Trials Torque: ACU clampdown on abusive riders
By John Dickinson on 4th May 17
THIS column finds it most concerning that the ACU trials committee has been forced to discuss the apparently increasing problem of riders (and parents of riders) using abusive language and behaviours towards observers and officials.
This is something that, personally, I would adopy a zero tolerance policy on as it has no part whatsoever to play in trials.
A rider berating himself with bad language is one thing (and bad enough at times) but to abuse an observer is inexcusable.
The ACU trials committee recently sent out a communication to clubs which is reproduced below:
"The T&E Committee continue to receive reports of abusive language or behaviour towards Trials Observers & Officials and are determined to control this.
As such they ask each ACU Trials Championship organiser to adopt a system of issuing a Yellow card to offenders.
This procedure is already used in the ACU RT Keedwell British Solo Trials Championship where it will also be more widely implemented.
The problem has thankfully not occurred in all championships, but certainly there have been such reports in the Youth B, C & D series and also in some rounds of the Adult Championship, and the intention is to adopt the system across the board to ensure that it becomes apparent that such behaviour is not going to be tolerated.
The procedure is already outlined in TSR34 of the ACU Trials Regulations and TSR 27 also details possible procedure for "Prejudicial Actions”
In summary we ask:
Organisers to issue each Observer with a yellow card (approx. post card size)
If a rider, parent or anyone that can be clearly associated with that rider is argumentative or abusive to the observer , the rider is shown the yellow card , much in the same way we all witness when watching football referees
The observer records the rider's number on the back of the yellow card and this is handed to the clerk of course at the end of event.
We ask that the clerk of course then apply a penalty.
Further action
For future Championship events, it is requested that the details of any yellow card penalties issued be sent to the ACU Trials & Enduro Committee who intend to monitor the situation, and any rider who is found to have been issued with THREE yellow cards in a season will receive further disciplinary sanctions.
It is pointed out that a degree of judgement obviously has to be taken.
A rider politely querying his score is usually acceptable to an observer, but when told, that should be the end of the matter and the rider must move on without further argument
We ask for your assistance in this matter as the abuse of observers is not acceptable and it needs to stop.
Together we can tackle this problem.”
TMX is 100% behind the initiative to stamp out this kind of behaviour.
We can afford to lose abusive riders and parents – we can't afford to lose observers, nor should we have to.
Thanks to the clubs which have asked us to publicise this disturbing state of affairs.
