ATOM Resources

• Rule 4-2-1 – Clarifies that an athlete is disqualified after participating in more than four events, not just for entering more than four events. Changes to accompanying table to clarify the number of events of different types allowed. However, state associations now are allowed to set alternative participation maximums, with six events being the maximum number. (Four is still the maximum in Michigan.)
• Rule 5-7-4c,d, and NOTE – The previous Rule 5-7-c defining one of the starting violations that constitute a false start (i.e., “Failure to remain motionless after assuming the set position and prior to the starting device being fired”) has been removed and replaced with “If the runner leaves their mark with a hand or foot after the “set” command but before the starting device is fired”, and a new article ‘d’ has been added: “If a runner leaves their mark with a forward motion without the starting device being fired”. Also, a NOTE has been added: “Extraneous motion before the device is fired does not necessarily require a false start be charged unless the criteria listed in the rule above are met. If the starter thinks the movement creates a situation of unfairness to any of the competitors, the starter may cancel the start with the command “Stand up”, or if the device has been fired, recall the race as an unsteady or unfair start and redo the start procedure.” (After last year adjusting the language regarding normal hold times for starters, to specify that it should be about two seconds, eliminating the previous wording that indicated ‘one to two seconds’, this year brings another important change to bring high school rules into line with the other rule books we use in the US. Basically, this means a flinch or a buck is not to be considered a false start when there is no loss of contact with the hands or feet. If the movement is just before or with the gun and continues without pausing into a full starting movement, then it is charged as a false start. There must be a discernable pause in movement between the flinch before the gun and the starting movement after the gun. In these cases of flinches/bucks the starter should call the athletes up or recall the race, call it an unsteady start or an unfair start, and reset the athletes for a new start. However, if the starter feels a flinch caused an athlete in an adjacent lane to appear to false start, that athlete should not be charged but the athlete who flinched could be verbally warned to remain still until the starting device is fired. If the athlete flinches again, the athlete could be DQd under Rule 5-7-4a “Failure to comply with the starter’s commands” and Rule 5-7-4f “Repeated use of disconcerting acts”, particularly if the flinch again causes an adjacent runner to break. Any further questions about this issue can probably be answered by reading the section on ‘Pulling the Trigger’ or ‘False Starts – What to Look For and How to Handle Them’ in my Starters Monograph, the USATF’s training manual for starters, found at https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/starting/full-view.html. This website contains a number of documents about starting, but the ‘Pulling the Trigger’ section of the Starters Monograph is found on about page 198 and the False Starts section on about page 201.)
• Rule 5-14-1b – Regarding hurdle infractions, adds the phrase “or displaces”, so the rule now reads “Knocks down or displaces any hurdle by hand”. (Clarifies that even if a hurdle isn’t knocked down, if it is displaced by hand it is an infraction.)
• Rule 6-2-2d – A new rule states: “In the high jump and pole vault, one minute shall be allowed for the first trial of a competitor first entering a competition.” (This clarifies that high school rules are aligned with all other rule books in that only one minute is allowed for the first attempt when an athlete first enters a vertical jump competition at any height, even if the athlete has been passing and is the only remaining competitor.)
• Rule 6-3-2b4(b) – A new rule specifying that in vertical jumps “If all competitors in a jump-off withdraw from the competition before the jump-off begins or at a height change, those competitors shall tie for first place, and any team points shall be added together and divided equally between the tying competitors.” A NOTE 3 also has been added: “A competitor withdrawing from a jump-off shall concede any opportunity for a higher placing in the event, but the withdrawal shall not negate a competitor’s performance in that event up to the point of withdrawal. Withdrawing from a jump-off is not unsporting conduct (under Rule 4-6-1). (High school rules now join NCAA, USATF and WA rules in allowing competitors in a jump-off to decide to accept a tie. Note that is slightly different from USATF/WA rules in that it does not permit the referee or meet management to eliminate a jump-off, and it is slightly different from NCAA rules in that the athletes can make this decision at a height change, while under NCAA rules the decision can be made by the athletes only before the jump-off begins.)
• Rule 6-4-1 (shot put), 6-5-1 (discus throw) and 6-6-1 (javelin throw) – “Taping may be used on the hand and fingers provided that no two fingers are taped together. The tape may be continuous and connect to the wrist, but all fingers must be able to move independently. A wrist wrap in lieu of tape is acceptable and is not considered an artificial aid provided there are no hard pieces in the wrap to keep the wrist stiff.” (High school rules join the other three rule books in allowing taping of throwers’ fingers as long as each finger can move independently.)

2024 was not a rule change year for the NCAA, so there are no major changes for college meets. Several of the more important 2023 changes are reproduced here, along with some additional interpretation/commentary. Note that the NCAA rule book is now organized into three sections (indoor, outdoor, cross country), with many of the rules appearing in both the indoor and outdoor sections. An important thing you need to be aware of is that the NCAA has now changed the field event time limits back to one minute for all field events, as World Athletics and USATF did a couple of years ago (and NFHS wisely never adopted the 30 second ‘experiment’).

• Rule 1-45, 9-45 – Eliminates mixed gender competition in any events, (NCAA Bylaws stipulate that men’s and women’s track and field are separate and distinct sports, and the competition rules must align with the Bylaws that govern the Association.)
• Rule 5-4.3, 13-4.3 – Eliminates the use of “five-alive” as an option for handling large vertical jump fields. (Using one continuous flight is listed first in a list of options since it is the most preferred option. It is followed by using a qualifying competition, then by using two or more flights as the only three allowable options.)
• Rule 5-5.7, 13-5.7 – Allows a tie for first place in the vertical jumps. (Allows for an option to accept the tie for first place without a jump-off if all tied athletes agree to it before the jump-off commences. Once a jump-off commences, any athlete deciding to withdraw from the jump-off concedes the higher place to the remaining athlete(s). Note that this is slightly different from the WA/USATF rule, which states the Games Committee or the referee can decide before the competition that there will be no jump-off, and the athletes have the option to agree to cancel the jump-off and accept the tie either before the jump-off or while the jump-off is underway, as long as all involved agree; and it is slightly different from the new high school rule noted above.)
• Rule 6-3.1.b.2, 14-3.1.b.2 – (An update on the interpretation of where athletes and coaches can review video: An interpretation given during rule change presentations at the 2021 USATF meetings stated that the coaches’ boxes were considered part of the competition area, and therefore athletes could not view video in the coaches’ box. This interpretation was then revised for 2023 to state that coaches and athletes will view their videos at the back of the coaches’ box, so as to not interfere with other coaches viewing their athletes’ attempts at the front of the box. This is a much more practical interpretation, eliminating the previous requirement that meet management set up a separate viewing area.)
• Rule 7-2.2d, 15-2.1d – Specifies the use of green, yellow and red cards by the start team. (Finally formalizes in the rules the common practice of the start crew using green, yellow and red cards to indicate ‘no charge’, warning, and disqualification, respectively, as has been the practice in USATF and WA competitions.)
• Rule 8-1.1d, 16-1.1d – Clarifies that all valid attempts in the throws and horizontal jumps shall be immediately measured and recorded. (This emphasizes the change made two years ago that eliminated the use of measuring only those attempts exceeding a minimum distance.)
• Rule 8-1.2, 16-1.2 – The time limit for initiating attempts in all field events will be one minute. (After resisting this for a couple of years, the NCAA finally came back into conformance with NFHS, USATF and WA with regard to time limits for the field events, after WA and USATF halted their experiment with a 30 second time limit for all but the pole vault.)
• Rule 8-1.4e, 16-1.4e – Clarifies that chalk is not an acceptable marker. (This is the result of coaches complaining of the difficulty of removing chalk marks from track and runway surfaces.)
• Rule 8-2.3c, 16-2.3c – Clarifies that in all field events a competitor taking an attempt out of turn without the official’s permission shall be warned (or disqualified for a second occurrence). The attempt shall be considered valid in the case of a warning (first infringement).
• Rule 8-4.4a, 16-4.4a – Clarifies that it is a foul in the horizontal jumps if the takeoff foot/shoe breaks the vertical plane of the scratch line on the takeoff board during the planting action of the foot. (This appears to be subtly different from the USATF and WA rules, where an infraction includes breaking the plane while the shoe rocks forward during the takeoff action. The USATF and WA rules say the plane cannot be broken by the toe of the shoe until the shoe has left the ground, which is a reasonable approach when video cameras are available at the takeoff board and that instantaneous break of the plane can be seen in a slow motion replay image. Video cameras are not necessarily going to be available at most NCAA regular season meets, and it is easier for the eye to record the position of the toe of the shoe during the fraction of a second the shoe is still during the plant on the takeoff board, but more difficult to see during the rapid movement of the takeoff.)
• Rule 9-1.10b, 16-1.10b – If an official video review system is available (e.g., Eagle Eye, DV Sport), this video review system may be used by an official to determine whether an infraction or violation has occurred. (This refers only to commercial systems hired by meet management, such as those mentioned; it does not allow use of coaches’ or spectators’ videos.)
• A few differences to keep in mind: 1) Starters have complete autonomy over the start of a race; protests of a starter’s decision are not allowed under NCAA (or NFHS) rules, unlike USATF and WA rules; 2) a lane violation requires two consecutive steps on or over the inside lane line, and this does not carry over to subsequent heats or rounds, as it does in USATF and WA rules; and 3) official video currently is not allowed to be viewed by coaches or athletes at any time.

At the 2023 USATF annual meetings held this past December in Orlando, the Rules Committee considered 75 rule changes. Sixty of them were accepted as submitted or with amendments. Most all of the proposed changes involved the need to comply with recent World Athletics rule changes. Among the rule changes of most immediate concern to working officials are the following:

• Rule 132.4 – Amends the table of standard symbols and markings to be used in start lists and results sheets, to bring USATF into compliance with WA.
• Rule 144.4i – Regarding the viewing of video during competitions, amend to read “The viewing device or images taken from it shall not be taken into the competition area beyond the immediate area in which those providing the recording are permitted.” Add: “NOTE 1: To facilitate a better view of the images, the competitor may hold the device whilst communicating with those who have taken the images.” (This change allows a little more flexibility for athletes and coaches when the athlete is trying to view the video. Previously some officials were not allowing athletes to take the video device into their own hands when it was difficult for the athlete to see the screen, such as when the coach was in raised stands. Video is still not allowed in Youth/JO competitions.)
• Rule 146.4 – Regarding allowing a runner to run under protest after being called for a false start, add “NOTE 3: Any doubt or situation requiring further investigation shall be sufficient to not deny such protest.” (The wording strikes me as a bit awkward, but basically it means that anytime there is any doubt in the mind of the referee about the validity of a false start call, or there appear to be circumstances requiring further investigation, the protest should be accepted and the athlete allowed to run under protest, making a final decision after the opportunity to review all available information and data.)
• Rule 146.5 – Regarding the rule about a protest of a failure of the starter to call a false start, modify the second sentence: “A protest may be based on the failure of the Starter to recall a false start, or under Rule 162.17 to abort a start. The protest may be made only by, or on behalf of, an athlete who should normally have completed the race with bona fide effort….” (The previous wording stated an athlete who has completed the race. This change allows a little more flexibility to consider situations where the protesting athlete may not have finished the race.)
• Rule 160.4 – Add the sentence “In all races run entirely on the straight, the direction of the race may be either left-hand or right-hand inside, according to the available conditions.” (This formally permits running straightaway races in either direction, which has been common practice, but technically not allowed in the rules previously.)
  • Rule 162.17(c) – Modify to read “in their judgment, after the command ‘on your marks’ or ‘set’, disturbs another competitor in the race through sound, movement or otherwise, resulting in such competitor(s) committing what would otherwise be a false start…” (This change codifies a practice of more knowledgeable starters, who may warn or charge an athlete whose major flinch caused an adjacent athlete to react into an apparent false start. Normally, a flinch is not charged as a false start under current rules interpretations, but if the flinch causes another runner to false start, that athlete should not be charged but the flinching athlete can be warmed (yellow card) or disqualified (red card) for improper conduct or acting in an unsporting manner for disturbing another competitor under this rule.)
• Rule 163.5(b) – An editorial change: “Steps, runs or makes contact out of the assigned lane on the straightaway…” (Adds the phrase ‘makes contact’ outside of the lane on a straightaway to clarify that there may be times when contact is made with another lane on the straight that is not the result of a ‘step’ or a ‘run’. Apparently some officials were being too literal, thus this editorial modification.)
• Rule 166.2(f).i.(b) – Changes in the rule for assigning lanes. (As for most of the USATF rule changes noted here, this one is for WA compliance. It involves the assignment of lanes, and it is a bit lengthy, so I won’t reproduce it here; just look at it in the new rule book. It makes a distinction in assigning lanes for straightaway races, the 200M and for the 400m and 800M and relays up to and including the 4×400 relay.)
• Rule 166.8 – Add “NOTE 3: The meet entry material for a competition may specify an alternate policy how vacant positions due to withdrawals in semi-final and final rounds may be filled by athletes ranked after those who have qualified from the previous round.” (There is a similar NOTE added to Rule 180.7(a) for field events.)
• Rule 168.3 – Modify: “All races shall be run in lanes. Each athlete shall go over each hurdle and shall keep to the hurdles in his/her own lane throughout the race. Failure to do so shall result in a disqualification unless Rule 163.5 applies.” (One of the rare rule changes that are not for WA compliance. This is an editorial change to emphasize that the rule concerns going over the hurdles and not about staying in lanes. On straightaway races an athlete can step into an adjacent lane, as long as they don’t interfere with another runner, but they still must go over each hurdle in their assigned lane.)
• Rule 180.10(c) – Regarding absence from a field event to compete in another event, modify: “…If the athlete subsequently is not present for that particular trial, it shall be deemed that the athlete is passing once the period allowed for the trial has elapsed. If the athlete is then not present for a subsequent trial within the normal competing order, it shall be counted as a failure once the period allowed for the trial has elapsed.” Add: “NOTE 4: When excused for another event, an athlete may pass multiple rounds.” (WA did not include the new NOTE in this change. The USATF Rules Committee added the NOTE because of concern about the impact of accruing failures for a vertical jumps athlete if they had to miss multiple attempts while competing in another event. USATF will be encouraging WA to take this into consideration.)
• Rule 180.11 – Regarding situations not involving leaving for another event, add to the end of the rule: “If the athlete subsequently is not present for a particular trial, it shall be counted as a failure once the period allowed for the trial has elapsed.”
• Rule 180.12(f) – Add “NOTE: When more than one pit is being used in the High Jump or Pole Vault and the bar heights are not raised simultaneously throughout the competition, time limits shall be determined by the number of athletes competing on each pit, not the total on all pits.”
• Rule 183.1(b) – Regarding requests for pole vault upright positioning, add a new fourth sentence: “Before the competition starts, each vaulter shall inform the official responsible for the event what position of the uprights or supports he or she wants to use, and this information should be recorded on the score sheet. Any competitor who wants to make any changes should immediately inform the official responsible before the uprights have been set in accordance with the initial wishes. Failure to do this must lead to the start of the time limit. After confirmation of the position of the uprights and the time for the trial has started, no further change in the position of the uprights is allowed.” (There are two items here. ‘After confirmation of the position of the uprights’ has been added to indicate that it is ‘best practice’ for the flight coordinator to always confirm the uprights position with the athlete before starting the time clock. And after the time for the trial has started there will be no further changes to the uprights allowed, which is a change from previous practice.)
• Rule 184.2 – Removes reference to the use of plasticine in the horizontal jumps in the definition of the takeoff board. (WA is moving away from the use of plasticine, permitting it as an option only if video review of the takeoff is not available. The reason for this can be found in the next rule change.)
• Rule 185.5(a) – Modify the rule: It shall be considered a failure or foul if any competitor: “While taking off, at any time prior to the instant at which the competitor ceases contact with the take-off board or ground, breaks the vertical plane of the take-off line with any front part of his/her take-off foot or shoe, whether running up without jumping or in the act of jumping;… NOTE: It is not a failure if the break of the vertical plane is made by a loose part of the shoe (e.g., shoelace). (This is a major new interpretation from WA of what constitutes a failed attempt in the horizontal jumps. It is no longer just whether or not the toe of the shoe breaks the plane of the scratch line when the shoe lands on the takeoff board. WA now specifies a foul shall be called if the toe of the shoe breaks the plane not only upon the planting of the foot on the takeoff board, but also if the plane is broken as the shoe rocks forward during the takeoff until the shoe leaves the ground. Breaking the plane is easier to see during the foot plant, but not so easy to see as the shoe rocks forward for the takeoff unless replay video is available. This might imply that if video on the takeoff board isn’t available for a USATF meet, then plasticine should be used. There also is a new Note clarifying that loose pieces of the footwear such as shoelaces breaking the plane are not to be considered a foul.)
• Rule 187.1(b) – Amend Note 1 to read: “It will not be considered a failure if the touch occurs during any first rotation at a point completely behind the white line which is drawn outside the circle running, theoretically, through the center of the circle.”, and add Note 2: “It will not be considered a failure if the touch, including of the top of the stopboard, is made at any time by a loose part of the shoe, clothing or any other item (e.g., shoelace), or by an item which was attached to the body at the time of the start of the throw and became detached during or after the throw (e.g. jewelry or hat).” (WA and USATF have removed reference to providing propulsion by touching the top of the ring during the first rotation. So now any momentary contact of the shoe with the top of the ring during the first rotation is OK. The addition of the second Note is to clarify that contact with the top or outside of the ring by items worn by the athlete other than the main body of the shoe itself are OK.)
• Rule 187.13 – Add a second and third sentence to the rule about use of an illegally altered implement: “No spitting or application by other means of human body fluids on any implement is permitted. The presence of perspiration shall not be prohibited.” (WA added only the first of these two sentences. The USATF Rules Committee felt this change would be essentially unenforceable because sweat, which is a “human bodily fluid”, is pretty much impossible to keep off of implements during competition. So USATF has added the second of these two sentences to alleviate that problem, and will be urging WA to do the same.)
• Rule 188.3 – Add a new second sentence in the requirements for the construction of the shot: “If a filling is used, it shall be inserted in such a manner that is immovable and complies with the requirements for the center of gravity as defined in Rule 191.5.”
• Rule 189.2(a) – Modification of the requirements for construction of the discus: “The body of the discus may be solid or hollow and shall be made of wood or other suitable material, with a metal rim, the edge of which shall be rounded into a true circle having a radius of approximately 6mm. There may be metal plates set flush into the center of the sides. The plates shall be tightly fixed and not be able to rotate. In the alternative, the discus may be made without metal plates, provided that the measurements and total weight of the implement correspond to the specifications. There shall be no loose parts.”
• Rule 191.6 – Add a Note to the rule regarding the wire on the hammer implement: “NOTE: A small section of clear vinyl tubing, up to 50mm long with an internal diameter of 5mm, may be placed over the twisted end of the hammer wire.”
• Rule 200.5 (Combined Events) – Modify Rule 200.5(c) and add a new 200.5(d), renumbering the former 200.5(d) to 200.5(e): “(c) In the last event of a Combined Events Competition, sections, if used, should be arranged so that the last section contains the leading athletes after the penultimate event. Starting positions / lanes for this last event may be determined as deemed desirable. The Games Committee or Combined Events Referee shall arrange such section or starting positions. (d) In the 200m, 400m and straight running events, after ranking the athletes according to their entry performances, the lanes shall be drawn in accordance with Rule 166.2(f).i.(b). If entry performances are not available, lanes shall be drawn by lot.
• Rule 211.1 – “THE INDOOR STADIUM / SHORT TRACK
  1. The stadium may be completely enclosed and covered. If enclosed and covered, lighting, heating and ventilation shall be provided to give satisfactory conditions for competition and to be designated as Indoor.” (WA is sort of redefining indoor track, to be called Short Track competitions. The idea behind this change is to allow 200M tracks, normally associated with indoor facilities, to also be used outdoors and still have marks recognized as world records. It also will open up the possibility of communities putting on outdoor events in limited spaces by using a 200M track. The impetus for this change was the movement in recent years for events being held in non-traditional venues. Think of the televised street races on the East Coast and the odd-shaped tracks used outdoors in downtown areas in Europe. Indoor championships will continue, but results from short track competitions held outdoors could still count as qualifiers for the indoor championships.)