Following are some rules interpretations for field events that can (and often do) occur:
Scenario 1 – High Jumper A1 does not enter the competition (they reported in to the event judge, but passed until all other jumpers completed their attempts – i.e., he “passed” until all other jumpers were done).               Question – Is A1 permitted to have for “warm-up” and what is permitted for this “warm-up”? 
Ruling - NFHS rule 7-4-9 provides that “A competitor who has passed three consecutive heights after the competition has begun, may be permitted  one warm-up jump without the cross bar in place but shall enter the competition at that height.  Such a warm-up must be taken at a height change.”   The same provision applies for the Pole Vault (NFHS 7-5-16).  The NFHS case book (7.4.9 and 7.5.15) addresses this situation.  Contained in both case book situations/rulings is the statement “…without the bar in place.”  Since the interpretations in the case book are considered the official interpretations of NFHS rules, one must accept the case book rulings/explanations for rule application.  Therefore, the athlete may have one warm-up jump BUT it cannot be with the cross bar in place (I assume that the NFHS interpretation is based on the long standing position/interpretation, that once competition begins, the bar cannot be lowered (unless it is for a “jump off”).  As to how much time does the athlete have to attempt their first trial at the competition height must be initiated within one minute (one and one-half minutes in Pole Vault) – the one-minute applies since they have yet to have made an attempt at any height – technically they have yet to be identified as a competitor since they passed all previous heights.  Following their first attempt (whether they make or miss on that first attempt) under the provisions of 7-2-5 since they are now officially the only competitor left in, they would have five minutes (for the high jump, six minutes for the pole vault) for their next attempt.
Scenario 2 – A1 has been excused from a field event to participate in another event.  They have not reported back within the allowed time limits set by the games committee.  A1 has not had any additional communications with the event officials.  All other competitors have completed the competition in the event A1 was initially excused from.  What steps are appropriate for the event judge to take?
Ruling – When NFHS rules do not specifically address every possible situation when the games committee cannot provide specific guidelines for event officials to follow, then the event judge must exercise some judgment.  I would suggest that at that point, the athlete be “paged” over the PA system informing the athlete that they are to report “immediately” for the event.  The “attempt clock” then should be started (rule 6-2-9, 7-2-5).  If the athlete does not initiate an attempt within the time specified by rule, it should be recorded as a miss (vertical event) or a foul (horizontal event or throwing event).  Within a 1 to 1 ½ minutes, the athlete would be called up for the second/third attempt/throw.   Again the athlete must initial a trial/throw within the time limit specified by rule or a foul/miss would be recorded.  If this process is followed then the athlete/coach has no basis for a protest of the judge’s actions.

ESSX POLE VAULTING POLES – NFHS update for those who have or use this brand of poles  -  As all of you know, the NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee included a new Note 1, in the 2009 Rules Book, which emphasizes the required manufacturer’s marking of the weight rating for an individual pole cannot be replaced by “etchings, serial numbers, etc.”  Rule 7-5-3 states, “The manufacturers must include on each pole:  the pole rating that shall be a minimum of ¾ inch in a contrasting color, located within or above the top handhold position….”

The language of the Note addresses various methods by which manufacturers may identify the characteristics of an individual pole.  Traditionally, the characteristics of a pole were etched on the pole.  These etchings were generally not ¾ in size and may or may not have been in a contrasting color to the pole or placed in a position on the pole in or above the manufacturer’s legal handhold 1-inch circular band.  The Note emphasizes the importance of the weight rating appearing on the pole as required in Rule 7-5-3.

The NFHS has been contacted by the manufacturer of Altius Poles (under the name of ESSX), bringing to the  attention of the NFHS that prior to 2006, the official manufacturer’s placement of the pole weight rating for Altius poles was to engrave the pole rating ¾ inch in height and of a contrasting color.  A label or other similar process was not used by the manufacturer in addition to the engraved pole characteristics and weight rating.  Altius poles manufactured from 2006 to the present now use a labeling system, in addition to etchings.
With the inclusion of Note 1, questions have been raised as to whether earlier models of the Altius poles meet the NFHS requirements due to the manufacturer’s method of engraving the weight rating in ¾ inch contrasting color.

Mr. Jeff Erickson, primary owner or Altius Poles, in correspondence to the NFHS confirmed the manufacturer’s process for placing the official pole weight rating on poles manufactured prior to 2006.  Although this has not been as common of a process, Altius was placing, using this method, a ¾ inch contrasting color weight rating on the individual pole.  Between 2000 and 2006, the weight label in addition to a permanent engraved area was located at the butt of the pole near the pole tip.  Prior to 2000 ESSX poles did not exist.  Replacements for the pole labels can be secured from the manufacturer at www.officialESSX.com.  Replacement labels will indicate the serial number of the pole.  If the serial number located in the label does not match the permanent serial number of the pole, the pole has been tampered with and should not be allowed to be used.   In order to avoid questions as to whether ESSX poles manufactured between 2000 and 2006 fulfill the requirement of NFHS rules, the KSHSAA recommends that  schools contact the manufacturer at the above web site and secure a replacement label which can be applied in the location prescribed by the current NFHS rule.

Based on this information from the official representative of Altius Poles, it is the position of the NFHS that your state may accept these earlier model poles as legal using the engraving, providing the manufacturer’s marking meets the requirements of Rule 7-5-3 and all other requirements for a legal pole are met.

If you have questions re: the legality of ESSX poles or replacement labels, please contact the manufacturer at the above web site.

KSHSAA RULE 28 – This week I wanted to briefly discuss this specific KSHSAA rule.  It is the time of the year that we will get many calls/questions as to how this rule is applied.  Quick history lesson as I understand it.   Unlike some state associations, we are proud that in Kansas our schools created an “activities” association – recognizing that our member schools correctly believe that students participating in the non-athletic programs offered by schools are as important to the development of students as are the athletic programs.  Students in KSHSAA member schools should be provided the opportunity for a total, holistic educational experience.  As a parent of daughters who were involved in music as well as athletic programs, I can attest to the impact and the importance their involvement in both programs had in their overall development.  Thus, as an activities association, many years ago the governing board of the KSHSAA adopted Rule 28.
Rule 28 provides that “athletic events for any student who has been or is a member of a large instrumental or vocal group are not approved prior to 6:00 p.m. on a school day of regional or state music festivals if these groups are entered in the festival. “  Large instrumental or vocal groups, under the current KSHSAA format, only perform at the KSHSAA state music festivals.  For application of the rule under the current format, this rule only applies to the week of the KSHSAA state music festivals.  For this year that is April 15-16 (Wednesday and Thursday – both school days).  These dates will be used in the following Q & A or situations used to help explain this rule.
Question 1 – Does this mean that the school cannot schedule any athletic activity before 6:00 on April 15 or 16?
Answer – No

Basic scenario with some variations -– Student A is on the school T & F team (but it could be any spring sports athletic team) and also a member of the school’s choir which is entered in the state music festival.  The school T & F team is entered in a meet that is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.  The choir is scheduled to perform at 9:00 a.m.   The choir returns to the school at 2:00 p.m.  The T & F team departs after the choir returns. ”
Question 2  - Can the student participate in the T & F meet?
Answer –  No
Question 3 – The event(s) the student is scheduled to participate in at the T & F meet all begin after 6:00 p.m.  Can the student participate in the T & F meet?
Answer – Yes

Question 4 – The student (and the coach and choir director) decides the student does not have to go with the choir.  Can the student participate in the T & F meet in events prior to 6:00 p.m.?
Answer – No
Question 5 – The student informs the choir director that they have decided to quit the choir when they join the T & F team.  Can the student participate in the T & F meet prior to 6:00 p.m.?
Answer – No

Question 6 – The school choir director contacts the State music festival manager and requests an earlier performance time since several students are also on the T & F team so that the students can get back for the meet.  If their performance time is moved can the T & F students participate in the meet?
Answer – Even if the choir’s performance time is moved, any of the student’s on the T & F team still may not participate in the meet until after 6:00 p.m.

This rule is designed to protect the students who participate in both the athletic and non-athletic school activities.  It also protects those other students who may not be members of the school athletic team but count upon all of the members of their large instrumental or vocal groups when they perform.  Each member of the choir is just as important to the success of the choir as is the student who is the T & F teams 2nd leg in the 4 x 100 M relay!

“SCHOOLING”  TRACK AND FIELD WORKERS – Many schools had their spring breaks either last week or this week.  Few if any track and field meets were scheduled on or just after March 19.  Obviously, that will pick up as we move into April.  If you are hosting an invitational meet spend some time helping your judges and clerk(s) of the course understand some of the most fundamental rules in track and field.  And share with them information on the KSHSAA 2009 Legal Uniforms for Track and Field Competitions.  This document was sent to all KSHSAA member schools but it is also available off the track and field page of the KSHSAA web site.  Provide copies of this document to all your meet workers.  Athletes will then be less likely to wear illegal equipment at the regional or state and run the risk of being disqualified as a result.

One of the most consistent “concerns” expressed to the KSHSAA is the following: “Athletes compete all season long while wearing illegal equipment or in illegal uniforms and then at the regional and state meet, they are told they are illegally equipped or in an illegal uniform.”  Or the other comment is “Our kids have been doing that all season and no one ever told them it was illegal.”   As we’ve discussed many times before, in order to run off a quality track and field meet, you have to rely upon a large number of “volunteers”.  Meet managers can be invaluable to coaches and student athletes by providing these volunteers information from the NFHS track and field rule book or NFHS track and field officials manual.  If you are hosting a track and field meet, spend some time helping these volunteers understand the rules and apply them correctly. 

Uniforms & Jewelry – There are still a few areas of concern that I’ve noted while attending some of the recent meets and from some emails/phone calls to the office. 

Jewelry - At a recent meet I noticed one of the competitors had tape on the lobs of both ears.  Recognizing one of this athletes coaches, I asked “and the tape on the ears is because…? (thinking I probably already knew the answer)”  The following was the exchange – coach “Oh he/she got their ears pieced today and they could not remove the studs they put in to keep the piercing from closing.”  My response – “You realize that they are participating while wearing illegal equipment.  They are running the risk of being disqualified from this event for that.”  Coach – “It seems that during the season no one cares.”  Response – “I’d hate to see them disqualified at the regional or state because the rules will be enforced there.”  At the same meet I observed another competitor with a “Live Strong” bracelet on.  

SPORTSMANSHIP issues in the sport of track and field are generally infrequent occurrences.  However, there are occasions when the students participating in track and field, by either their actions or their comments, do create sportsmanship challenges for officials.  Unlike sports where “officials” are readily identified by clothing and duties, in track and field athletes will forget that there are officials at each field event and in the vicinity of the track who by rule, do have the authority by NFHS rule to disqualify a contestant.  That may be one reason why students will not be more prone to use profanity at a track and field meet when they would not on the football field or the basketball court, etc.  I’m not quite sure why it is but it seems that in today’s society students can often be heard using profanity when they are interacting with each other, forgetting that there are others who overhear their words.  In too many situations, students often forget that they are in a public setting when they are at a meet.  Sometimes they will use inappropriate language (i.e., profanity) when talking to other students without realizing 1) it may be offensive to those that are within hearing distance or 2) that such language could result in their disqualification from a meet.

NFHS rule 4-5 addresses the topic of disqualification of contestants from an event or the meet.  4-5-1 lists a number of actions which when directed toward officials and others constitute unsporting conduct and can result in disqualification from an event and the meet.  4-5-2  provides a similar list of unsporting conduct which can result in disqualification from an event.  The provisions of 4-5-2 includes “using profanity that is not directed at someone” (emphasis added). It is not necessary for a contestant to be specifically directing profanity toward another individual in order to be disqualified from an event.  Contestants can be disqualified from an event if they use profanity!

It is important to keep in mind that the students we work with daily are normally between the ages of 14-18 and that they are still “learning”.   But we must remember that as adults we are all “teachers” for these students.  Our action (or inaction) is providing lessons to these students – failing to correct students when their actions are inappropriate or failing to admonish students when their words are offensive or include profanity, resulting in the message that their actions or their words are acceptable.  One of the KSHSAA administrative staff (Cheryl Gleason) has a great way of stating this – “what you permit, you promote!”  We all have responsibilities in helping students learn proper and appropriate behavior. 

Middle School/Junior High participation rule changed for 2008-09 School year:

The KSHSAA Board of Directors met on Friday, April 11.  As most of you know, only the Board of Directors can change a KSHSAA Handbook Rule.  The Board of Directors meets in April and September.  The KSHSAA Executive Board has the ability to change KSHSAA policies.  The Executive Board meets six times a year. 

One of the rules changes adopted by the KSHSAA Board of Directors at this April meeting applies to middle school/junior high track and field.  The proposal was submitted by the member schools of the Northwest Kansas League.  With declining numbers of students in their schools, the schools are having more and more challenges in having enough students to have competitive events in track and field.  The league a couple of years ago proposed a change to increase the number of events that MS/JH students could participate in during a meet.  This year, the league proposed making an increase in the distance limitation for seventh and eighth grade students competing in MS/JH meets. 

Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, seventh and eighth grade students will be limited to no more than two races of 880 yards (800 M) or more in one day.  Please note: the change is effective for the 2008-09 school year and the 2009 interscholastic track and field season.  THERE IS NO CHANGE REGARDING THE DISTANCE LIMITS FOR STUDENTS IN MS/JH TRACK THIS YEAR.  As noted during discussion on this proposal, this should help smaller teams with fielding relay teams and some of the middle distance events in junior high track and field meets.

Again as a reminder to the coaches, if you are hosting a track and field meet during the regular season, please send the results of your meet to Carol Swenson, McPherson College so that he can post those results on the Best Performance List and the All-time Best Performance Chart he maintains.  List are at http://www.mcpherson.edu/athletics.  Results can be emailed to Carol at swensonc@mcpherson.edu. 

SITUATION 1: A vaulter from Team A has the standards (uprights) set to position the crossbar 30 inches in direction of the landing surface from the zero point. The vaulter makes an approach but does not attempt to clear the crossbar. The vaulter brushes the landing system beyond the stopboard (zero point) but not beyond the positioning of the crossbar. The event judge rules a foul under 7-5-29d. The Team A coach protests that the zero point is not the determining factor for identifying the vertical plane. The protest is denied. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The zero point and the vertical plane are one in the same. Although the standards may be moved to set the position of the crossbar, the vertical plane remains constant and that is the zero point. (7-5-13, 7-5-19)

SITUATION 2: A Team A contestant reports to the clerk of the course to check in and become an official competitor for the 200-meter dash. The competitor is wearing a full-length body suit with a hood underneath her uniform for religious reasons. The body suit being worn as a visible undergarment under her uniform has red-and-white vertical stripes. Through preventive officiating, the clerk informs the competitor that the visible undergarment is illegal because it is multicolored. The competitor may compete if she makes the uniform legal. The athlete tells her coach, who then wants to protest. RULING: Protest denied, correct procedure. COMMENT: The clerk of the course has the responsibility to check and enforce uniform, visible apparel and shoe regulations. The undergarment is illegal only because of being multiple colors and not because of the length or hood. The ultimate responsibility regarding uniforms rests with the school coach. The coach has the responsibility to place the school's athletes in legal uniforms and educate the student-athlete on what is a legal uniform. Any exception to the uniform rule shall be provided by the state association. (4-3-1d)

SITUATION 3: The state association has established a policy for how scoring, places and advancement within the state series track and field competition shall be addressed if it is detected after the meet results are official that an ineligible athlete competed and scored points. During the regular season, the state association has allowed each games committee to establish the timeframe to address similar situations. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The state association has the authority to establish a policy to address correction of score when an ineligible athlete participates, scores points and places. This policy may also be based upon the individual state's bylaws in conjunction with established policy. Such policy may apply to the state series only or may also include regular-season meets, whichever the state association deems appropriate. (2-3-2)
KSHSAA policy applicable to this situation – Below is the policy adopted by the KSHSAA Executive Board.  This policy applies to the regional meet and is found in the 2008 KSHSAA track and field manual page 14 as item 3.G.1.  For regular season meets, the games committee for those meets may set their own policy in response to 2-3-2.