1. FIELD EVENT SAFETY Jeff Bauer
Ohio Association USATF Officials’ Clinic Ohio Wesleyan University January 21, 2018

2. 2016 Certification Clinics
Special thanks to
Joe Showker
Virginia Association
2016 Certification Clinics

3. Officials Responsibilities
Venue Safety
Make sure the area is secured
Athletes and spectators located in safe areas
Make sure ring, pit, and runways are safe for competition
For Pole Vault and High Jump make sure the proper padding is in place and the landing pit is safe
Area security can be a problem at some venues
Area not roped off
Insufficient markings to warn spectators and athletes not competing in the event
Not enough officials and volunteers to monitor people wandering into the area
Spectator and athlete safety
Example of spectator hit by discus at OWU
Ring and runway
Toe board secured
Ring not loose
No cracks in cement or runway; not a slippery surface
Exit marks clearly visible
Point for tape puller clearly marked
Watch for rosin in the ring as it can lead to slippery conditions
Cage safety
Example of discus hitting track at OWU just after racers went by

4. Venue safety Hammer/weight and discus must be thrown from a cage
Check the cage
Netting: any gaps or holes; will it withstand impact?
Correctly anchored
Gaps between poles and doors
Are doors in working order

5. Potential Cautionary Danger
Huge potential danger with high school and some college cages where there are no panels or shorted fronts. These warrant extra care and extra warning markers during competition.

6. All officials are responsible for safety at all field event venues
For each of the throwing events, we have established recommended safety zones.
Each throwing area has 4 zones: green, yellow, light blue and red. We look at these as
safest (green), cautionary (yellow), potential danger (light blue or white) and danger (red).
The size of the safety zone will vary, depending on the terrain of your particular throwing venue, the proximity of other events or features, and other game-day factors such as wind. Remember that these zones are recommendations only, and that anytime an implement is being thrown…
rule #1 is mandatory - never turn your back to the circle or runway!

8. Plaintiff’s attorney: “Didn’t you consider this as potentially dangerous?”
Drooping net
Broken support
Short cage front
Horizontal athletes and spectators at high risk

9. Make sure all netting anchor points are secure and properly connected.
Do not anchor netting too tight nor tied directly to poles. Allow the loose net to absorb the energy of the throw.
Officials, tape pullers, athletes, and spectators should stand clear of the netting as implements thrown into the net will extend it past the posts

11. No reference marks for standards
Standards incorrectly aligned with front of pit
Non-padded and unyielding wooden pallets

12. Officials Responsibilities
Warm-up Safety
Do not allow warm-ups without supervision
Keep athletes behind cage during warm-ups
Always maintain eye contact with the ring or runway
Only allow officials and volunteers in impact area
Make sure retrievers are capable of working in the impact area
Never assume everyone is paying attention
NF rules require official or coach present for warm-ups
NCAA specifies an official must be present
USATF
Athletes may have to help retrieve if not enough help is available
Volunteers at events
Usually student athletes from other sports
Make sure they understand the danger involved
No cell phones used while working
Adequate footwear

13. Officials Responsibilities
Warm-ups (continued)
Implements should be carried out of the impact area, not thrown or rolled
Do not allow anyone to warm up outside the competition area
Do not get distracted or hold unnecessary conversations during warm-ups
No electronic devices in the competition area
Place a cone or some other object in the ring to designate the area is closed

14. How safe are those in the gallery should a spinner loose control of the implement and throw it out the side during a throw?

17. What’s wrong with this picture?

18. Appears flight coordinator is sitting with his back is to the ring
Official not in a good position to supervise warm-ups
Athletes awaiting their turn in the circle are standing on the sector line
Athletes too close to the netting

20. Indoor events can be more dangerous than outdoors
How could streamers or physical barriers improve these conditions?
How could common sense improve these conditions?

21. Officials Responsibilities
Once the event begins:
Make sure the sector or landing area is safe before allowing the next athlete a trial
Do not allow anyone to warm up outside the competition area
Do not get distracted or hold unnecessary conversations during competition
Do not allow warm-ups for finals to start until the final order is announced
Place a cone or some other object in the ring to designate the area is closed

22. Officials Responsibilities
Once the event begins:
Event head must be aware of what is going on at the venue
Continue to monitor the use of electronic devices by competitors, officials, and volunteers
Flight coordinator is critical
Must take control of the circle or runway
Stand between the athlete and circle or runway until it is safe to compete
Do not allow additional attempts once event is over

23. Other Considerations Medical Location of medical and training staff
Location and availability of water
Inclement Weather
Towels, squeegees, brooms
Increases danger in the impact area, especially with the discus and javelin

24. Lightning – Officials should be aware of lightning protocol and guidelines for USATF, NCAA, and NFHS/OHSAA. It is recommended suspension of competition when thunder or lightning is observed at the competition venue, and waiting 30 minutes after the last observation of either before resuming events
Rain -- conditions prompt consideration of the condition of runways, pits, and throwing circles -- are there signs of: the plant foot slipping in the vertical & horizontal jumps; a loss of traction/slipping in the throwing circle or javelin runway that could cause the athlete to fall or lose control of the implement; or the athlete losing a grip on an implement or vaulting pole?
Wind -- Referee’s decision on the direction of runways prior to the competition. Severe winds may lead to decisions to continue or curtail competition for the safety of pole vaulters (landing in the vaulting box or off the pit). Long throws implements landing far outside sectors may also pose safety concerns.
Excessive heat may prompt consideration of rescheduling longer races to cooler times in the day, and how to provide athletes with shade and liquids (water & performance drinks with electrolytes) for hydration of both athletes & officials.