USATF now requires certification of home-based facilities

[Bruce Caldwell]

As long as the facilities have ASTM safe landing system and respectful people who are working with the owners, you may have to get workers to pass background checks.
Some good will come from this as long as it does not become political.
Bruce

[rainbowgirl28]

The background check thing passed last year, so every club should have already had that part done (but I am not sure how strict each Association was about enforcing it).

[mjaubbs40]

The background check thing passed last year, so every club should have already had that part done (but I am not sure how strict each Association was about enforcing it).

I did the background check as a coach last year--it was nothing more than filling out an application & paying a fee. Not sure I ever heard anything after that. One thing that I found odd is that I'm a teacher in NY and am required to have a background check/fingerprints for my teaching position but still had to go through the process again for the USATF coaching application. Oh well. I guess tell us what hoops to jump through and we'll do it cuz we love pole vaulting.

[Bruce Caldwell]

Some home based facilities exsit because they have a small pit they inherited from the high school a simple fix can work by beefing the landing system up by adding additional buns for protection.
Having a safe place for vaulters to learn is important and most of the facilities I have seen all are very safe. Some even safer than the high school facilities.

Bruce

[mjaubbs40]

I also spoke with Kristina. I asked her what the criteria they were judging the facility on was and she said they are basically looking to make sure it's a legit & safe landing system--(instead of perhaps a bunch of haybails or mattresses tied together--not that anyone would do that).
You can forward pictures to her but also send them to your association when you apply for your 2008 club membership.
She was very friendly and I recommend calling her if you have any questions.

[vaultmd]

I can assure everybody that Peter and I (the guys on the ASTM Pole Vault Equipment and Facilities Subcommittee) had nothing to do with this. This is the first I've heard about it.

It remains to be seen whether the USATF will apply the "that does/does not look safe enough" approach or if they are going to nit-pick people to death.

[Tim McMichael]

Does this mean that if we are not approved by Jan1 that we have missed out for the remainder of the year? Also, if a facility does not pass, will there be an opportunity to upgrade it and resubmit for approval?

[AVC Coach]

Thanks for all of the info guys. My email to Kristina just went out. Hope all goes well!

[rainbowgirl28]

Does this mean that if we are not approved by Jan1 that we have missed out for the remainder of the year? Also, if a facility does not pass, will there be an opportunity to upgrade it and resubmit for approval?

I think it just means that you won't be covered until it passes. That was the impression I got from her.

[MaxVault]

Is there a link (or several) we can put here that shows/lists all the characteristics of a safe facility? ASTM standards? Other details.

I recall at the summit one year Duffy Mahoney gave a presentation on all the things that are not only in the rules, but also things that have been discussed in previous court cases. He mentioned things like how close a hard object is to the edge of the landing area, etc. It was mostly common sense, but details worth noting if they will be checking those this time around. I'd hate for a facility to get dq'ed.

Can we get a checklist here of what we all need to be sure to have addressed?

For example:
Length, width, thickness, front bun extension length,
Standard base pads, box collar
Top cover characteristics
No big hard objects within x feet of pit edges
Adjacent Hard surfaces covered by pads
Coaches BG checked (where to get the form for those that need it)

What else?

It sounds like they may not be asking for an explicit list of all these details, but at least we'll all have them listed here.

I agree that most home facilites are safe.

[rainbowgirl28]

Is there a link (or several) we can put here that shows/lists all the characteristics of a safe facility? ASTM standards? Other details.

I doubt the people checking this even know what an ASTM standard is. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to meet it, but the ASTM stuff is pretty common sense.

Coaches BG checked (where to get the form for those that need it)

The coaches background check is unrelated to this issue (I just mentioned it as a reminder to everyone) but it's another hoop you need to jump through if you want to be covered for liability insurance.

The background check is only mandatory if you are working with anyone under 18, but I assume most pole vault clubs include youths.

http://www.usatf.org/clubs/application/ ... cation.pdf
http://www.usatf.org/clubs/application/ ... onForm.pdf

These are the generic forms, but this is something handled at the Association level, and you need to be talking to them about this.

[mjaubbs40]

Anyone hear back yet?