Are there really rules for track and field? Yes. Like football, baseball, basketball and all the other sports in Georgia which students participate, track and field has national federation rules supplemented by state rules that govern play. The impetus for this paper is to remind coaches and inform student athletes of the rules that govern their sport. I believe in preventive officiating – stopping the violation before it occurs and not calling it to an official’s attention after it happens. In the other aforementioned sports, coaches teach the rules so that when the contest begins, their athletes are aware of the rules and the consequences for breaking them. In track and field, however, the rules are not enforced evenly over the course of a season. Why not? At most track meets there are no officials.
Because most meets are not officiated, athletes may enter the region meet, the most important of the year at that point, and be subjected to rules scrutiny for the first time. The following are rules one may want to review before this year’s region meets:
Unsportsman like conduct
Using profanity directed at someone, disrespectfully addressing an official, and taunting a competitor or official.
Disqualified from the event, meet, and sit out one meet.
Unacceptable behavior
Not following official directions, using profanity that is not directed at someone, or bringing discredit to ones school, or self. Throwing the baton with force. Athletes who Communicate at the competition site with any device. Coaching from a restricted area.
Disqualification from the event.
Participation limits
. A contestant in Track and Field may enter a maximum of both relays, and any one (1) of the combinations listed below. Competitors not on one or both relay teams are still restricted to one of the following combinations:
1. three (3) field events
2. two (2) field events and one (1) running event
3. one (1) field event and two (2) running events
Relay team members participation rules
a) Any four of the six listed may run in a relay event, but after qualifying trials in a Region Meet have been run there may be no changes in the contestants on a team.
b) Schools with two qualifying teams in the same relay may not list competitors on one team as alternates on the other team, nor may the same alternates be listed for both teams.
Uniform rules
All competitors shall have legal uniforms. The uniform must consist of a track top and track bottom or a speed suit purchased by the school, inventoried by the school and issued by the school. In relay races, each team member shall wear the same color and design of school uniform. Any visible apparel worn under the track jersey, and other visible apparel worn under the shorts, must be unadorned and of a single (same) color, but not necessarily the same length. Uniforms must be exactly the same per event. Example: team members throwing the discus must have the exact same uniform. Relay team members must have on the exact same uniform. The discus and relay team members, however, may have slightly different uniforms. Uniforms may not be knotted nor may they roll down their shorts over the hips.
Compression shorts worn under the uniform may not have two logos (Under armor) nor may they have a seam that has a color different than the compression tight. There shall be no bare midriff as the uniform top must hang below or be tucked into the waistband of the bottom when the competitor is standing erect.
Athletes may not compete while wearing:
Jewelry- including rubber bands on any part of the body other than the hair.
Hair beads of any type.
Sunglasses, unless they are prescription and the prescription must be brought to the meet.
Distance events
All rules that apply to participation limits and uniforms apply to the races not run in lanes. There are other rules specific to distance runners. You could be disqualified from a race if you:
Run 3 consecutive steps on or over the inside lane line with either or both feet.
Interfere with a competitor by: cutting in front of him/her without a one stride lead.
If one causes an athlete to shorten his/her stride by cutting in front of them, one will be disqualified. Interference is any action by a competitor that unfairly changes the course or natural running rhythm of a competitor during a race. This may include bumping, tripping, or running across the competitor's path.
The athlete must run a straight line to the finish line- not veering out to keep a competitor from passing.
One can not grasp hands with your team mate or competitor as you come to the finish line or at any time during the race.
Competitors must not run as a team to keep other competitors from passing or to pace team mates. This can include team mates or persons running in the infield alongside of the track, or from one side of the track to the other encouraging the competitor.
Hurdles
All rules that apply to participation limits and uniforms apply to the hurdles. There are other rules specific to hurdling:
The hurdler must attempt to clear each hurdle. If a portion of the leg goes around the hurdle without attaining the height of the hurdle, it is a violation.
A change in hurdling rules this year makes illegal knocking a hurdle down with one’s hand but not with one’s foot. Assume a hurdler knocks down 2 hurdles during his/her race. Violation? Not this year. What if the hurdler knocks down several hurdles? This instance would be noted by the umpire and reported to the referee and could possibly be a violation if the umpire and the referee come to the conclusion that the hurdler did not attempt to clear each hurdle.
Throwing Events
All rules that apply to participation limits and uniforms apply to throwing events. There are other rules specific to the throwing events:
The thrower may not tape any part of the throwing hand or fingers unless there is an open wound. One may tape the wrist.
It is a foul:
If the throw is not completed within one minute after being called.
If one touches any part of the top circle or the ground outside the circle during an attempt.
If one leaves the circle before the implement has landed and the official says “mark”.
If one doesn’t exit the back half of the circle.
The implement must land inside the 34.94 degree sector lines.
Jumping Events
All rules that apply to participation limits and uniforms apply to jumping events. There are other rules specific to the jumping events:
High jumpers have 1 minute to make the jump after being called, alters have 90 sec.
If three or less remain in the competition, time increased to 3 minutes in the high jump and 4 minutes in the vault after the call. Additional time is allowed when only one is left.
Horizontal jumps
It is a foul:
If one breaks the plane of the foul line on the take off board.
If one touches the ground outside the pit, nearer the board than the jump mark while exiting the pit. (One may not jump out of the pit while falling toward the board.)
High jump
It is a foul:
If one dislodges the crossbar in an attempt to clear the bar.
If one touches the ground or landing area beyond the plane of the crossbar without clearing the bar.
If one leaves the ground from both feet.
If one’s total body does not go over the bar.
Pole Vault
One’s pole must be certified to weight and have a maximum top hand hold position. One is disqualified if one uses a pole that is variable weighted or if one uses a; pole below ones weight during warm-up or competition. One may not put more than two layers of adhesive tape on ones vaulting pole. This tape must be below the top hand hold band.
Tape on the hands or fingers is not allowed unless there is an open cut.
The standards may only be set 15 and a half to 31 and a half inches from the zero mark in the direction of the landing surface.
No one may touch the pole unless it is falling back and away from the cross bar.
It is a foul if one dislodges the crossbar with one’s body or pole.
One may not steady the cross bar with any part of one’s body.
One may not grip the pole above the top hand hold mark.
One may not raise the hand that is uppermost when one leaves the ground.