Sunday, July 20, 2014

Prohibition of Jewelry Lifted in High School Track and Field (UPDATE)

Starting during the 2015 Track and Field season, the much maligned jewelry rule will be no longer be in effect. (Rule changes take effect in December so no jewelry will still be in effect during the 2014 cross country season).

You can check out the abolition of that rule as well as other rule changes at the following link:
http://www.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id=10890

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jewelry rule being tossed was long over due. Though one that is curious to me is that Discus throwers don't need to be under control when leaving the back half of the ring? So they can just fall or stumble out now and it is a fair throw?

Anonymous said...

More importantly, when my shot breaks in half, it's no longer considered a foul. 'Cause that happens to me all the time....

Peter Brewer said...

Stumbling out of the back of the ring merely means that even though the thrower might be out of control, that loss of control did not add anything to the forward movement of the implement,as staggering out of the front of the ring might do. Since the action does nothing to aid, or unfairly add to, the throw, then it should not be a penalty.

Coach Ozzie said...

Jewelry rule change is great. If they would amend some of the uniform policies, we'd really be in business, but I am happy that this changed for the better. As far as the discus rule change, I suppose this also takes an element of human judgement out of the event, which I generally consider to be a good thing. Although I've never seen it happen, I wonder if there was a high profile instance of an official controversially deemed an athlete to be out of control while stepping out the back, either nullifying a big throw that would have resulted in a record, qualification to the next meet, or perhaps a championship. Avoidance of this potential situation might have given someone incentive to push this rule through.

I'm not sure I understand the need for the high jump/pole vault rule. “a crossbar displaced by a force disassociated with the competitor after he/she is legally and clearly over the crossbar shall not be a fault and is considered a successful attempt.”
Anyone have any examples of a disassociated force that would displace a cross bar? They already give wind fouls in pole vault from time to time, so what else are they referring to here?

Anonymous said...

Come on Ozzie...Wind. Cornell huh?

GHPADD said...

Reply to Ozzie:

Ozzie, a lot of high schools use less than qualified individuals to set up pole vault pits and standards. As a former official, I have seen vaulter's land in the pit, and the movement of that landing caused the pit to hit the standard and dislodge the cross bar. Though not the fault of the vaulter, this rule now helps to clarify why the vaulter would/should not be charged with an attempt but with a clearance.

GHPADD said...

On the Jewelry issue, if everyone understood the potential harm from the jewelry they would not wear it during such competitions. However, the young athlete sees over 18 athletes doing the same thing they are prohibited from and thus, born of ignorance, want the same right. Only trouble is that the youth athlete is under 18 and not legally responsible for their lack-of-information liability decisions. All the rule does is take the injury liability away from the officials and USATF and places the liability on the school. Remember, students under 18, and their parents, are very litigious, especially when it comes to injury. Since the Jewelry issue is a safety issue for individual students, and not a competition issue, I fully agree it should not be the duty of an official to enforce but, should be the duty of a well informed coach to enforce on their own athletes. Yeah, like THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN!!

Anonymous said...

Look, running with giant hoop ear rings ok... but the DQ for a friendship bracelet or for studs in the ears is silly.

As for suing, that is the problem of the courts allowing such idiotic things in their courtroom. Tort liability should shift majority of blame on the students. I understand if they are 5 but if you are 17 you should know better and not need coach or mom and dad to babysit you.

Nils said...

A friend of mine's boyfriend lost a finger because he was trying to dive from a hand-stand, and his class ring caught in the end of the diving board as he toppled off. Freak accidents can happen. Now coaches and parents will have to be doubly aware of the hazards of dangly stuff that is not so flimsy it will break off with a moderate pull.

Anonymous said...

I can now get a big nose hoop with no worries!

Anonymous said...

When are Div 4 rankings coming out Albert?

Albert Caruana said...

I have been a bit busy getting ready for the running camp so a little delayed on the NCS Division IV rankings.

Anonymous said...

Oh alright do you have an idea of when they are coming out?

Anonymous said...

Uh......maybe after running camp!?

Anonymous said...

Somebody's pushy for the D4 rankings? Go do them, they mean $h!t anyways, you gotta deliver on the day bud. And for being pushy you now must wait an extra 3 months.

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