Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2010 Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Changes Major Editorial Changes Points of Emphasis Rule Interpretations

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations

Games Committee-Coaching Box Rule 3-2-4g NOTE  When used, all areas designated for the coaches (coaching boxes) to observe and confer with competitors shall be clearly identified and marked by the host meet management Coaching boxes should be identified by the games committee prior to the start of the competition Coaching boxes should be marked with flags, pennants, painted lines, etc.

Games Committee-Video Replay Rule  Video replay or television monitoring equipment, other than the official equipment approved by the games committee prior to the start of competition, shall not be used to make decisions related to the meet

Games Committee-Video Replay Rule  The games committee has authority to approve the use of pictures/video equipment, prior to competition, to assist in the final decision of place finish in races Must identify equipment to be used Must determine location of equipment Must identify intended purpose to assist in final decision of place finish Not for coaches to use for protesting judgment of official(s)

Anemometer Rule  Anemometer (wind instrument or gauge) required for: races up to and including 200 meters long jump triple jumps  Location of anemometer: 4 feet above ground Within 2 meters of track/runway 50 meters from finish line 20 meters from horizontal jumps foul line Faces start of event

Communication With a Competitor Rule 4-5-8e  It is an unfair act when a competitor receives any assistance from any other person Assistance includes: Communicating with a competitor through the use of any device

Forming Heats Rule  All varsity heats in the same event shall use the same starting procedure  Three configurations: Lanes – each competitor starts in his/her own lane Alleys – two or more competitors start in a grouping of more than one lane and less than all lanes on track Waterfall – all competitors begin on a common curved line across all lanes on track

Forming Heats Rule  Example: Games committee decides to use alleys for varsity boys 800-meter run Alley start must be used for all heats varsity boys 800-meter run If girls competition held at same meet, alley start must be used for all varsity girls 800- meter run

Forming Heats Rule  NOTE: For subvarsity, a different starting configuration could be used, if needed, for example, to accommodate expanded participation  These starts should likewise be consistent for all subvarsity heats for both boys and girls

Hurdling Infractions Rule b  It is an infraction if a competitor: Knocks down any hurdle by hand  Official no longer has to determine if the hurdle was knocked down deliberately by hurdler’s foot Eliminates need for official to determine hurdler’s intent It is a foul if a hurdle is knocked down by hand It is not a foul if a hurdle is knocked down by foot Hurdlers must attempt to clear each hurdle

Shot Put Rule  A degree sector shall be marked on the ground  Radial lines 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide shall extend from the center of the circle to form an area into which legal puts shall be made  The inside edges of these lines shall mark the sector and the lines shall be placed equidistance from the ends of the stopboard

Shot Put Rule 6-5-5

Bungee Cord Use in Warm-ups in Vertical Jumps Rule NOTE  A bungee cord/elastic crossbar manufactured for use in the high jump and pole vault may be used during warm-ups, as approved by the games committee

Bungee Cord Use in Warm-ups in Vertical Jumps Rule NOTE  Bungee cord/elastic crossbar for warm-ups Shall be manufactured for the specific intended purpose for use in the field event Shall be supplied by the host meet management Should the hosting school elect not to secure and provide a bungee cord, it is not permissible for a competitor or another school to supply or use a bungee cord for warm-ups At no time shall a bungee cord/elastic crossbar be used in competition

Pole Vault Rule  A competitor shall not use a variable weight pole, a pole which is improperly marked, a pole rated below his/her weight, or any other equipment which is not legal during warm-ups or competition Removed bungee cord/elastic crossbar from the list of illegal equipment for warm-ups Bungee cord/elastic crossbar not legal for competition

Jumping Events Rules NOTE and NOTE  Effective January 1, 2013, the high jump and pole vault crossbars shall be circular  Square with beveled edges or triangular crossbars shall no longer be legal for competition

Pole Vault Rule  It is no longer a foul if a vaulter clears the crossbar in an otherwise legal attempt if the standards are incorrectly set by officials  The event officials have the responsibility during competition to have all equipment properly set  Vaulter should not have to assume verifying actions of officials to be certain he/she does not have an unnecessary foul

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2010 Major Editorial Changes

Editorial Changes  Rule 4-5-9When a competitor is rendered unconscious, or apparently unconscious, he/she shall not be permitted to return to play that day without written authorization from a physician (MD/DO)  Rule Lettering/numbering was corrected. No change to rule, just a clarification  Rule 7-5-3Prior to competition, the coach must verify that all of the school’s pole vaulters and poles meet these requirements

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2010 Points of Emphasis

Points of Emphasis – Coaching Box  The games committee has the authority to: designate specific areas for coaches to observe and confer with competitors establish who may occupy the coaching box confirm what activity may occur within a coaching box  All decisions regarding coaching boxes shall be made by the games committee prior to any competition beginning

Points of Emphasis – Coaching Box  Coaching boxes should be clearly marked with a fence, rope, banners, or painted lines  All coaches and officials should be informed in writing or by announcement which events have coaching boxes regarding the guidelines in place for coaching boxes

Points of Emphasis – Coaching Box  Those permitted to occupy the coaching box, while the specific event is in progress, should be issued a non-transferable credential which must be displayed at all times  While in the coaching box, all rules limiting the assistance a coach may offer a competitor shall not be negated

Points of Emphasis – Pole Vault  Meet management is responsible for providing a landing system, standards and runway that meet the rule requirements  Coaches are responsible for their competitors having legal vaulting poles and that the competitor’s weight is at or below the manufacturer’s pole rating  Officials are required to inspect each pole to verify legality

Points of Emphasis – Pole Vault  Etchings, serial numbers, etc. that may appear on poles shall not replace the requirement of the manufacturer’s pole rating in the minimum ¾-inch marking in a contrasting color on each pole either above or within the required 1-inch circular band marking the top handhold position

Points of Emphasis – Pole Vault A) weight rating is within top handhold band; B) etchings on bottom end of pole listing characteristics and can’t be used to satisfy Rule 7-5-3; C) weight rating in top handhold band and etchings at top of pole; D) weight rating in top handhold band. Manufacturer’s placed weight rating shall be in a contrasting color, ¾” in height and located in or above top handhold band A B C D

Points of Emphasis – Pole Vault  No meet management, coach or official can disregard any requirements of the rules dealing with the landing system, standards, runway, vaulting poles or vaulter

Points of Emphasis – Games Committee Responsibilities  Games committees need to have an understanding of policies or procedures that may have been established by their respective state association office  The games committee does not have the authority to set aside or revise policies or procedures  In having the authority to determine aspects of meet management and operation, all determinations must be communicated to the coaches, officials and teams participating prior to the start of any competition Any determinations made after the competition has begun, must be due to an unforeseen unusual situation

Points of Emphasis – Contestant/Competitor  The status of athletes, as either contestants or competitors, directly affects the application of some rules and the penalties for violation of those rules  Entry – Athlete and/or relay team submitted by entry deadline established by games committee, to be entered in the meet  Contestant – Any athlete entered in the meet by the established deadline  Competitor – Contestant who reports for an event is then a competitor

Points of Emphasis – Contestant/Competitor  Coaches and officials should be aware of their state association philosophy regarding “preventive officiating” and within the rules, inform and assist competitors in a matter that will minimize disqualifications A thorough knowledge of Rule 4-5 (Disqualification) will help in this task

Points of Emphasis – Application of “Design of Uniform” for Relays and Cross Country  Rules 4-3 (Track Relay Teams) and 9-6 (Cross Country Team) require team members to be wearing uniforms of the same “design”  “Design” refers to a pattern of colors used in the uniform  Both relay teams and cross country teams are competing as a team similar to a volleyball or basketball team  Uniforms being worn must be able to clearly identify the competitor, at a glance, as a member of a certain team

Points of Emphasis – Application of “Design of Uniform” for Relays and Cross Country  Example: Three team members are wearing singlets with a white body and a red diagonal stripe 4 inches in width, the remaining team member(s) must also wear a white singlet of the same design with a red diagonal 4-inch stripe It would not be legal for the remaining member(s) to wear a white singlet with a vertical 4-inch stripe The use of the same colors, but arranged in a different pattern is not of the same design

Points of Emphasis – Application of “Design of Uniform” for Relays and Cross Country  Design and style should not be confused Style – all colors and design are the same when required by rule Length, cut of uniform, etc. could be different  For officials to fairly and consistently identify the runners and team to which they belong, all rules regarding design shall be followed

Points of Emphasis – Application of “Design of Uniform” for Relays and Cross Country  Examples of style: Team members are in black uniform top and black uniform bottom – traditional shorts One member wears knee length black uniform bottom - LEGAL style Team members are in one piece black uniform One team member wears black shorts over the one piece uniform - LEGAL style When the shorts were added, the legs of the one piece became visible undergarments

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2010 Rule Interpretations

Rule Interpretation Visible Undergarments  Are visible undergarments displaying seams stitched on the outside of the garment in a visible contrasting color to the undergarment legal or illegal beginning with the 2010 season? Contrasting color of seams makes garment more than a single color Illegal

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: The games committee establishes which events shall have a coaching box and works with host meet management to have the coaching boxes clearly identified with pennants. At the coaches meeting, the coaches are informed of the coaching boxes and how they are identified. RULING: Correct procedure.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: During the meet, the coach from Team A wants to protest an order of finish and requests to use a clip from a video camera that was in use at the long jump for highlights that also happened to catch the finish of the race in question. The referee denies the coach’s request to use a video camera that had not been designated by the games committee for official use related to making decisions related to the meet prior to the start of competition. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: When used, only the video replay or television monitoring equipment approved by the games committee prior to the start of competition can be used to make decisions related to the finish by the officials.

Rule Interpretation Rules and  SITUATION: While in the designated coaches area, A1’s coach takes a series of digital pictures of A1’s attempt to clear 11 feet in the pole vault. The event judges observe A1: (a) looking at all of the pictures, while discussing each one and trying to improve technique; (b) looking at a single picture before returning to the competitors’ area. RULING: (a) and (b) A1 disqualified. COMMENT: The intent of the rule is to stop a competitor from gaining an advantage over fellow competitors by reviewing visual reproductions of a performance during competition.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: A first year track coach is responsible for his/her school to host the conference meet. In preparation for the competition, the coach wants to verify the proper location of the wind gauge with the meet’s wind gauge operator. The coach has the anemometer set 50 meters from the finish line and it will be 20 meters from the common foul line for the long jump and triple jump. The wind gauge operator confirms. RULING: Correct placement. COMMENT: The wind measuring instrument should be set in these standard locations at all meets.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: At the coaches’ meeting, all are reminded that all communication devices between coaches and competitors during competition are prohibited and if used shall be considered an unfair act and providing assistance. The result would be disqualification from the event. RULING: Correct, the prohibition is all devices used for communication and not just wireless devices.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: The games committee is considering running some of the slower heats using a different starting procedure. When announced at the coaches’ meeting, the coach of Team B opposes the different starts and states all heats for the same event shall be the same. With further review of the rule, the games committee establishes the same starting procedure for all heats in the same event. RULING: Correct procedure.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: A competitor is running the finals of the 110 hurdles. During the race, the competitor knocks over hurdles two, five and six with the foot of the lead leg. An umpire assigned to inspect these hurdles raises a yellow flag and records the incident citing Rule The report is provided to the meet referee. After review, the referee disqualifies the competitor. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: The knocking down of a hurdle by a foot is not a disqualification. If the hurdler were to deliberately knock over the hurdle by his hand or is clearly not attempting to clear the hurdles, then the competitor shall be disqualified.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: In the boys 110-meter high hurdles, A1 knocks over the last hurdle with his hand before winning the event in a record- breaking time. B1, who finished second, knocks over all 10 hurdles with his foot. In the umpire’s judgment, A1 was making an honest effort to clear the hurdles, whereas B1 was clearly not attempting to clear each hurdle. RULING: A1 is disqualified for knocking over the hurdle with a hand. B1 is disqualified for failing to attempt to clear each hurdle.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: The games committee approves the use of a bungee cord during warm-ups for the pole vault. The bungee cord to be used is supplied by the host school as it is one manufactured specifically for use in the pole vault and for the standards used in the competition. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: In order to use a bungee cord for warm- ups, it must be approved by the games committee and manufactured for this use in track and field. If for some reason the hosting site does not allow the use of bungee cords on their equipment, the games committee should honor this policy.

Rule Interpretation Rule  SITUATION: Vaulter A1 requests that the pole vault standards be placed at 17 inches. In placing the standards, the event judge sets one standard at 15 inches and the other at 17 inches. Vaulter A1 clears the crossbar on his/her vault. RULING: A1’s vault is legal.

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