Prohibition of Jewelry Lifted in High School Track and Field
Thursday, July 17th, 2014 -- 11:01 AM
Effective with the 2015 high school track and field season, the prohibition of jewelry will be eliminated.This was one of several rules changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field Rules Committee at its June 16-18 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee?s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Becky Oakes, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee, said the committee determined that prohibiting jewelry in high school track and field and cross country is not necessary.
?The wearing of jewelry ordinarily presents little risk of injury to either the competitor or opponents,? Oakes said. ?Elimination of the rule allows officials to focus on meet administration directly related to actual competition. Coaches continue to have the obligation to see that competitors are properly equipped.?
In other changes, language regarding the time limit to initiate a trial in the throwing and jumping events was revised. Previously, competitors in these events had to initiate a trial and carry it to completion within one minute. Beginning next year, participants must only initiate the trial within the one-minute time limit. Completion of the event will be allowed beyond the prescribed time.
Another change was made in field events involving implements. In events such as the shot put, discus, javelin and pole vault, an additional trial will be allowed when an implement breaks ? and thus becomes illegal ? during competition due to no fault of the competitor.
Another change involves the high jump and pole vault events. A new article in Rule 7-2 will state that ?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.?
The final change involves Rule 1-4 on indoor track. Since many indoor meets are held in college facilities, the committee approved the 60-meter high hurdles and dash as alternates for the 55-meter high hurdles and dash. Oakes said this option eliminates special marking of the facilities for the hurdles and dash.
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