Corrections to Rule Book: Page 25, Rule 4-3-1 Note, "Only one American flag and/or commemorative or memorial patch may be displayed on the uniform (one two piece)"; page 47, Rule 6-5-4 Note, delete "or 60";
Corrections to Case Book: Page 4, Part I, 4.3.1 Situation A, change ruling and comment to, "Illegal. COMMENT: The contestant may only wear one American flag, commemorative patch on the uniform (one or two piece)"
SITUATION 1: At the start of a cross country race, Team A members appear at the starting line wearing headgear with fake antlers attached (the school's mascot being "the elks"). The referee directs the competitors to remove this headwear. The coach objects as the games committee did not prohibit headwear. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Although the wearing of headwear is not prohibited, the wearing of outlandish apparel that is demeaning to the sport should not be approved. It is helpful if headwear is permitted that the games committee specify "headwear which is reasonable and not demeaning to the competition." This would apply to any item worn in excess of the school-issued uniform. (3-2-4o)
SITUATION 2: An invitational track meet is being conducted. The state association prohibits all hats during competition except for the wearing of stocking caps due to cold weather. At the meet, the coach of school B wants the games committee to allow 3200-meter run contestants to wear baseball caps. The meet referee denies based on state association requirements. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The state association has the authority to adopt a statewide restriction. In this situation, the games committee would adopt this restriction as if it were its own. All teams in the meet would be obligated to adhere to the adopted restrictions. Officials and coaches should be knowledgeable of all state association competition policies. (3-2-4o)
SITUATION 3: A competitor shows up at the starting line for the state cross country meet with a commemorative patch sewn on both the uniform top and the uniform bottom. RULING: Illegal uniform. COMMENT: Only one patch is permitted on the uniform top or bottom but not both. The competitor is not eligible to participate in an illegal uniform. Meet officials should have the competitor correct the uniform to make it legal if this can be done without an unnecessary delay. It is important that coaches inspect their athletes' uniforms in advance of competition to be certain uniforms are legal. (4-3-1c6 and 9-6-1b7)
SITUATION 4: Team A's high school is 100 years old. The cross country teams want to display a special commemorative patch on the front of the uniform shorts and on the top center on the back of the uniform top. The coach contacts the school's athletic director to verify if this is legal before placing any items on the uniforms. The athletic director confirms that only one commemorative patch is permitted on the uniform. RULING: Correct. COMMENT: The track and field or cross country uniform may display a single American flag and/or a single commemorative or memorial patch on the uniform whether it is a one- or two-piece uniform. The items (flag and patch) could be worn on the top, the bottom or split, but no two of the same items are permitted. The coach was correct to verify the legality of the uniform before affixing any patches to the uniform. (4-3-1 Note, 9-6-1)
SITUATION 5: The teams participating in the 4 x 400m relay report to the bullpen and receive instructions from the clerk of the course. Two of Team A's relay team members are in illegal uniforms, which the clerk has overlooked. The teams are turned over to the starter and the race begins. The meet officials observe the illegal uniforms and Team A's relay team is disqualified. The coach of Team A wants to appeal that the clerk of the course was to have noted the problem so the competitors could have made the uniforms legal. The appeal is denied. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Although preventive officiating can many times prevent violations that result in disqualifications, the ultimate responsibility to have contestants in legal uniforms and using legal equipment rests with the school coach. (4-3-1 Penalty)
SITUATION 6: Two competitors approach the starting line for the 3200-meter run wearing sport watches and are allowed to compete. An opposing coach wants to review the meet referee's decision to permit the participation as the coach believes the watches are jewelry. RULING: Review denied, legal. COMMENT: Competitors shall not wear jewelry during competition. Rule 4-3-3 provides three exceptions for what is considered jewelry: 1) medical-alert medals, 2) religious medals and 3) a watch. If requirements of the rule are met, these items may be worn in competition. The state association may have further restrictions. (4-3-3)
SITUATION 7: Two competitors from School A are competing for the conference title in the 3200-meter run. Leading the field, two Team A teammates approach the finish line and grasp hands and cross the line together. The runners are disqualified by the meet referee. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Although Rule 4-5-8 is addressing circumstances in which assistance could be provided to a runner consequently resulting in a disqualification, in the situation of grasping hands a definite disqualification results. It is at best difficult to determine assistance under this set of circumstances, but it is likely and is also possibly unsporting behavior. The application of this rule is to result in an immediate disqualification for grasping hands while crossing the finish line. (4-5-8)
SITUATION 8: School A is hosting an invitational meet. The event judge is inspecting the shot put area and sees that the longer international stopboard is being used, which extends beyond the 34.92-degree sector lines. Competitors in the event are instructed that touching any part of the inner edge of the stopboard would not be a foul. Touching the top or ends outside the circle would be a foul. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Rule 6-5-4 Note does permit the use of the longer stopboard as schools are transitioning to the new sector. (6-5-4)
SITUATION 9: During the shot put competition in which the international, longer stopboard is still in use, competitor S a) steps on top of the middle of the stopboard, b) contacts the outside edge of the stopboard, c) touches the inner edge of the stopboard that extends beyond the width of the throwing sector. RULING: In a) and b), a foul occurs. In c), the competitor did not foul. COMMENT: It has been and continues to be a foul any time a competitor steps on the top of the stopboard or touches the outside end of the stopboard that is outside of the circle. It is not a foul to make contact with the inner edge of the stopboard that coincides with the inside edge of the circle. (6-5-4)
SITUATION 10: The head field referee is checking the pole vault venue. He notices that a 2-centimeter wide, white line is not extending from the zero point 10 feet to each side of the landing mat. He instructs host management to place the line in this location. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: The white line marking the placement of the landing pad is not a rule requirement but is permissible at the discretion of the host school to be placed in this location. Host management should not have to place this line for competition to be conducted. (7-5-12)
SITUATION 11: There is a
tie for first place at the conference cross country meet. Each of the
two teams involved have five runners. To break the tie the score of the
first four runners of each team are totaled to break the tie. RULING:
Correct procedure. COMMENT: The teams are tied due to the place finish
of the five runners. To break the tie, go to the total of the team
scorers by using only the first four runners. The scores are based on
the full field of runners and the tie is broken based on these same
scores. (9-2-5)