Summary of Recent RRTC Decisions Affecting Certifiers or Measurers

Certifications numbers of adjusted courses (Oct. 2019)

The certification number assigned to adjusted courses for certification years 2010-2018 will be a “300” series. For example, the next 2015 course from NY with certifier JG that is adjusted will be given certification number NY15301JG. This “300” series numbering scheme will not be used for 2019 and later courses that are adjusted.

Certifications of non-paved courses (Dec. 2018)

For certification of courses on unpaved surfaces the following conditions apply:

1) The bicycle tire does not cause significant deformation or movement of the road/trail surface as it rolls over the surface.

2) The trail/road has defined edges where there are turns.

3) The measurement is based on a calibration done on a similar surface.

4) For courses made up of paved and unpaved surfaces, Any surface that exceeds 10% of the total must be measured using a calibration on that or a similar surface

5) Any length and any surface may be included in the course if it is measured with a steel tape.

Temporary calibration course use (Dec. 2018)

A temporary calibration course may be used as part of a race course application submission if it is measured the same day as the race course, and measurement data for it is also submitted. If the calibration course is not submitted and approved for certification, it may not be used for future race course measurements.

Inclusion of intermediate marks (miles or kilometers) on certification maps (Dec. 2018)

It is strongly recommended that intermediate points along the course, mile or kilometer marks, be included and their locations described on certification maps.

One measurement for renewals (Dec. 2016)

For a certified course that has expired and has never been changed/adjusted, a single measurement that results in a measured distance within 0.08% of the original measured distance is sufficient to re-certify the course with a new 10-year life. This can be done repeatedly as long as the course is never changed/adjusted. If the re-measurement is short (but within the 0.08%) it should be lengthened to the correct distance. For a course that has been adjusted since it’s original measurement, once it’s 10-year life has expired it must be measured twice for re-certification.

Certified splits (Dec. 2016)

If the certified distance(s) is(are) from the start to the intermediate split, then they can go on the same map (intermediate point to intermediate point, or intermediate point to finish) must go on a separate map/certification.

Calibration course location should go on the map (Dec. 2016)

It is highly recommended that a street address, cross roads, or GPS coordinates be included on a calibration course map so that it can be easily located by measurers.

GPS coordinates not to be used to define length of course (Dec. 2016)

Should not be used the only description of a point that defines the length of a course. That includes start, finish, turn-around, and any point that defines a turn on the course. The only exception to this is in high-profile races where GPS coordinates and a nail in the road are used to define a certified split. In this case the approximate location of the nail must be described, and the nail must be located in the road..

Calibration only measurer not listed on USATF website (Dec. 2015)

A person who has measured only calibration courses will no longer be listed on the USATF website as a measurer.

New certificate available (Dec. 2015)

New certificate templates are available in PDF and Excel formats (PC and Mac). The primary change is a reordering of the information. Also, the race date has been removed.

USATF logo will be included on all certification maps (Dec. 2015)

If certifier does not include it the vice-chairs or chair will add. This provides some legal authority to requesting race directors to stop using altered versions of certification maps.

New application available (Jan. 2015)

A new application is available that incorporates some of the decisions/changes agreed to by the RRTC at the 2014 USATF convention. It is available at

http://www.usatf.org/Products-/-Services/Course-Certifications/USATF-Certified-Courses/Procedures-Manual/appforms.pdf

Adjustment made to a course (Dec. 2014)

The new application asks “how much was the turn-around and/or the start/finish moved and how much did it change the length of the course (Include diagram if necessary)”.

Adjusted course maps (Dec. 2014)

Certification maps of adjusted courses should include a reference somewhere on the map to the certification number of the previously certified course that was adjusted. For example, on the adjusted course certification map there should be the statement “Adjusted from HI09xxxGAN”

Certifier title on certificates (Dec. 2014)

The title next to the certifier’s name at the bottom of the certificate should be “USATF/RRTC Certifier” It was decided that IAAF status is not pertinent to USATF certification, but relevant to the measurer. Hence, if the measurer is an IAAF measurer that status can be placed next to the measurer’s name on the certificate.

Copy of calibration course map no longer necessary (Dec. 2014)

A new application will be posted on the RRTC website with a specific space for the calibration course number. It will no longer be necessary for the measurer to include a copy of the calibration course map with the application.

Calibration course steel taping measurement tolerance (Dec. 2013)

The two steel tape measurements of a calibration course must be within 0.01% of each other. If they are not, additional measurements must be made until there are two measurements that are within 0.01% of each other, and the length of the course should be established by averaging those two measurements.

De-listing a measurer from the USATF site (Dec. 2013)

A policy was established for the situation where a Certifier feels a measurer should be removed from USATF/RRTC site. It’s posted on the USATF web site at: http://www.usatf.org/Products-/-Services/Course-Certifications/USATF-Certified-Courses/Additional-Tools/Listed-Measurer-Standards.aspx

Type of finish description (Dec. 2013)

If in the middle of a parking lot or field. Basically any finish using a single point as description for the S/F will not be acceptable. There should be at least a reference to two landmarks.

Courses must be certified to actual measured distance (Jul. 2013)

All courses must be certified at the actual measured distance. For example, it is not permissible to certify a course as 5km if the actual measurement of the course is, say, 5007 meters. In that case the distance of the course must be listed on the certificate as 5007 meters. The actual distance of the course must also appear somewhere on the map. This can be in the name of the race at the top of the map if the actual measured distance of the course is the distance stated in the race name.

Calibration ride tolerance (Dec. 2012)

Calibration rides in the same direction can be no more than 1 count per 100m of cal course length different. For example, on a 300m calibration course, two rides in the same direction can’t be more than 3 counts different. If the calibration rides are not within this tolerance, the measurer must continue to make rides until he/she has at least 2 rides in each direction that are within this tolerance. In this case, the rides that are not within this tolerance should be dropped when calculating the calibration constant.

Unusable courses (2012)

When a new course for a race is measured and submitted for certification, the certifier should ask the measurer if the old course used by the race is still “usable.” If it’s unusable then a statement should be made as to why this is the case. Next, the certifier should notify the registrar that the status of that course should be changed.

Adjusted course certification numbers (2010)

The certification number for an adjusted course should include the same year as the previously certified course that was adjusted. For example, if a certified course from 2009, HI09xxxGAN, is adjusted by re-measuring only part of the original course, then the certification number for the adjusted course should be HI09yyyGAN, where the yyy would be 1 greater than the largest number previously used for 2009.