 15 finishers are raced in reverse order, followed by all remaining racers in order of finish time.
  • Racers not completing the first run race at the end.
• Start Cadence:
  • The start cadence used for giant slalom and slalom must be consistent with those of FIS.
• Course Length:
  • The length of the course for Clayton League races must be consistent with USSA age guidelines in effect at the time.
  • The length of the course for Council JIII races must be consistent with USSA age guidelines in effect at the time.
• Flex Gates:
  • giant slalom - panels with one flex gate on the inside
  • slalom - inside flex gate; no bamboo on the inside
  • the length of the flex gates must be consistent with USSA requirements/recommendations
• Sanctioned Races: All JIII races must be sanctioned by USSA.
• Jury:
  • In the event a jury is required, coaches will serve on the jury, with each program having one vote.
  • The referee will be from the host mountain and assistant referee from a visiting mountain. The referee and assistant referee will assume responsibility for the coaches’ meeting on race day and will be the spokespersons for the coaches.
• Coaches’ Meeting: A coaches’ meeting must be held at the start gate 15 minutes prior to the start of the first run of each race. One coach from each program is to attend the meeting.

RACE RESULTS:

• All Program Directors, whenever hosting a Council or Clayton League race, must submit copies of the race results and a brief narrative to the Stowe Reporter. If possible, a photo should also be submitted.
• Copies of the start lists and race results (first run, second run, and combined times for both boys and girls) must be sent to the Council Chair within two days of hosting a race so that a consolidated record of all Council races and results can be maintained.
• Maintenance of an up-to-date race results file is extremely important for the naming of Council Teams to the State Championships, for selection of racers for participation at USSA camps, etc.
• The JIII and JIV-V Council League Race Series Chairs are required to send updated finish rankings to the Stowe Reporter for inclusion in the VARA Scoreboard. The rankings must be updated after each race and submitted to the Stowe Reporter as soon as possible.

ADDING RACES DURING THE SEASON:

• The addition of a race to the Council schedule requires the Program Director of the mountain seeking to add a race to notify the Council Chair and to poll all of the Program Directors as to whether the race should be added. Majority vote rules.
• The Program Director of the mountain seeking to add a race must inform the Council Chair of the outcome of any vote taken.

RACING OUT OF AGE CLASS:

• The Program Director interested in having one of its racers race out of his/her age classification is to contact the Council Chair and provide a brief verbal or written rationale or justification for the request.
• The request can also come from the Program’s Head Coach, but only after consultation with and approval by the Program Director.
• Letters submitted directly to or telephone inquiries made directly to the Council Chair from the racer’s parent(s) or coach will be discussed with the respective Program Director prior to initiating any conversations with and survey of Program Directors.
• The Council Chair will review the request with each Program Director and obtain their input. The input of the Age Class Chairs impacted by the proposed action will also be surveyed.
• Guidelines
  • Each Program has one vote.
  • Each Age Class Chair (one or two may be affected) also has one vote.
  • The majority rules.
  • The Council Chair will vote in the event of a tie.
  • The outcome of the vote will be reported back to all Program Directors.

• Racers Advanced to a Higher Age Level:

  • Out of age class racers advanced up to the next age class to race (JIV racing as a JIII) will be eligible to receive awards and have their names and times included on the race results.
  • All JIVs racing as a JIII must have a USSA membership and competitor’s license.
  • JV racers racing with JIVs in the Southern Vermont Junior Council League Race Series are eligible for selection to the JIV-V Council Team for the State Championship.
  • A JIV racer racing, as a JIII who qualifies for the Council Team to the JIII State Championship must have his/her case presented to the VARA Council of Five. The Council Chair will bring the matter to the Council of Five. The Council of Five will decide if the racer can participate in the State Championship. The Council Chair will report the decision of the Council of Five to the respective Program Director.

• Racers Racing at a Lower Age Class Level:

  • Out of class racers racing at a lower age class level (JIII racing as a JIV) will be eligible to receive ribbons and have their names and times included on the race results.
  • Out of class racers racing in a lower age class are to be automatically returned to their correct age class if they finish in the top one-third of the race field in any race.
  • No JIII racers racing as a JIV are eligible for selection to the JIV-V Council Team for the State Championship. All JIII racers must be excluded from all calculations of place points for selection to the Council Team. Place points for each run must be calculated as if the JIII racer did not participate in the race.

OUT OF COUNCIL RACERS:

The intent of allowing out of Council racers to participate in Council-sponsored races is to further the sport of ski racing. Customarily, out of Council racers are also racers from out of state.

The inclusion of an out of Council racer in a Council-sponsored race occurs on an infrequent basis. In some cases, an out of Council program may want to send a limited number of its racers to a Council-sponsored race to test the waters or to have its racers gain additional race experience. In other cases, a racer may be visiting a program to determine if he or she wants to join that program. If the visit coincides with a time that a race has been scheduled, the visiting racer may want the opportunity to participate in a race with his/her future team mates.

The following rules apply to those limited number of cases involving an out of Council racer.

• Out of Council racers can enter any Council-sponsored race.

• Out of Council racers must meet the same USSA and YSL membership requirements as SVJC and Clayton League racers, and where appropriate, have a valid competitor’s license.

• VARA membership is required for all out of Council Vermont-based racers.

The membership status of non-Council racers must be determined when arrangements are being made for the inclusion of the racer(s) in a Council-sponsored race.

• No SVJC dues (head tax) will be charged for out of Council racers.
• All out of Council racers entering a Junior IV-V Southern Vermont Junior Council League Race Series race will be charged a $10 entry fee. All fees are payable to the host mountain.
• All out of Council racers entering a Junior III Southern Vermont Junior Council Race Series race will be charged an $18 entry fee. All fees are payable to the host mountain.
• No fees are collected if a Clayton League Race Series race is entered.
• Out of Council racers are to be seeded at the end of the field for the first run. Second run start order will be based on first run finish time.
• The out of Council racer’s time(s), finish place, and home program/mountain are to appear on all published race results, including those submitted to the Stowe Reporter.
• Out of Council racers, regardless of run times and finish places, are NOT eligible to receive ribbons or awards and must be so informed when arrangements are being made to include them in Council races.
• All out of Council racers must be excluded from all calculations of place points for selection of the Council Teams. Place points for each run must be calculated as if the out of Council racer(s) did not participate in the race.
• The host mountain including any out of Council racers in a race should inform all other Program Directors and the Council Chair prior to the date of the race.