2010 NFHS Rules You Should Know for Pole Vault

[PV Official]

Divalent wrote:
- Technically, for record attempts, the height of the bar is supposed to be measured from the point of takeoff. 7-5-28 I'd be willing to bet there are very few actual "official" records, at least at the HS level.

To clarify, "Measurement of the official height shall be from a point on the same level as the takeoff to the lowest point on the upper side of the crossbar." This means if the top of the box is not flush with the jumping surface the measurement shall be taken from the surface immediately behind the box.

[indestructo]

- If is a foul if:
- You or your pole knock off the bar

What if the vaulter pushes the pole away, the pole is moving back to vertical and the pole catcher misses it, then the wind blows the pole into the bar? Miss or Make?

This would probably be a make in my opinion. However, a pole catcher should never reach in to grab the pole. Therefore they can never "miss it". The pole catcher's should only catch a pole that falls to them. It is the vaulters job to throw the pole back, not the catcher's job to go grab it. The official makes the call on whether the pole was thrown and the wind caused the foul.

my two cents on a good question...

[DecaRag]

Here's an interesting situation for you to consider...

This weekend at our conference meet, just as my last two high school boy vaulters cleared 14'6", I started to raise the bar to 15' as I noticed a very large (looked like a black cloud) swarm of bees moved in over the long jump and pole vault area of our track. Not ever having seen this happen before (or anything quite like it), I radioed to the announcer and asked that the area be cleared until we could make a decision about what to do next. We had a delay of about 40 minutes, at which time the majority of the swarm had then taken to one of my athlete's mom's red flower-patterned lawn chair about 10 yards away. Two brave individuals then slowly and carefully carried the chair to near the boundary fence where they seemed to be content for the time being.

The question at that point was "do I as an official allow the two remaining vaulters a warm-up run through" since there was an unavoidable delay due to the swarm? Has anyone ever had something like this happen before? Is there a rule simply giving the official discretion in making the warm-up decision?

This was a weird one - looked like a scene from a horror movie. Fortunately, no one was stung - unfortunately, the remaining two vaulters had continue their vaults at 15' without any additional warmup and failed to clear the height.

[rainbowgirl28]

The rules don't allow for a run through, but would anyone protest/complain if you did? I guess since it was a conference meet, you're best off being as by the book as possible.

[kev44000]

Oklahoma high school no one goes by the book. Because most people do not know the rules anyway. I would have given them a couple of warm ups. My 2 cents.

[drcurran]

This is where common sense comes into play. I would tell the field ref that I pland on offereing the two remainind vaulters a warm up or two. Unless I am overruled by the FR. They get a fair chance to continue vaulting. OK my .02

Dan

[belmore]

I have had this happen during practice, very strange feeling being surrounded by what seemed to be a million bees. They swarmed by us and took refuge in the big live oak by the runway. We all stood still, they gathered in big clumps and we proceeded to jump. Creepy. I believe I would have given your guys a runthrough.

[indestructo]

Doesn't the rule allow for a run through after 3 passed heights or 30 mins since the last jump?


I agree with Dan, call the field judge.

[drcurran]

High school competition 3 passed heights = 1 run through. (Don't think I've ever seen anthing in HS rules about a certain amount of time) At the college level one hour of "waiting" = 2 min. of warm ups. In both case no bar.

Dan

[DecaRag]

Thanks for the responses. I believe "by the book" I followed the rules, but I agree with the "common sense" rule of notifying the field ref of the circumstances and allow a run-through for both vaulters. I doubt anyone would have protested since all other vaulters were elimated at that point and the two jumpers left were teammates.

Anyone ever heard of other wierd situations that don't have a specific "exception to the rule" such as acts of nature (rain, lightning, high winds, insects, etc...)?

[rainbowgirl28]

Thanks for the responses. I believe "by the book" I followed the rules, but I agree with the "common sense" rule of notifying the field ref of the circumstances and allow a run-through for both vaulters. I doubt anyone would have protested since all other vaulters were elimated at that point and the two jumpers left were teammates.

Anyone ever heard of other wierd situations that don't have a specific "exception to the rule" such as acts of nature (rain, lightning, high winds, insects, etc...)?

We've moved the State Meet PV competition indoors before, and even made it indoors the next day! They did not lower the bar, but they did allow more warmups.

[Vaultref]

"They" can't write a rule book to cover every possible case... It would read like the new health care reform bill.

Like others have said... common sense prevails here.. Been there, done that several times at high school meets, collegiate conference championship meets, USATF SR/JR meets, IAAF "elite" vaulter meets. Bad weather pops up all the time.
Get with the meet referee so all are in agreement on exactly what to do. Maybe it's two jumps each, maybe it's just time period of like 15 to 20 minutes. Every meet will be different.
But whatever is decided, make sure it's fair for the athlete who has been sitting around not being able to do anything.

... and yes, for NFHS meets, any run-through may be granted after having passed three (or more) heights upon which he/she enters the competition. Passing six heights does not get you two run-throughs either. So don't let them con you into that. There is no time factor as found in NCAA rules.