2010 Track & Field and Cross
Country
Rules Meetings
David Anderson, Asst. Executive Director
Iowa High School Athletic Association
Mike Dick, Executive Director
Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
STARTING DATES FOR PRACTICE SAME
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
COMPETITION FOR BOTH
ORGANIZATIONS CAN BEGIN ON
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
CHANGE IN SCHOLARSHIP RULE
36.15(2)
FIRST COMPETITION DATE IS NOW
MARCH 15, 2010 –STUDENTS ARE INELIGIBLE
ON THIS DATE
STUDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE
ON
APRIL 14, 2010
IF YOU HAVE AN INDOOR SEASON, STUDENT
ATHLETES CAN COMPETE BEFORE THIS
DATE AND THEN BECOME INELIGIBLE
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
MEET LIMITATION
SAME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
TWELVE (12) MEETS
MEET LIMITS DO NOT INCLUDE THE
DRAKE RELAYS, DISTRICT/REGIONAL
OR STATE MEET
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
MEET LIMITATION
YOUR SCHOOL IS ALLOWED THE MEET
LIMITATION AT EACH LEVEL, (I.E. VARISTY, JV,
FRESHMAN). JUNIOR VARSITY TEAMS MAY
COMPETE IN LEVEL VARSITY MEETS IF THE MEET
CONTRACT CLEARLY STATES YOUR SCHOOL IS
SENDING A JV TEAM AND ALL PARTICIPATING
SCHOOLS ARE NOTIFIED PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
COMPETITION.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
INDOOR COMPETITION
INDOOR MEETS ARE NOT COUNTED
IN THE MEET LIMITATION, HOWEVER,
ONCE YOU COMPETE OUTDOORS,
ALL MEETS AFTER THAT
COMPETITION COUNT WHETHER
INDOORS OR OUTDOORS
EXCEPTION: THE GIRLS’ STATE
INDOOR MEET WILL NOT COUNT
EVEN IF YOU HAVE HAD OUTDOOR
COMPETITION
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
BOYS AND GIRLS INDIVIDUAL
LIMITATION EXCEPTION
BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS HAVE AN
EXECEPTION FOR THE DRAKE
RELAYS REGARDING A COMPETITOR
COMPETING IN ONLY ONE MEET PER
DAY. THE EXCEPTION IS ONLY FOR
THE DRAKE RELAYS.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
HURDLE CHANGES FROM 2009 – BOYS
& GIRLS
GIRLS 100 METER HURDLES
HURDLE HEIGHT – 33 INCHES
GIRLS & BOYS SHUTTLE HURDLE RELAY
HURDLE HEIGHT – 33 INCHES
GIRLS & BOYS 400 METER HURDLES
UNCHANGED
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
JUNIOR HIGH HURDLE HEIGHTS
THE JUNIOR HIGH HURDLE
HEIGHTS WERE NOT
CHANGED
ALL JUNIOR HIGH HURDLE EVENTS USE A HURDLE
HEIGHT OF 30 INCHES
GIRLS’ STATE INDOOR MEET
WILL BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
NORTHERN IOWA
TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010 – 11:00 AM
MEET MANAGEMENT WILL BE THE
RESPONSIBILILTY OF UNI
OPEN TO ALL IOWA HIGH SCHOOLS –
LIMITED TO 1 RELAY ENTRY AND 2
INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES PER EVENT
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
DISTRICT/REGIONAL MEETS IN ALL
CLASSES WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY,
MAY 14, 2010
ALL DISTRICT/REGIONAL ENTRIES
WILL BE ONLINE
DEADLINE FOR DISTRICT/REGIONAL
ENTRIES WILL BE 12:00 NOON, ON
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
DISTRICT/REGIONAL INFORMATION
•EIGHT PLACES WILL BE SCORED AT THE
DISTRICT/REGIONAL MEETS
•THE SCHEDULED BREAK DURING THE
DISTRICT/REGIONAL MEET 45 MINUTES
•THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN STATE MEET
QUALIFYING – BOYS WILL STILL QUALIFY ONLY
BY DISTRICT PLACE – GIRLS WILL QUALIFY BOTH
BY REGIONAL PLACE AND PERFORMANCE
COMPARISON
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
DISTRICT/REGIONAL
INFORMATION
• MEETS USING FAT TIMING SYSTEMS WILL BE
ALLOWED TO USE THE FAT TIME AND MAKE THE
-.24 SECOND ADJUSTMENT
• ALL ENTRIES MUST BE VERIFIED ON IOWA
QUIKSTATS – POSTING OF PERFORMANCES ON
QUIKSTATS IS NOW A REQUIREMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
STATE MEET INFORMATION
THE COMPETITION ORDER WILL BE THE SAME
AS 2009 – CLASS 1A & 4A WILL COMPETE IN THE
MORNING SESSIONS – CLASS 2A & 3A WILL
COMPETE IN THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS
THE STATE MEET SCHEDULE WILL NOT
CHANGE. SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED ON
BOTH THE GIRLS’ UNION AND BOYS’
ASSOCIATION WEBSITES.
National Federation of State
High School Associations
2010 Track and Field
and Cross Country
Rules Changes
Major Editorial Changes
Points of Emphasis
Rule Interpretations
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
National Federation of State
High School Associations
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
Games Committee-Coaching Box
Rule 3-2-4g NOTE
 When used, all areas designated for the
coaches (coaching boxes) to observe and
confer with competitors shall be clearly
identified and marked by the host meet
management
• Coaching boxes should be identified by the
games committee prior to the start of the
competition
• Coaching boxes should be marked with flags,
pennants, painted lines, etc.
Games Committee-Video Replay
Rule 3-2-7
 Video replay or television monitoring
equipment, other than the official equipment
approved by the games committee prior to
the start of competition, shall not be used to
make decisions related to the meet
Games Committee-Video Replay
Rule 3-2-7
 The games committee has authority to
approve the use of pictures/video equipment,
prior to competition, to assist in the final
decision of place finish in races
• Must identify equipment to be used
• Must determine location of equipment
• Must identify intended purpose to assist in final
decision of place finish
• Not for coaches to use for protesting judgment
of official(s)
Anemometer
Rule 3-17-2
 Anemometer (wind instrument or gauge)
required for:
• races up to and including 200 meters
• long jump
• triple jumps
 Location of anemometer:
•
•
•
•
•
4 feet above ground
Within 2 meters of track/runway
50 meters from finish line
20 meters from horizontal jumps foul line
Faces start of event
Communication With a Competitor
Rule 4-5-8e
 It is an unfair act when a competitor receives
any assistance from any other person
Assistance includes:
• Communicating with a competitor through the
use of any device
Forming Heats
Rule 5-6-3
 All varsity heats in the same event shall use
the same starting procedure
 Three configurations:
• Lanes – each competitor starts in his/her own
lane
• Alleys – two or more competitors start in a
grouping of more than one lane and less than
all lanes on track
• Waterfall – all competitors begin on a common
curved line across all lanes on track
Forming Heats
Rule 5-6-3
 Example:
• Games committee decides to use alleys for
varsity boys 800-meter run
• Alley start must be used for all heats varsity
boys 800-meter run
• If girls competition held at same meet, alley
start must be used for all varsity girls 800meter run
Forming Heats
Rule 5-6-3
 NOTE: For subvarsity, a different starting
configuration could be used, if needed, for
example, to accommodate expanded
participation
 These starts should likewise be consistent for
all subvarsity heats for both boys and girls
Hurdling Infractions
Rule 5-13-2b
 It is an infraction if a competitor:
• Knocks down any hurdle by hand
 Official no longer has to
determine if the hurdle was
knocked down deliberately by
hurdler’s foot
• Eliminates need for official to determine hurdler’s
intent
• It is a foul if a hurdle is knocked down by hand
• It is not a foul if a hurdle is knocked down by foot
if the hurdler is attempting to clear each hurdle
Shot Put
Rule 6-5-5
 A 34.92-degree sector shall be marked on the
ground
 Radial lines 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide
shall extend from the center of the circle to
form an area into which legal puts shall be
made
 The inside edges of these lines shall mark the
sector and the lines shall be placed
equidistance from the ends of the stopboard
Shot Put
Rule 6-5-5
Bungee Cord Use in Warm-ups
in Vertical Jumps
Rule 7-2-11 NOTE
 A bungee cord/elastic crossbar manufactured
for use in the high jump may be used during
warm-ups, as approved by the games
committee
Bungee Cord Use in Warm-ups
in Vertical Jumps
Rule 7-2-11 NOTE
 Bungee cord/elastic crossbar for warm-ups
• Shall be manufactured for the specific
intended purpose for use in the field event
• Shall be supplied by the host meet
management
• Should the hosting school elect not to secure
and provide a bungee cord, it is not
permissible for a competitor or another school
to supply or use a bungee cord for warm-ups
• At no time shall a bungee cord/elastic
crossbar be used in competition
Jumping Events
Rules 7-4-6 NOTE and 7-5-11 NOTE
 Effective January 1, 2013, the high jump
crossbar shall be circular
 Square with beveled edges or triangular
crossbars shall no longer be legal for
competition
National Federation of State
High School Associations
2010
Major Editorial Changes
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
Editorial Changes
 Rule 4-5-9
When a competitor is rendered
unconscious, or apparently
unconscious, he/she shall not be
permitted to return to play that day
without written authorization from a
physician (MD/DO)
 Rule 6-3-2
Lettering/numbering was corrected. No
change to rule, just a clarification
National Federation of State
High School Associations
2010
Points of Emphasis
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
Points of Emphasis –
Games Committee Responsibilities
 Games committees need to have an understanding of
policies or procedures that may have been
established by their respective state association office
 The games committee does not have the authority to
set aside or revise policies or procedures
 In having the authority to determine aspects of meet
management and operation, all determinations must
be communicated to the coaches, officials and teams
participating prior to the start of any competition
• Any determinations made after the competition has
begun, must be due to an unforeseen unusual situation
Points of Emphasis –
Contestant/Competitor
 The status of athletes, as either contestants or
competitors, directly affects the application of some
rules and the penalties for violation of those rules
 Entry – Athlete and/or relay team submitted by entry
deadline established by games committee, to be
entered in the meet
 Contestant – Any athlete entered in the meet by the
established deadline
 Competitor – Contestant who reports for an event is
then a competitor
Points of Emphasis –
Application of “Design of Uniform” for
Relays and Cross Country
 Rules 4-3 (Track Relay Teams) and 9-6
(Cross Country Team) require team members
to be wearing uniforms of the same “design”
 “Design” refers to a pattern of colors used in
the uniform
 Both relay teams and cross country teams are
competing as a team similar to a volleyball or
basketball team
 Uniforms being worn must be able to clearly
identify the competitor, at a glance, as a
member of a certain team
Points of Emphasis –
Application of “Design of Uniform” for
Relays and Cross Country
 Design and style should not be confused
• Style – all colors and design are the same
when required by rule
• Length, cut of uniform, etc. could be different
 For officials to fairly and consistently identify
the runners and team to which they belong,
all rules regarding design shall be followed
Points of Emphasis –
Application of “Design of Uniform” for
Relays and Cross Country
 Examples of style:
• Team members are in black uniform top and black
uniform bottom – traditional shorts
• One member wears knee length black uniform
bottom - LEGAL style
• Team members are in one piece
black uniform
• One team member wears
black shorts over the one
piece uniform - LEGAL style
• When the shorts were added,
the legs of the one piece
became visible undergarments
Rule Interpretation
Visible Undergarments
 Are visible undergarments displaying seams stitched
on the outside of the garment in a visible contrasting
color to the undergarment legal or illegal beginning
with the 2010 season?
Illegal
Contrasting color
of seams makes
garment more
than a single color
National Federation of State
High School Associations
2010
Track and Field Materials
Take Part. Get Set For Life.™
NFHS Track and Field
Pre-Meet Notes
NFHS Track and Field
Pre-Meet Notes
is now available online
http://www.nfhs.org/track.aspx
NFHS Track and Field Pre-Meet
Notes is made possible
through the cooperative efforts
of the NFHS Track and Field
Rules Committee and USA
Track and Field Officials
Training Subcommittee
ATTENDANCE
FORMS
FILL THE BUBBLES FROM
THE INSIDE OUT
MARK BOYS/GIRLS COACH
OR BOYS/GIRLS OFFICIAL
ONLY MARK “HEAD COACH”
IF A GIRLS OR BOYS HEAD
TRACK AND FIELD COACH
ALL ATTENDEES FILL IN
EVERY AREA, EXCEPT THE
SOCIAL SECURITY
SCHOOL CODES ON THE
BACK OF FORM
OFFICIALS FILL IN THE
LAST FOUR SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBERS
EVERYONE FILLS OUT THE
BOTTOM SECTION