(Photo by Ralph Epifanio)
Although posted on July 8, 2015 from Indianapolis, the track and field rule changes that will begin to take effect with the 2016 track season were introduced at this year's FACA conference by Ed Thompson of the FHSAA (pictured above). What follows are the NFHS (National Federation of High School) rules, which may be adapted either in toto, or modified to meet local (Florida) specifications (as happened with the well-discussed 2015 jewelry rule). After the rule changes is a summary of the discussion that followed.
Beginning with the 2016 high school track and field season, the head starter (or designee), rather than the implement inspector, shall inspect all starting blocks used in the running events.
The addition of Article 4 to Rule 3-6 was one of eight changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field Rules Committee at its June 15-17 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee's recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
"The committee did significant work in cleaning up some confusion regarding trials and passes by expanding terms contained in definitions," said Becky Oakes, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee. "Likewise, changes were made to include the use of flags in field events and update cross country rules to reflect the current trends in the sport."
Rules 6-1-1 through 5 were amended to expand and clarify the definitions for trials/attempts in throwing events. Rule 6-2-9 concerning a competitor's initiation of a trial was consequently affected by the change. Similar revisions were made to Rules 7-1-1 through 7 and Rule 7-2-12 so the same clarification and expansion of definitions apply.
Other significant track and field rules changes included the revision of Rule 3-10-7. The rule now states that "the head event judge may be equipped with both a white and red flag" to signal whether a throwing attempt is fair or foul. The change will allow for more efficient administration of field events and for improved communication between officials, coaches and fans, Oakes said.
In cross country, Rule 9-3-3 was revised to recommend the use of a video or photograph to verify the order of finish in races in which the timing system indicates a differential of one-tenth of a second or less. Having the video as a back-up and a process in place for problems that may arise from the use of a computerized transponder/chip system is a good solution, Oakes said.
Added to Rule 9-3 is the recommendation of a finish corral at cross country meets where transponders are used for the order of finish.
Other changes to cross country included an addition to Rule 9-1-3, which now allows the use of double painted boundary lines and/or natural or artificial boundary markers as an alternative method to mark the course for both runners and spectators.
The remaining changes to track and field concern equipment standards. Rule 6-5-2 was added, specifying the maximum allowed diameter for indoor shot put to account for the synthetic cover that is not present on the outdoor implement. Rule 6-6-1 was revised to allow for the use of newer javelin materials such as carbon fiber. Finally, Rule 7-6-3 was altered to recommend that the takeoff board for long jump and triple jump be eight inches wide, but still allow for larger boards.
Track and field is the second-most popular sport for boys with 580,321 participants in 16,271 schools and is the No. 1 sport for girls with 478,885 participants in 16,217 schools during the 2013-14 season, according to the NFHS Athletics Participation Survey. Cross country is the seventh-most popular sport for boys with 252,547 participants in 14,473 schools and is the sixth-most popular sport for girls with 218,121 participants in 14,267 schools.
This press release was written by Brandon Jones, a summer intern in the NFHS Publications and Communications Department and a junior at Indiana University Bloomington.
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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 16 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website atwww.nfhs.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900
Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations
bhoward@nfhs.org
Chris Boone, 317-972-6900
Assistant Director of Publications and Communications
cboone@nfhs.org
Points of Emphasis/ FACA Discussion
Item: The takeoff board in the horizontal jumps. Ed Thompson added to the above rule, that "up to a 24 inch takeoff board," is permitted. Any further clarifications will be made before the State Meet.
Ed's first point of emphasis for all coaches: Read the rules!
Comment from the audience: There seem to be just too many takeoff boards in the jumping events. It gets confusing as to which one we should be looking at (sic).
Ed: Which board used is determined by the quality of the meet's athletes.
Follow up comment from the audience: "The rule states that it is up to the discretion of the meet's rules committee."
Item: The difference between the terms "foul" and "scratch."
Ed: "If an athlete's attempt is unsuccessful due to a violation, it is a foul. Don't call it a scratch." (A scratch is when an athlete withdraws from that competition.)
Item: "Whether the effect of forces disassociated with a competitor's actions in the displacement of the crossbar (the high jump and pole vault), are caused by the athlete, or external forces not associated with his actions. Example: the wind, someone else hitting the supports or pushing against the mat, etc."
Ed: "That decision is up to the discretion of the meet officials."
Comment: The vertical jumps, along with other field events, are generally supervised by volunteers. It is important that they receive instruction by a person who knows and understands this rule before each meet.
Item: Manufacturer's logos on uniforms
Ed: Multiple logos on uniform bottoms, such as compression shorts, are non-compliant. As Ed illustrated it, what is illegal is multiple references to a manufacturer, such as having "Nike" printed numerous times on the waistband of the aforementioned shorts. Legal would be one Nike, Illegal would be multiple Nikes. The maximum size of any manufacturer's logo(s) is 2 ¼".
Item: The number of competitors in sections of distance races.
Ed: "Don't overload the sections. Do what is in the best interest for the athlete.
"Consider breaking that up. Perhaps, the faster runners-or 6 to 8 4 X 800 teams--would be placed in the correct spot in the schedule, but those with little chance of scoring could be moved to a time in the meet where there is a "break" in the action. Although it was unsaid, this writer assumes that this suggestion is in reference to Invitationals.
Item: Athlete watches (in the distance races).
Comment from the audience: "Right now, watches are permissible, but they have far more functions than that of being a simple timing device. With that in mind, can we expect a change in the rule?" (sic)
Ed: "NFHS is likely to be looking at that in the near future." Thompson added: "If I am not mistaken, there is a prohibition on GPS-like functions."
Item: Podium capacity
Ed answered this question from the audience: "The podium capacity will be increased to the top 8 this year." (answered with applause from the audience)
Item: The (additional) cost of purchasing track uniforms with numbers on the back.
Ed: "For this year, it will still be the rule; next year it may change.
Item: A long, one day State Meet vs. one being broken up into a two day meet.
Ed: "Florida is allowed a two day meet; this is the best we can come up with."
According to the outline on his Power Point, Friday's schedule would include (approx.) six hours of running events, and Saturday (approx.) seven hours.
Question from the audience: "Why are (each of the) throwing events on one day?"
Ed: "We wanted to have them on one day because of the availability of lighting (or lack thereof) at throwing areas. By splitting them up, the competitors can compete and then go home; they do not have to stay overnight.
The rules discussion closed with the 2016 Schedule:
January 18 - first practice
Week of February 12th - preseason meets
February 15 - first regular season meet
April 9 - last regular season meet
April 11-16 and April18-23 - District Meets
April 25 -30 - Regional Meets
May 5 - 6 - State Meet