GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD MEMO

APRIL 8, 2010

Track and Field season is off and running.  Weather has actually been almost decent for meets the past couple weeks.  District/Regional sites were posted several weeks ago.  The team assignments were posted earlier this week.  Starters have been assigned.  Now we just need great weather on Friday, May 14!

Several quick items to cover:

Bobby pins and plastic barrettes/clips are legal for girls to control their hair.  Barrettes that are metal and hard beads remain illegal.

Jewelry remains illegal.  Lance Armstrong bracelets and friendship/string bracelets are illegal during competition.    It is not legal to place tape over earrings or other jewelry.  It is a shame that starters are having to disqualify athletes and relay teams for something that coaches should be taking care of prior to the meet.  Check your athletes to make sure they are legal in regard to not having any jewelry.

WAISTBAND---There is no rule saying that a waistband cannot be rolled.  As long as the uniform is legal in regard to the uniform top either extending below the bottom or being tucked in when the athlete is standing erect and the waistband is worn above the hips---it is legal. 

SUNGLASSES---For girls, wearing sunglasses are legal during competition unless they are worn to make a travesty of the sport  (ie…wearing large oversized Mickey Mouse sunglasses would not be allowed).  You do not need to worry whether prescription or not—they are legal.  Take a look at how many of your meet workers and officials are wearing sunglasses-----if it is OK for them,  why would it not be OK for the athletes?

UNIFORMS FOR RELAY--- Remember that all runners must be wearing the same color top and bottom.  They may vary in length, material made of, slight variation in trim or lettering, etc.  The test is whether the official could definitely determine that all four runners belonged to the same team!  Visible undergarments must be single solid color and unadorned.  All runners on a relay team choosing to wear visible undergarments must be the same color.

MANUFACTURER’S LOGO---Each uniform piece and undergarment may have one manufacturer’s logo not more than 2 ¼ square inches with no dimension more than 2 ¼ inches.  An undergarment could also have a school name/mascot or insignia with the same size limitations.  An undergarment with two manufacturer’s logos that are visible during competition is illegal.

JUNIOR HIGH PARTICIPATION LIMITS----A junior high athlete may legally participate in four events of which three may be running.  There is no distance limit on the three running events.

JUNIOR HIGH SHOT PUT---The legal shot put for junior high is 4 kg (8.81 lbs).  This is the same as the high school girls.

DISTRICT/REGIONAL ENTRIES----All entries will be submitted on-line.  A new feature on the online system is that coaches will be warned by the system if he/she has not entered a relay or individual in all events.  Please be sure to print out and review your entries verification page prior to submitting.

Have a great season!

Mike Dick

Executive Director/Track and Field Administrator