2016 You Are The Referee Situations Presented by Jim Fox and John Daubenspeck Greater Youngstown Track Officials Association

Situation #1 When results of a girls’ regional cross country race are announced, the coach of Team A reports that his runner, A1, was not included in the results.

Upon review of the official video of the finish, the athlete in question was identified in 10 th place and the results corrected. The corresponding change in team scoring alters the teams qualifying for the state meet. Rule 9.3.3, page 66 Note: New recommendation for use of video backup system when transponders (chips) are used

Situation #2 After the results in the previous situation are corrected, the coach of Team B protests, claiming the original results were announced by PA as official, and should not be subject to change. His official appeal asks that an additional team be advanced to the state meet, since they were originally announced as qualifying.

Situation #2 The appeal was denied. The referee rules that it was the correction of a clerical error, and was permissible by rule. Rule 2.3.1, page 10

Situation #3 At a large cross country invitational, the coach of Team A realizes his team failed to report on time for the start of their assigned cross country race. The coach gathers his team to the side of the course approximately 100 meters into the course. As the pack runs by, he has his runners join the race. Several officials report this to the referee.

Situation #3 The referee disqualified the entire team. Rule 9.7.5, page 73 – did not run the prescribed course Also, games committee rules required each team to check in properly with the clerks

Situation #4 In flight 1 of 8 flights of shot put competition, throws are measured from the edge of the toe board closest to the sector. This error is reported by the head field judge to the referee.

Situation #4 Decision unknown Rule The 2016 Case book indicates that unless the event judge is positive about the point where the shot landed when it was measured incorrectly, substitute attempts should be given. The case book situation involved only one incorrect measurement. (page 63-64)

Situation #5 In the finals of the girls 100 m Dash at a Division 2 Regional championship, a lengthy review of FinishLynx photos from both sides of the track are unable to separate two runners who in 4 th and 5 th place.

Situation #5 The referee ordered a run-off to determine the 4 th qualifier for state The points split for 4 th and 5 th are split between the two teams The coaches were shown the pictures as courtesy Rule and 2.2.4, page 10

Situation #6 In the pole vault, the starting height is measured incorrectly. An official discovers the error after the bar has been raised several times, at a point when some vaulters have cleared the current height, some have 1 miss, some have 2 misses, etc. Note: the bar was actually higher than the height announced to the vaulters.

Situation #6 Athletes who had misses at the current height were given 3 new attempts. Note: No athletes had been eliminated at lower heights Rule j, page 12 – games committee establishes starting heights and progressions

Situation #7 An athlete in the 100 m dash reports wearing 2 layers of visible undergarments, with a thigh-length garment over an ankle length garment. The shorter garment has multiple stripes of various colors. When told by the clerk he must change, his coach objects stating that the offending garment is above the knee.

Situation #7 The athlete must remove the multi-colored garment. When one extends below the knee, both are considered to do so. Furthermore, both layers must be of the same color. Rule b.8 - Note at end of – page 23

Situation 8 Athlete A1 reports for the 110 m Hurdles wearing a uniform with multiple logos on the waist band.

Rule b.8, page 23 NFHS point of emphasis for 2016 – “Many of the items with multiple references of the manufacturer on the waistband are not actually uniforms but rather an undergarment or base layer. Thus, the item is not made to be a uniform.”

Situation 9 Athlete A1 fails to check in to the clerk of course for his race (800 m) at the state championship. After repeated announcements to try to locate the athlete, the line clerk turns the runners over to the starter. At the conclusion of the race, with several hip numbers falling off, it is determined that A1 ran the race, having placed himself on the starting line.

A1 was disqualified as he did not check in properly with the clerk of course. Rule 4.1.2, page 21

Situation 10 On the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay, runners A4 and B4 are in a closely contested race. As the run down the final straight, A4 veers outward to prevent B4 from passing him. No contact is made. The runners finish in lanes 4 and 5.

Team A was disqualified due to interference by A4, having caused B4 to alter his path to the finish line. Rule 5.9.1, page 37

This PowerPoint will be available Saturday evening at: If you encounter situations that would be interesting to discuss at the clinic next year, please send a description of them to John Daubenspeck at