AAI Permits & European Athletics Road Race Safety & Quality Standards

Condo131

I've just posted this in the Running Events in Wexford forum, but am reposting here as it is probably of interest to many who wouldn't normally view that forum.

To clarify a few things wrt permits

AAI Permit Procedure

The procedure is that
a) Permit applications, to the relevant County Board, must come through an AAI registered club, even where the organiser is a third party.

b) The course should be measured by a certified measurer prior to application.
In Cork, we have varied this to have the application first, with the organisers and a measurer having already agreed that the measurement will be carried out once the permit has been granted. The reason for this is that some unscrupulous organisers had their courses measured and then didn't bother registering their race.

c) If approved, the Co Board forwards the application to AAI HQ, for final endorsement. This is ususally a formality, unless an error has been made in the application process - e.g. missing or incorrect info

d) Permit is then sent out by National AAI directly to the club.

e) The permit is required to be displayed at the race venue. I've rarely seen this happen, but, occasionally, I've come across it on a race website.

f) The measurement cert should also be displayed - sometimes this is shown on race website.

g) There is an AAI measurement cert - example

Courses are required to be measured by Certified Measurers.
Measurement Certs are valid for 5 years, UNLESS:
a) the course changes, including start & finish.
Lots of courses go wrong here they make "minor" changes to the start and/or finish, without following procedures. It may be acceptable to move the finish by, say, 35.19m, by using a 30m or 50m STEEL rule (a 3m/5m rule is NOT acceptable - and fabric/carbon tapes are absolutely out), and adjusting the start accordingly.

b) The course must not have changed due to realignment etc.

European Athletics are about to launch a new Race Safety and Quality Standards for Road Races This is a free service in which road races right across Europe will be comparable. There are three standards, 1, 3 and 5 Star, with at present, 54 criteria. 5 Star events must satisfy all, while 1 star must satisfy 36 criteria.

3 Star and 5 Star events require scrutiny and oversight by the National Federation, while 1 Star events - This is the category the vast majority of road races in Ireland will aspire to achieve - will be self-certified, with National Federation approval and oversight. [NB Self-certification does NOT mean anything goes - if it is clear that an established race does not, in spite of stating in the form, satisfy one or more required criteria, there will be dialogue, which will decide the outcome]

In my view, there are just 4 races in Munster (all in Cork) that might satisfy 5 Star, but will probably need minor tweaks to achieve the level. The number of races that might achieve 3 Star will not be huge either. Even the 1 Star category is likely to be beyond a significant number of events.

This is about Standards and Quality, and has, in addition to the obvious from the title, a number of underlying intentions:
1) To recognise, and allow recognition, of outstanding races.

2) To provide an incentive for races, that are continually improving, to attain the next level.

3) To separate the chaff from the wheat....differentiate races that, while "hyping their event up in the media", fall short of the required standards.

As someone said when this standard was leaked:

"This is the difference between a race and a run"

PVincent

Just as a matter of interest , Do Course Measurers charge for their time , because its quite a detailed and time consuming process , or do they just do it out of their love of the sport ...

Condo131

PVincent wrote: »

Just as a matter of interest , Do Course Measurers charge for their time , because its quite a detailed and time consuming process , or do they just do it out of their love of the sport ...

Yes. It varies, depending on where, when, what distance the race is, etc. Generally it's merely enough to get rid of "timewasters". I have measurements pending that require driving 2 hours just to get there! :eek:

Even a 3k measurement on a simple traffic free course is going to take probably the best part of 3 hours, between pre and post calibration, and the measurement, without considering the paperwork - some people do little, while others do reams (the next person to measure the course will need this info). ...and courses on heavy traffic routes often need to be measured during anti-social hours - I've even had to start measuring at 2am.

There are one or two measurers who do do it "for the love of the sport"

ger664

There is also a health and safety aspect required with permit application as well. We had to provide ambulance cover for all three marathons we ran under permit in November. Dont know if it applies to 5K/10K events.

average_runner

I really hope they are better processing this than they are with their membership

Condo131

ger664 wrote: »

There is also a health and safety aspect required with permit application as well. We had to provide ambulance cover for all three marathons we ran under permit in November. Dont know if it applies to 5K/10K events.

A Health & Safety Plan and a Risk Assessment are required for *ALL* events. They must be submitted with the permit application.

ger664

Condo131 wrote: »

A Health & Safety Plan and a Risk Assessment are required for *ALL* events. They must be submitted with the permit application.

I was referring to the Ambulance cover re the race distance. I would hope it does apply to all races going forward and that at a min there is a first responder and Defibrillator available also. Too many races do not realise they have a duty of care to participants that goes beyond a cup of tea and a sandwich, medal or tee shirt.

Condo131

ger664 wrote: »

I was referring to the Ambulance cover re the race distance. I would hope it does apply to all races going forward and that at a min there is a first responder and Defibrillator available also. Too many races do not realise they have a duty of care to participants that goes beyond a cup of tea and a sandwich, medal or tee shirt.

Condo131 wrote: »

A Health & Safety Plan and a Risk Assessment are required for *ALL* events. They must be submitted with the permit application.

A Health & Safety Plan isn't just a paper exercise - it must be backed up.

The Cork AAI policy is that, at a minimum, one ambulance is required for all events, no matter how small. [This policy has resulted in the demise of some long-standing events that felt they could not justify the cost of ambulance cover and risk operating without one] Cork AAI events (i.e.. events organised directly by Cork AAI) generally have at least two ambulances. Most Cork AAI clubs have a defibrillator, some have more than one.

Cork AAI has a grant scheme whereby, every second year, 50% of the cost of safety/first aid equipment is reimbursed by the Board, up to €1,000 (i.e €2k gross). The cost of defibrillator training is fully covered by the Board.

AAI registered/licenced events are required to provide a high level of medical cover. The same level does not appear evident with many of the unregistered events.

Medical cover is costly. If you actually need it - and you have it on hand - it's absolutely priceless!!

PS: An essential part of the medical plan/risk assessment is to have an effective and rapid means of getting word to the medical people.