1. Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2015 Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Changes Editorial Changes Points of Emphasis

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

3. Indoor Track Events Rule 1-4  Order of indoor events include 55-meter or 60-meter High Hurdles 55-meter or 60-meter Dash 55-meter or 60-meter Low Hurdles  Distance set by meet director or games committee May also be set by state association policy With no action, distance is 55 meters  55 meters is the official NFHS distance

4. Competitor’s Uniform - Jewelry Former Rules 4-3-3, 9-6-3  The wearing of jewelry is no longer prohibited during warm-ups and competition under NFHS rules State associations may adopt a more restrictive rule Ring Earring

5. Competitor’s Uniform Watch  Wearing of a watch continues to be permitted Use of GPS function is not permitted By state association policy the wearing of a watch could be prohibited

6. Competitor’s Uniforms Medical Alert  Medical alerts are permitted  Alert should be visible for risk minimization

7. General Rules for Throwing and Jumping Events Rules 6-2-9, 6-4-9a, 6-5-9a, 6-6-11h, 7-2-12, 7-4-14d, 7-5-27e, 7-6-12f  Clarifies that once the competitor’s name has been called, a trial needs to be initiated, rather than completed, within the prescribed time limit

8. General Rules for Throwing and Jumping Events Rules 6-2-9, 6-4-9a, 6-5-9a, 6-6-11h, 7-2-12, 7-4-14d, 7-5-27e, 7-6-12f  A trial, with attempt initiated within prescribed time, completed beyond time is legal Providing all other aspects of attempt are conducted according to the event rules

9. General Rules for Throwing and Jumping Events Rules 6-2-17 NOTE, 6-6-9, 7-2-18 NOTE 1  If a legal implement breaks during a trial taken in accordance with the rules Performance is not recorded and replacement trial is awarded  If a legal implement breaks upon completion of trial that was executed in accordance with the rules Performance mark is recorded and no replacement trial awarded

10. General Rules for Throwing Events Rules 6-4-9f, 6-5-9g, 6-6-11  The competitor must still exit, as required by rules for shot put, discus and javelin, after the implement has landed  Competitor may exit once the implement has landed and no longer has requirment to exit under control

11. General Rules for Throwing Events Rules 6-4-9f, 6-5-9g, 6-6-11f  Removes the requirement for the official to call “Mark”  Once the implement has landed the throw is measured unless there is an illegal throw resulting in a foul  A foul can be signaled verbally, “Foul,” or with a flag if being used  Competitor shall exit circle or runway according to rules once implement has landed

12. General Rules – Vertical Jumps Rule 7-2-11  A crossbar displaced by a force disassociated with the competitor after he/she is legally and clearly over the crossbar shall not be a fault and is considered a successful attempt  Examples of disassociated force: Wind Rebound of the pole off planting box padding

13. Special Events Rules 8-1-1, 2  Boys events may include either the 1600- meter run or 1500-meter run  With no action by meet director or games committee, standard distance is 1600- meters State association policy may also define which distance to utilize in competition Boys Decathlon, Pentathlon

14. Indoor Track & Field Events  Indoor weight throw may be included as a special event for indoor competition  Permitted only if legal cage is provided for warm-ups and competition Special Events Rule 8-2-1f

15. Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2015 Track and Field and Cross Country Editorial Changes

16. Infractions in Races Rules 5-12-1, 5-14-2f  Removes unnecessary language “impedes” as rule addresses the infraction by term “interfere”

17. Meet Officials Rule 3-10-4  Additional language added to clarify that the meet official may allow a competitor to take trials in succession to accommodate being excused to participate in other events

18. Infractions in Races Not Run in Lanes Rules 5-13-1 thru 4  Reorganizes Rule 5-13 for clarity Infractions are located in Articles 1 & 2 Non-infractions grouped and appear in Articles 3 & 4

19. Other Editorial Changes  4-6Added “and Conduct” to title of Section 6 to more clearly describe the articles addressed in the section  4-6-5eRemoved duplicity in the rule by combining letters e and g Communicating with a competitor through the use of any device, including electronically, during a race or trial  4-6-5 Added consistency in language to include reference to the coaches box and permits instruction through electronic means, as well as verbally A coach may instruct a competitor… Note 3

20. Other Editorial Changes  5-13-4Deletes unnecessary language “stride” at end of sentence  6-2-5, 7-2-13...The competitor with the best mark in the preliminaries has earned the right to make the last attempt of the competition and may choose to wait until after any excused competitors have taken all their trials  6-3-1height of does not apply

21. Other Editorial Changes  6-4-6 NOTE 3with flags placed flagged  6-3-2, 7-3-2For consistency, rearranged “height or distance” to “distance or height”  7-2-1In meets with limited entries, the games committee may allow all competitors just four trials.  7-3-2a(1)For clarity, rearranged “is better from either the preliminary trials or the finals” to “from either the preliminary trials or finals, is better."

22. Other Editorial Changes  7-3-2cA competitor shall be credited with his/her best achievement if it occurs in a jump-off for first place  7-4-15, 7-5-15&17, 7-5-30, 7-6-8, 7-6-17 Removed duplicate articles from the specific field event rules as they are already addressed in the General Rules for Field Events

23. Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations 2015 Track and Field and Cross Country Points of Emphasis

24. Risk Minimization in the Hammer/Weight Throws  The weight throw is allowed as an additional indoor event Boys use a 25-pound weight Girls use a 20-pound weight  The throwing circle is the same size used for the hammer throw and shot put (7 feet in diameter with no toe board)  A weight cage must be used to maintain the safety of spectators, waiting competitors and officials  Flagging to cordon off throwing and landing sector should be set up well outside the sector lines  Throwing shoes and gloves are recommended

25. Proper Cordoning Off of the Throwing Venue  Throwing events should be cordoned off and/or flagged properly for the safety of spectators, athletes and officials  Ropes, fences or flags should be set up well outside of the sector lines to minimize the risk of injury for spectators, competitors and officials  Spectator seating needs to be placed behind throwing area and away from landing area

26. Proper Cordoning Off of the Throwing Venue

27. Legal Implements Becoming Illegal  It is possible for an implement deemed legal to break and become illegal during an attempt The tip of a javelin could come off or the cording of the grip could unravel during flight  If the implement breaks during the attempt, the competitor will receive another trial and no penalty will be assessed  The broken implement will no longer be used in the competition unless it can be fixed to become legal

28. Legal Implements Becoming Illegal  The performance mark shall count and be recorded if an implement breaks upon landing Must have been executed in accordance with the rules of the event  No penalty is assessed, but the broken implement will no longer be used in competition unless it can be made legal

29. Displacement of the Crossbar  It is a foul if the competitor displaces the crossbar from the pins on which it originally rested with his/her body or the pole  A crossbar displaced by a force disassociated with the competitor and he/she has legally and clearly gone over the crossbar, is considered a successful attempt

30. Displacement of the Crossbar For example, a pole could rebound or change direction after hitting the plant box padding, causing the pole to displace the crossbar This should not result in a fault if the vault was clearly successful Wind may blow the crossbar off the pins causing it to fall even though the competitor has cleared the crossbar

31. Head Event Judge Mechanics – Throwing Events  After a throw has landed, the official marking the attempt immediately goes to the point of impact and marks the spot  Once the implement lands and the competitor should legally exit the ring, the judge will voice or use flags to indicate if a foul was committed  If the attempt was legal, the mark shall be measured and recorded

32. Prohibition of Wearing Jewelry Removed  Jewelry and hair accessories are no longer illegal An official may ask a competitor to remove an accessory if it is not properly secured or could damage equipment  Watches are legal in all track and field and cross country events State association policy may prohibit  Religious and medical alert medals are legal and no longer required to be taped to the body When wearing a medical alert, the alert should be visible for risk minimization

33. Prohibition of Wearing Jewelry Removed  Coaches retain the responsibility to not allow competitors to wear items dangerous to themselves or to equipment, such as landing system in high jump  Preserving the integrity of the sport, coaches should set and communicate expectation that jewelry, if worn, should not be dangerous and must be secure when worn

34. 2015 Track and Field Rules/Case Book Corrections Rules Book  Page 2, 6-4-9g f  Page 3, Editorial, 7-6-17  Page 49, Rule 7, SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS Case Book  Page 62, SITUATION 6.4.9B, RULING: A foul throw is declared in (a). and (b)  Page 67, SITUATION 7.2.11 12 A, RULING: …to a completion or pass after being called…, SITUATIONS 7.2.11 12 B, 7.2.11 12 C, SITUATIONS 7.2.12 13 A, B, C & D

35. Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations www.nfhs.org Thank You for your support of High School Athletics!