NEBRA SUGGESTED OFFICIATING CREW SIZES AT COMPETITIVE EVENTS
(updated 1/11/24)
IMPORTANT NOTE ON CREW SIZES
If a promoter has specific crew size needs/desires, is planning on using club officials, or has other concerns, that should be addressed during the calendaring and permitting process. Once we have assigned crews NEBRA will NOT cut crew sizes as a cost savings measure. Officiating crews are assigned to provide adequate coverage for the event and to cut a crew down solely for financial reasons has a severe impact on the proper execution of the event.
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Suggested Officiating Crew Sizes – Cyclocross
No matter how big the crew size, the assigned USA Cycling officials are responsible for rule enforcement and confirmation of the podium places- they are not a replacement for a results service.
There will be an absolute minimum of 3 officials at any race other than a training race/series. The Chief Referee and Chief Judge must be assigned to the event by NEBRA.
For local events the Assistant Referee (pit official) can be a club/volunteer official so long as that official has previous cyclocross officiating experience. Any volunteer/club officials need to be licensed as officials through USA Cycling and they should request assignment to the event through the normal process. NEBRA’s Officials Coordinator (assignments@nebra.us) also needs to be informed that they want to volunteer for a specific event to ensure assignment.
Regional & Championship events must have at least another Assistant Judge and/or a professional timing service. For Regional Events the Assistant Judge can be a volunteer/club official if they have previously worked cyclocross events in an official capacity.
Local Event – Minimum Crew of 3, Preferred 4
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed in the Pit. Also assists with start/callup.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Optional by NEBRA w/known timing company. Stationed at the finish line.
Regional & Championship Event – Minimum Crew of 4, Preferred 5
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required by NEBRA. Stationed at the finish line.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at Pit. Also assists with start/callup.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Preferred but Optional by NEBRA. Stationed at Pit 2. Also assists with start/callup.
National Event / UCI Inscribed Event– Mandatory Crew of 8 or 9
- UCI Commissaire- Required/Assigned by UCI. Responsible for managing the UCI categories.
- USA Cycling Assistant Chief Referee – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Responsible for managing the USAC categories.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee (2) – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at each end of the pit. Also assists with start/callup.
- USA Cycling Commissaire – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling for UCI Category 1 events only. Is a member of the UCI Race Panel and assists the UCI Commissaire/USAC Assistant Chief Referee with their duties.
- Race Secretary – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Stays at reg, handles sign in of UCI riders and start order for UCI races.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required by USA Cycling and NEBRA. Stationed at the finish line.
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Suggested Officiating Crew Sizes – Criterium/Circuit Race (no caravan)
No matter how big the crew size the assigned USA Cycling officials are responsible for rule enforcement and confirmation of the podium places- they are not a replacement for a results service.
There will be an absolute minimum of 3 officials at any race other than a training race/series. The Chief Referee and Chief Judge must be assigned to the event by NEBRA.
For local events the Assistant Referee (pit official) can be a club/volunteer official so long as that official has previous officiating experience. Any volunteer/club officials need to be licensed as officials through USA Cycling and they should request assignment to the event through the normal process. NEBRA’s Officials Coordinator (assignments@nebra.us) also needs to be informed that they want to volunteer for a specific event to ensure assignment.
Regional & Championship events must have at least another Assistant Judge and/or a professional timing service. For Regional Events the Assistant Judge can be a volunteer/club official if they have previously worked cycling events in an official capacity.
Local Event – Minimum Crew of 4, Preferred 5-6
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required by USA Cycling and NEBRA. Stationed at the finish line.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Required by NEBRA. Stationed in the Pit. Also assists with start/callup. This position can be filled by a rotating crew of motor officials.
- USA Cycling Motor Referee(s) – Preferred but Optional by NEBRA. Follows the field to assist in managing dropped/lapped riders, responds to in race incidents, serve as indicator of end of the field. A motor referee or a second motor referee can also operate at the front of the field to help with in race incidents and serve as a warning to course marshals.
Regional & Championship Event – Minimum Crew of 5, Preferred 6
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required by USA Cycling and NEBRA Stationed at the finish line.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Required by NEBRA. Stationed in the pit. Also assists with start/callup. This position can be filled by a rotating crew of motor officials.
- USA Cycling Motor Referee(s) – 1 Required, Others Preferred by NEBRA. Follows the field to assist in managing dropped/lapped riders, responds to in race incidents, serve as indicator of end of the field. A motor referee or a second motor referee can also operate at the front of the field to help with in race incidents and serve as a warning to course marshals.
National Event / UCI Inscribed Event– Mandatory Crew of 7 or 8
- UCI Commissaire – Required/Assigned by UCI. Only responsible for UCI categories.
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Only responsible for USAC categories. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required by NEBRA. Stationed at the finish line.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Stationed in the Pit. Also assists with start/callup.
- USA Cycling Motor Referee(s) – Required/Assigned by NEBRA (National) or USA Cycling (UCI). Follows the field to assist in managing dropped/lapped riders, responds to in race incidents, serve as indicator of end of the field. A motor referee or a second motor referee can also operate at the front of the field to help with in race incidents and serve as a warning to course marshals.
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Suggested Officiating Crew Sizes – Road/Circuit Race (with caravan)
No matter how big the crew size the assigned USA Cycling officials are responsible for rule enforcement and confirmation of the podium places- they are not a replacement for a results service.
There will be an absolute minimum number of officials based on the maximum number of fields out on course at any one time at any race.
The Chief Referee and Chief Judge must be assigned to the event by NEBRA. For local events the Assistant Referee(s) can be a club/volunteer official so long as that official has previous officiating experience. Any volunteer/club officials need to be licensed as officials through USA Cycling and they should request assignment to the event through the normal process. NEBRA’s Officials Coordinator (assignments@nebra.us) also needs to be informed that they want to volunteer for a specific event to ensure assignment.
Regional & Championship events must have at least another Assistant Judge and/or a professional timing service. For these the Assistant Judge can be a volunteer/club official if they have previously worked cycling events in an official capacity.
Local Events – Minimum Crew of 4+, Preferred 5+
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Preferred but Optional by NEBRA. Stationed at the finish line.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee or Motor Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Minimum of 1 per field/group racing together required by NEBRA. Follows field on the road, reports to Chief Referee at conclusion of the race.
- For large fields or in events where a breakaway is likely NEBRA may require a second Assistant Referee to ensure adequate coverage. If the event schedule has multiple start waves throughout the day, an Assistant Referee can/should work multiple starts.
Regional & Championship Events – Minimum Crew of 5+, Preferred 6+
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required by NEBRA. Stationed at the finish line.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee or Motor Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Minimum of 1 per field/group racing together required by NEBRA. Follows field on the road, reports to Chief Referee at conclusion of the race.
- For large fields or in events where a breakaway is likely NEBRA may require a second Assistant Referee to ensure adequate coverage. If the event schedule has multiple start waves throughout the day, an Assistant Referee can/should work multiple starts.
National/UCI Events – Mandatory Crew of 8+
- UCI Commissaire – Required/Assigned by UCI. Only responsible for UCI categories.
– or –
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line to certify the race winner.
- USA Cycling Assistant Judge – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Stationed at the finish line, or at a intermediate sprint/climb point on the course.
- USA Cycling Assistant Referee – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling. Minimum of 2 per field/group racing together. Follows field on the road, reports to Chief Referee at conclusion of the race.
- USA Cycling Motor Referee – Required/Assigned by USA Cycling (UCI) or NEBRA (National). Minimum of 3 per field/group racing together. Follows field on the road, reports to Chief Referee at conclusion of the race.No matter how big the crew size the assigned USA Cycling officials are responsible for rule enforcement and confirmation of the podium places- they are not a replacement for a results service.
There will be an absolute minimum of 1 official at any race other than a training race/series.
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Optional by USA Cycling w/known timing company. Stationed at the finish line to certify the winner.
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Suggested Officiating Crew Sizes – Mountain Bike
No matter how big the crew size the assigned USA Cycling officials are responsible for rule enforcement and confirmation of the podium places- they are not a replacement for a results service.
There will be an absolute minimum of 1 official at any race other than a training race/series.
- USA Cycling Chief Referee – Required by USA Cycling. Roaming to manage the event.
- USA Cycling Chief Judge – Optional by USA Cycling w/known timing company. Stationed at the finish line to certify the winner.