Shore Track Officials’ Association

1. Shore Track Officials’ Association 2009 Track and Field Rules Examination

2. 2009 Track and Field Rules Examination During the review of the 2009 Exam, several questions raised discussion among the members. While the answers on this test are taken from the NFHS key, questions that may be subject to additional interpretation and/or scrutiny have their answers in pink.

3. Competitors and Entries • 1. Cross country uniform rules are applied the same as the general track uniform rules and those for relay team uniforms. True 4-3-1,2 - Pg 25,26 9-6 – Pg 70

4. Competitors and Entries • 2. In cross country, if there is a discrepancy in course markings, directional flag markings take precedence over any other course markings. True 9-1-2 – Pg 66

5. Competitors and Entries • 3. A contestant is any athlete entered in the meet. In a track event, he/she becomes a competitor when reporting to the starting line. False (reporting to Clerk/Field Event Judge) 4-1-1, 4-1-2 – Pg 24

6. Competitors and Entries • 4. Each contestant in track and field shall be responsible for obtaining a contestant number (if provided) and knowing the time schedule. True 4-1-4 – Pg 24

7. Cross Country • 5. In cross country, a competitor shall wear the assigned, unaltered computer chips when these devices are used in the meet. True 9-6-5 – Pg 71

8. Cross Country • 6. Ties in team scoring for cross country shall be resolved by comparing sixth-place finishers from the tying teams. True 9-2-4 – Pg 67

9. Cross Country • 7. Once the teams have been called to the cross country starting line by the starter for final instructions, no further run-outs shall be permitted. True 9-4-4 – Pg 69

10. Cross Country • 8. In a cross country meet using computer chips on both shoes, it is acceptable for the meet management to still use the torso to determine the order of finish. False 9-3-3 – Pg 67

11. Discus, Shot Put and Javelin • 9.It is a foul if, during the approach in the javelin, and before releasing the implement, the tail of the javelin touches the runway. False 6-6-11 – Pg 50

12. Discus, Shot Put and Javelin • 10. The time at which the preliminaries in each throwing event must be concluded or completed should be set by the games committee. True 3-2-4d – Pg 15 6-2-3 – Pg 41

13. Discus, Shot Put and Javelin • 11. If the competitor puts the shot and it lands on the sector line, it is an unsuccessful throw. True 6-5-9f – Pg 47

14. Field Event Officials • 12. The field referee/ head field judge or assigned inspector of implements shall inspect the vaulting poles to verify that they are legal equipment. True 3-10-1 – Pg 21 3-19-1,2 – Pg 23 7-5-5 – Pg 57

15. Field Event Officials • 13.Designated coaching areas where coaches may observe and confer with their athletes during competition may be established by the meet referee False (Games Committee) 3-2-4g – Pg 15

16. Field Event Officials • 14. All measurements in field events by the event judge shall be made with non-stretchable tape such as fiberglass, nylon, steel, or a certified scientific measurement device (laser). True (Multiple references) 6-4-11 – Pg 46 6-5-11 – Pg 48 6-6-13 – Pg 50 7-4-15 – Pg 55 7-6-16 – Pg 64

17. Field Event Officials • 15. The games committee may specify the number of jumps and the distance to be measured in the horizontal jumps. True 3-2-4f – Pg 15

18. Field Event Officials • 16. The games committee has the authority to determine the competition area. True 3-2-3b – Pg 15

19. Field Event Officials • 17. The event judge may determine the time limit and procedure to follow when competitors are excused from a field event to compete in another event. False (Games Committee) 3-2-3o – Pg 15

20. Field Event Officials • 18. In the high jump, the games committee does not determine the starting height and successive height of the crossbar. False 3-2-3j – Pg 15

21. Heat and Lane Assignments • 19. In first-round competition, runners from the same school who fall within the same heat shall be separated by moving the slower contestant to another heat. True 5-6-4 – Pg 35

22. Jumping Events • 20. A passed height in the vertical jumps is considered an unsuccessful trial and shall be counted when determining places in vertical jumps. False 7-4-8 – Pg 54 7-4-17c – Pg 56 7-5-15 – Pg 60 7-5-30c – Pg 62

23. Jumping Events • 21. A competitor in the high jump may attempt to clear the bar in any manner, provided the takeoff is from one foot and no weights or artificial aids are used. True 7-4-12 – Pg 55

24. Jumping Events • 22. The referee shall mark the crossbar position to ensure consistent placement of the crossbar. False 3-10-1 - Pg 21 7-4-5 – Pg 54

25. Jumping Events • 23. Warming up is not permitted in any jumping venue unless supervised by the contestant’s coach or an official, and, in the pole vault, poles have been inspected and approved. True 7-2-9 – Pg 52

26. Jumping Events • 24. The pushing of a pole vaulter in his/her back at the takeoff is legal only if it occurs during warm-up False 7-2-10 – Pg 52 4-5-8 – Pg 28

27. Jumping Events • 25. When there is a tie at any height in the finals of the vertical jumps and all tied competitors have the same number of unsuccessful trials at the height involved, the competitor with the fewest total number of unsuccessful trials throughout the competition shall be awarded the higher place. True 7-3-2b – Pg 53 7-4-17b – Pg 56

28. Jumping Events • 26. In the pole vault, it is a foul when the vaulter leaves the ground in an attempt but does not touch the ground or the landing system beyond the vertical plane of the top of the box. True 7-5-29 – Pg 61

29. Long and Triple Jumps • 27. In breaking ties for places in the horizontal jumps, if the distance resulting from the best performance of competitors is identical, the higher place is awarded to the tying competitor who has the best average of his/her top three jumps. False (2nd best jump) 7-6-17 – Pg 65

30. Long and Triple Jumps • 28. When approved by the games committee, a competitor may place one or two markers alongside the runway to assist in the run-up and take-off for the long jump and triple jump. True 3-2-4b – Pg 15 7-6-12a – Pg 64

31. Long and Triple Jumps • 29. In the horizontal jumps, it is a foul if the competitor, in the process of landing, touches the ground outside the landing pit nearer the foul line than the nearest mark made in the landing pit. True 7-6-13e – Pg 64

32. Long and Triple Jumps • 30. In the triple jump, it is a foul if the competitor lands on the opposite foot in the hop phase. True 7-6-13d – Pg 64

33. Marking, Measurements and Timing • 31. Hand-held times shall be rounded up/down to the nearest tenth of a second and recorded. False (up only) 3-9-4 – Pg 20

34. Marking, Measurements and Timing • 32. The zero point is at the top of the back of the plant box in the pole vault. True 7-5-13 – Pg 59

35. Marking, Measurements and Timing • 33. Measurements in the shot put shall be to the nearest lesser one-quarter inch or centimeter. True 6-5-11 – Pg 48

36. Marking, Measurements and Timing • 34. A timing device that operates automatically at either the start or the finish, but not both, is considered fully automatic timing (FAT). False 3-9-5 (Note) – Pg 21

37. Meet Administration • 35. An event run entirely on a straightaway may be run in either direction. True 5-1-4 – Pg 29

38. Meet Administration • 36. Restricted areas for field events are designated by the event judge. False (Games Committee) 3-2-3b – Pg 15 3-2-4i – Pg 15

39. Meet Administration • 37. The 100-meter, 110 meter and 300-meter hurdle races consist of 10 hurdles. False (300 – 8 hurdles) 5-3-8 – Pg 33,34

40. Meet Administration • 38. A coach has 30 minutes after the meet to file a protest regarding misapplication of the rules with the meet director. False (after announcement of meet results / Jury of Appeals) 2-3-3 – Pg 14 3-5-3a – Pg 18

41. Meet Administration • 39. In high school races, the field can be charged with a false start. False 5-7-4c – Pg 37

42. Pole Vault • 40. In the pole vault, hard or unyielding surfaces such as, but not limited to, concrete, metal, wood, or asphalt around the landing pad, between the planting box and the landing system, shall be padded or cushioned with a maximum of 2 inches of dense foam or other suitable material(s). False (minimum) 7-5-9 – Pg 59

43. Pole Vault • 41. Prior to competition, the athletic trainer must verify that all of a school’s pole vaulters meet the requirements pertaining to the vaulters weight and pole rating, pole rating on the pole and maximum top hand-hold position. False (coach) 7-5-3 – Pg 56, 57

44. Pole Vault • 42. It is not considered a foul if the competitor aborts the approach and in stopping plants the pole and his/her momentum causes his/her feet to leave the ground. True 7-5-29-b – Pg 61 (exception)

45. Pole Vault • 43. The maximum top-handhold position of the vaulter is determined by the manufacturer. True 7-5-3 – Pg 56

46. Qualification and Disqualification • 44. An American flag, not exceeding 4 x 6 inches, may be placed on the competitors uniform top or bottom. False (2 X 3 inches) 4-3-1c (6) – Pg 25

47. Qualification and Disqualification • 45. Removing any part of the uniform, except shoes, in the area of competition as defined by the games committee is illegal. True 4-3-4 – Pg 26

48. Qualification and Disqualification • 46. A competitor in track and field is disqualified from the meet if he/she is wearing a uniform with more than one visible manufacturer’s logo on an item while competing. False (from the event) 4-3-1b(4) – Pg 25 4-3-1c(5) – Pg 25 4-4-3 (Penalty)

49. Qualification and Disqualification • 47. 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 from the event for pacing. True (not in race) 4-5-8b – Pg 28

50. Qualification and Disqualification • 48. A competitor who fails to comply with the starter’s commands, will be charged with a false start which would disqualify the competitor from the event. True 5-7-4a – Pg 37