During the course of the 2007-08 season the KSHSAA will be posting weekly updates/announcements/interpretations.  Check this site for those items – your question may be answered by checking this source of information.

May 5, 2008
The 2008 track and field season is headed into the “gun lap” (to borrow a track and field term).  I have the utmost respect for those track and field coaches who again have been forced by weather to modify and adjust practice routines and schedules brought on by Kansas weather!  When I was still coaching I was rather envious of our counterparts who were high school coaches in states to the South and West (Florida, Texas, California, etc.).  I could not imagine what it would be like to have weather conditions that were absent of strong winds, wet and cold temperatures to prepare track and field athletes in (on a daily basis).  In some ways it is truly remarkable in looking at the accomplishments of the track and field athletes that have come from Kansas schools given the challenges of practice and competition weather conditions they have had to deal with.  I am especially respectful of those “veteran” Kansas coaches who have been dealing with the weather conditions not for just a few years but for decades!  My wind-blown hat goes off to all of you!

As I’ve mentioned before, please make your initial entry of the athletes for the regional meets before Wednesday of this week (May 7).  You can update times, entries, etc. up to 8:30 PM on Saturday, May 10.  FAX form TF-5 to the KSHSAA Saturday evening (May 10) or Sunday morning (May 11).  This form is important in the “proofing” process we use for the regional entries.  Please keep in mind that in excess of 7,000 entries will be made for next weeks regional meets and any delay affects a lot of other people.  IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SEND IN THE ENTRY FEES WHEN YOU SEND IN TF-5.  Checks for the regional entries may be sent in during the week of May 12.  Our first priority is to get the regional entries into the system via the on-line entry process.

If you encounter any challenges with the on-line entry process, please call the KSHSAA office or email me (rbowden@kshsaa.org).  It would be helpful if you provide in your email a telephone number that you can be reached out.  I’ll contact you re: any challenges you may be having.  I will be at the KSHSAA office Saturday afternoon and evening.  You can also call me there with any questions (785-273-5329).

April 28, 2008
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.  

Uniforms - In another meet, the question arose re: the stitching on exposed undergarments.  The undergarments were black but the stitching was a different color.  On one contestant, the stitching on the exposed top undergarment was one color and on the exposed bottom undergarment was a different color.  Quest was “does this make the undergarment two colors”.  This question was raised during the NFHS track and field interpreters meeting prior to this season.  The ruling was “as long as the stitching was serving a functional purpose (such as a hem or seam on the garment) the stitching did not have to be the same color as the garment.  Stitching serving a functional purpose that was not the same color as the garment does not make it a two color garment.”

While some may not fully understand the reason for some of the rules, there are sound reason/basis for any of the rules.  Among those reason is safety of competitors or their opponents.  Before any NFHS rule is enacted, there is a lengthy and detailed discussion re: the proposed rule change that occurs at a number of levels – by NFHS rules committee members, among state association staff and finally the NFHS Board of Directors.  Each state association staff has an opportunity to provide input on every proposal. 

As a former coach/official I often heard Mr. Pearce and Mr. Hartman (while conducting rules meetings) state clearly without reservation that “You can’t pick and choose which rules to enforce or selectively apply them at your discretion!”   It is when rules are “selectively enforced or applied” that competitors and coaches become confused about the rules.  Like or approve of the rules, they are still expected to be enforced in a consistent manner.

REGIONAL ENTRIES:
Coaches remember the following key dates/times:
Coaches may start entering athletes now for the regional meet.  Memos explaining the process have been sent to all schools – if you run into questions regarding the entry process, PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL the KSHSAA – staff is available to assist you. 
DEADLINE for initial entries – Wednesday, May 7.  You may still add or delete athletes, or update times/marks after the initial entry of the athlete.
UPDATES can by until 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
ALWAYS list more than 4 competitors on a relay card!
FAX TF-5 to the KSHSAA by 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

April 21, 2008
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. 

April 14, 2008

Correction on Web site information:          
Thanks to an alert and attentive coach, an error in the listing of the qualification standards for the Class 1A Girls Triple Jump as posted on the KSHSAA web site was found.  The information re: the qualification standards as listed in the 2008 KSHSAA Track and Field manual is correct – the 1A girls triple jump qualification standard is 32’04.50”.  My apologies for the posting of incorrect information on the web site.  That has been corrected.

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.

Since the MS/JH season is already currently underway in many sections of the state, to try and change the “rules” during a season, would lead to much confusion.  It was the league’s intent that the change would go into effect next season and the Board of Directors was in agreement that would be a more appropriate time to implement the change.

April 7, 2008
The arrival of April brought some better days for track and field athletes.  Hopefully, there are more and more days with the temperature in the 60-80 degree range and less wind and cold! 

Even with the less than ideal training conditions, coaches are preparing their athletes for the events/meets and several of our Kansas athletes are posting some very good early season marks.  Last week I was at the Baldwin Relays and noted several very good marks posted by the athletes competing in that meet. 

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. 

REMINDER:  Coaches, when you are ready to make your regional on-line entries remember a few important points:

The on-line entry process is not hard – however, for it to be the most advantageous to coaches, you need to start the entry process before May 7th and not wait until the very end to make your entries.  REMEMBER, marks can be updated after the initial entries BUT the deadline for any changes/updates is 8:30 PM on Saturday, May 10.

Recent NFHS situations and rulings for track and field
SITUATION 1: A competitor from Team A is warming up for the long jump wearing a long-sleeved, single-solid-color visible undergarment on which the seams are stitched on the outside of the garment in a visible contrasting color to the undergarment. The competitor asks the event judge if this undergarment is legal.  The event judge indicates the undergarment is legal. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Rule 4-3-1d would prohibit the wearing of a visible, multicolored undergarment in competition. The contrasting thread in this situation serves a functional purpose in the basic construction of the garment. It is not a design sewn onto the garment. (4-3-1d)

SITUATION 2: The vaulter from Team A is making the approach, plants the pole in the box, but aborts the attempt and does not try to clear the crossbar. The pole did bend, and, as a result, the bend in the pole made contact with the landing system just beyond the zero point. The event judge rules this a foul. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: It is a foul if the competitor allows any part of his/her body or the pole to touch the ground or landing system beyond the vertical plane (zero point) of the top of the stopboard, without clearing the bar. (7-5-29d)

SITUATION 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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.

March 31, 2008

Since posting the 2008 regional assignments, we have had a few regional host sites contact us with their updated times for their regional.  Please keep referring back to the regional page for those updates.

We have also posted under the track and field regional assignment information, the Pole Vault weight verification form and the Regional Qualifying standards.  Those of you wanting to make additional copies of the form or information can do so by printing the form/information out and copying them.

2008 NFHS Track and Field test questions – There are a few questions on the 2008 NFHS exam that I wanted to go over.  First a couple of observations re: the exam and KSHSAA policies.

First a question I’m sure many MS/JH coaches have asked the last couple of years.  “Why do we as MS/JH coaches also have to answer all 100 of the questions?  We use to have to answer only a certain number and not all of them.  We don’t even have some of these events (Pole Vault, Javelin, etc.) in our meets?”   These are valid questions.  Upon assuming the administrative responsibilities for track and field I brought with me my experiences as a head high school track and field coach.  Right or wrong I brought with me many of the experiences and opinions I held as a head coach.  As a coach, my school hosted a number of meets.  I relied upon many volunteers to help run off events.  Among those volunteers were many of our MS/JH coaches.  Since they were track and field coaches and had considerable knowledge about the sport and events, I often asked them to serve as head judges for field events.  Several of those MS/JH coaches would go on later to become assistant HS or head HS track and field coaches in time.  Even though the MS/JH may not have the pole vault as a competitive event at their level, it does not harm a track and field coach to know something about the event, the rules for the event, etc.  That’s the primary reason for the change a few years ago that all track and field coaches answer all exam questions. 

Secondly, I believe that by getting into the rules book looking for answers, coaches can develop a broader understanding of all the rules.  While searching for jumping rules in the pole vault, they will come across some rules that apply universally to all vertical jumping events.  Likewise, one can find some general rules for throwing events that apply not just to the javelin but also to the shot and discus.

For some 2008 NFHS questions that need some clarification – While some might not agree, I believe the NFHS staff has done considerable rewriting of the questions on most NFHS exams to reduce the number of “tricky” questions.  While some still remain, the number of such troublesome questions is fewer than in the past.  On the 2008 exam, there were a few that I do want to review and help provide some basis for the NFHS answer:
            #13 – “The field referee/head field judge shall inspect the vaulting poles to verify that they are legal equipment.” The NFHS said that this was a “true” statement based on rule 3-10-1 and 3-19-1.  3-10-1 gives the field referee or the head field judge jurisdiction over all judges in the field events and shall oversee the measuring, weighing and inspection of the implements and apparatus…”  3-19-1 muddies this question somewhat as it provides that the “referee, field referee or head field judge shall have jurisdiction over all implement and apparatus inspectors.”  While inclusion of “referee” in 3-19-1 adds a third party to the question as stated, the NFHS does not believe it alters the answer as true.  The referee has “directly in charge of activities during the meet”.  As such that individual has authority over virtually all officials.  I assume that is the major reason why the NFHS does not feel that by leaving the referee out of the statement does not make it an incorrect statement.

            #39 – “When preliminary flights or heats are required for qualifying, the event finals should be held in the same order as the preliminaries.”   This same question was on the 2007 exam.  I contacted the NFHS and expressed some concerns as to the way this question was worded.  Last year we threw it out and I elected to do so again this year.  NFHS rule 1-2-4 provides that “When preliminary flights or heats are required for qualifying, the event should be held in the same order.”  Thus making the NFHS answer “True”.  However, as we all know in several of the field events, the throwers/jumpers throw or jump in reverse order of how they qualified.  I feel these field event factors can cause enough confusion in the minds of some to justify not counting any answer to this question as incorrect.

            #48 – “A teammate within the same section of the 1600-meter run repeatedly speeds up, then drops back to assist a teammate to keep up a pace.  The referee may disqualify both competitors for pacing.”  NFHS sites rule 4-5-8b Penalty as the rule basis for this statement being “true”.  The NFHS improved this question from last year by adding the “to keep up a pace.”  As worded the question would now fall under the provisions of 4-5-8b – “assistance includes … pacing by a teammate or persons not participating in the event.” 

            #61 – “To avoid getting boxed in and improve his/her position, the runner from Team A moves to the inside of the track by passing a runner and then crosses back in front of the field without interfering with another runner’s stride.  Runner A is disqualified for passing on the inside of the track.”  The NFHS applying rule 5-12-2 says that this if a “false” statement.  This same question was on the 2007 exam.  I expressed concerns about the wording last year as well as the scenario described.  5-12-2 provides that “any competitor shall not deliberately run on or inside the track curb (or painted line), and thereby gain an advantage by improving position or shortening the course.”  The question states the reason for moving to the inside of the track was to gain an advantage (to avoid getting boxed in and to improve his/her position).  Given what appears to be a conflict in the wording of the question and the NFHS rule I have again elected to omit the question and not count either true or false as incorrect.  Again I’ll try to get the NFHS to try a different approach next year.

            #91 – “Starting blocks on a curve can be positioned on but not over the outside lane line.”  The NFHS did change the wording of a similar question from the past.  There are really two rules that one must look at to fully understand what the NFHS rules do permit.  As stated this year, the state is “true”.  Starting blocks by be positioned “on but not over” the outside lane line.  NFHS rule 5-2-4 literally defines the “lane” – the left-hand boundary line is outside the competitor’s lane and the right-hand boundary is within the lane.  That’s why it is a violation under 5-12-2 to run “three or more consecutive steps” on a curve on or inside the inside (left-hand boundary) line.  5-7-4d provides that “starting blocks have to be placed within the respective competitor’s lane”.  So the right hand side lane line is within the lane and blocks could be position on this line.  If they extended over the right hand side lane line, then they are in the adjoining lane.

            #97 – “A relay team reports to the clerk of course for the 4 x 400 with three team members wearing all-black, one-piece body suits and the fourth member wearing a black top and black shorts.  The relay team is wearing legal uniforms.”   The NFHS interpretation of 4-3-2a serves as the basis for concluding this statement as a “true” statement.  4-3-2a provides that “In relay races, each team member shall wear the same color and design of school uniform although the length of the bottom or one-piece uniform may vary”.  The same elements of the NFHS rule are contained in the statement in the 2008 KSHSAA Legal Uniforms for Track and Field competitors document under the heading of RELAYS, point 1.  While unintended, there is still some confusion re: the stated rule and the answer for this question when the question of “DESIGN” arises.

This is the current NFHS reading/interpretation of the rule as it applies to this question:
            “The question and the answer (true) is correct.  Design is meant that there is a top and bottom.  In this case a one piece is top and bottom combined and the shirt and short is two pieces but still a top and bottom.  This is what was intended to be achieved by the question.”  (From the NFHS Staff Liaison to the NFHS Track and Field rules committee)

I have been assured that the NFHS track and field rules committee will look at the wording of the rule to see if the use of the word “design” coupled with this interpretation is appropriate or if a change to the wording of the rule is needed.            

March 24, 2008
Please check the KSHSAA track and field home page for the 2008 Regional Track and Field assignments.  They will be posted the week of March 24.  Some of the regional sites have not yet designated the starting time for the field events, Preliminaries for the running events and the finals.  Once the regional managers have set hose times, they will be posted on the 2008 Regional Track and Field assignments lists.

Spring break for many schools across the state was held the week of March 17 with the remainder taking their breaks this week.  By next week, spring sports/activities will be in full swing.

March 10, 2008
KCCTFCA - The track and field chairman for the Kansas Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association is Gary Melcher, El Dorado HS.  Each year the KCCTFCA brings suggestions and proposals to the Kansas Coaches Association (KCA) for consideration as proposals to present to the KSHSAA Executive Board.  If you receive a survey from the KCCTFCA, please complete the survey and return to Gary Melcher.  This is the avenue through which suggestions/proposals can be brought to the KSHSAA governing board. 

Regular season meet results - If a school hosts a track and field meet during the regular season, you are asked to send results of the meet to Carol Swenson, McPherson College.  Carol keeps the “Best Performances List” and the “Kansas All-time Best Performances Chart”.  Lists can be found at http://www.mcpherson.edu/athletics.  Carol’s email address is swensonc@mcpherson.edu.   This is a great source of information about Kansas track and field athletes and performances.  Do your part to help keep the information current and accurate.

Regional entries – When submitting online entries for regional meets, schools are to use the main “Login” option from the “Schools” tab on the KSHSAA website (www.kshsaa.org).  Click on the menu option for [Regional Track and Field].  Regional track and field entries may be submitted by the administrator or via a coach’s login.  Coaches – you can obtain the coach’s login information (password) from your school administration.

State Meet Information – Information concerning the state track and field meet can be found on pages 17-20 and on page 27 in the 2008 KSHSAA track and field manual.  Please note the following items for special attention as it concerns the state meet: