INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July
7, 2009) — Beginning next track and field season, officials no longer will need
to interpret the intent of hurdlers who knock over a hurdle by foot during the
race. The competitor must attempt to clear the hurdle, but will not be faulted
for knocking over the hurdle with his or her foot.
This change to Rule
5-13-2b and 10 other rules were made by the National Federation of State High
School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at
its annual meeting June 14-16 in Indianapolis.
The changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The committee changed
Rule 5-13-2b language from “deliberately knocks down any hurdle by hand or
foot” to simply “knocks down any hurdle by hand.” Although the words
“deliberately” and “foot” have been removed from the rule, competitors must attempt
to clear each hurdle.
“The committee
decided to take out the issue of determining whether an athlete knocks the
hurdle down deliberately or by mistake,” said Becky Oakes, NFHS assistant
director and committee liaison. “If the hurdler knocks down one after another
after another, then the official can determine that the competitor is not
attempting to clear the hurdle. It isn’t to a hurdler’s advantage to hit and
deliberately knock down hurdles.”
The committee made
several changes affecting competitors in the vertical jumps. A modification to
Rule 7-2-11 now allows the use of the previously prohibited bungee cord in
place of the crossbar for warm-ups. The committee noted that the bungee cord
must be approved by the games committee and must be manufactured specifically
for use in track and field for this purpose. In addition, the bungee cord may
only be used if the standards for the event are able to accommodate it. Rule
7-5-4 is also affected by this change. The committee added the phrase “or any
other equipment which is not legal” to clarify this rule, regarding items not
permitted in warm-ups.
Another change
affecting pole vault competitors is a modification to Rule 7-5-29g regarding
fouls by the competitor. It is no longer a foul when a team member clears the
cross bar in the pole vault when the uprights are positioned incorrectly by the
officials.
A final
modification specifically affecting pole vaulters and high jumpers is a note
added to Rule 7-4-6, stating that beginning January 1, 2013, the crossbars in
these events must be circular (as opposed to being triangular or square with beveled
edges). Rule 7-5-11 is also affected by this change.
Another important change
by the committee is a note added to Rule 3-2-4g, which states that designated
areas for coaches to observe and confer with their team members must be clearly
marked and identified by the host meet management.
“This addresses
risk management and fair competition,” Oakes said. “The rule keeps the safety
of the athletes and the coaches a priority. If the coaching box is clearly identified
with flags or in another way, the coaches can be confident about where they can
and cannot be. It will also make it easier for the officials to enforce the
rule.”
A change to Rule
3-2-7 states that any television monitoring equipment must be identified and
approved by the games committee before the start of the competition.
“The terms and
conditions for the meet should always be established before competition
starts,” Oakes said.
Following are other changes approved by the
committee:
•
Rule
4-5-8e prohibits communication with the competitor in competition through the
use of any device.
• Rule 4-6-3 states that all heats and/or
sections shall use the same starting procedure.
• Rule 6-5-5 clarifies how a shot put sector
should be marked through the stopboard.
• Rule 3-17-2 specifies the location of
the anemometer for all events requiring wind readings.
The committee also
identified five points of emphasis for next season: 1) coaching box, 2) pole
vault, 3) games committee responsibilities, 4) contestant/competitor and 5) application
of “design of uniform” for relays and cross country.
Track
and field is the third-most popular sport among boys and the second-most
popular sport among girls at the high school level with 548,821 boys and 447,520
girls, respectively, participating during the 2007-08 season, according to the
High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. It also ranks
second in school sponsorship for both boys and girls.