Revised Leaving ground rule

Rule 7-5-29 was one of seven rules revised by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 8-10 in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

In a revision last year, vaulters were allowed to leave the ground and not have a foul charged to them provided they did not break the plane of the crossbar. This rule was revised to clarify the original intent of the committee.

The exception added to the rule provides it is not considered a foul if the competitor aborts the approach and, in stopping, plants the pole and momentum causes his/her feet to leave the ground.

"The change in 7-5-29 last year by the committee was not intended to allow a vaulter to abort a vault but rather to have the opportunity to stop and abort the approach," said Becky Oakes, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee. "This change clearly reflects the original intent of the committee to abort only the approach and have the opportunity to restart the approach."

www.nfhs.org/web/2008/07/2009_track_and_field_rules_chang.aspx

Pole Vaulters Allowed to Leave Ground Without Breaking Plane


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Becky Oakes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 9, 2007) -- Beginning with the 2008 high school track and field season, it will no longer be considered a foul if a pole vaulter leaves the ground without breaking the plane.
This change in Rule 7-5-29b is one of five rules revisions approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field Rules Committee at its annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis. The rules changes subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
"This will be advantageous for the vaulter to abort and still have a chance to come back and try again within the prescribed time limit if he or she has a bad approach," said Becky Oakes, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee. "This change will now allow all vertical jumps to be judged the same in regard to aborted attempts and trials."

http://www.nfhs.org/web/2006/08/track_amp_fieldcross_country.aspx