 |
 |
|
 New Pole Vault Landing Pad Requirements Effective 2002-03July 18, 2002 In line with one of the most important goals of all National Federation of State High School Associations rules committees, the NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee focused its efforts on minimizing risk in the pole vaulting competition at its annual meeting on June 10-11 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The most important change is in Rule 7-4-8, which increases the size of the pit. The landing pad, measured beyond the vertical plane of the planting box, should be a minimum of 19-feet-8 wide by 16-5 feet deep, and should be made of material that will decelerate the landing of the athlete. If the pad is made up of two or more sections, the landing surface must be covered with a common pad that will extend over all sections. This minimizes the risk of the seams becoming hazardous to the vaulters. This change in the landing pad dimension is effective immediately, which would include the 2002-03 indoor season and 2003 outdoor season. "If a vault is performed correctly, the size of the pad now is efficient, but by increasing the size of the pad, we've allowed more room for error," said Cynthia Doyle, assistant director of the NFHS and liaison to the NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee. The increased pad size is consistent with the American Society for Testing and Measurements' (ASTM) recommendation. Due to the increase of the pad size, Rule 7-4-11 was affected. It states that the upright standards that support the crossbar should be no less than 13-8 or more than 14-8 feet apart, and that the standards must include pins or holes for them to support the crossbar. Rule 4-7-12 standardizes the crossbar, stating that the non-metal crossbar shall be 14-10 feet in length, of uniform thickness, and shall have a weight of not more than 5 pounds. In addition, Rule 7-4-9 states that front pads with a vertical cutout cannot be more than 3 inches from the top of the back of the planting box. A space of 14 inches was formerly permitted. Also dealing with the planting box, Rule 7-4-14 states that a minimum of 2 inches of foam padding, or box collar, must be used to pad any hard and unyielding surfaces, including those between the planting box and all pads. It was also specified that the planting box must be located midway between the standards, and the front edge of the box cannot extend above the grade of the runway surface (Rule 7-4-13). Rule 3-2-4f provides the opportunity for the games committee to designate a specific area for pole vault coaches. It does not require the committee to offer a coaching area; it simply gives it the opportunity to do so. "It is important that the coaches communicate with their athletes during the event, for instruction and correction," Doyle said. Personal markers for vaulters are still allowed on the side of the runway, but in addition, Rule 7-4-20 provides meet management with the opportunity to place check marks on the runway. The check marks can be no longer than 3 inches in length. Starting at the back of the planting box, check mark intervals may progress in the following manner: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 feet. This rule provides consistency on every runway, and it also allows athletes and coaches to know if their footing is correct, which helps minimize the risk of a short or long vault. The enlarged landing area and pad requirements, and the required common cover pad with coaching box on it, will require a member school to do one or more of the following:
|
