Middle School Field Rules

General Measurement

1. In measuring performances, the zero end of the tape should always be held at the point of impact, or at ground level for vertical jumping.
2. Distances for the long jump, triple jump and shot put are recorded to the nearest centimetre below the distance covered.
3. Distances for the discus and javelin throws are recorded to the nearest even centimetre below the distance covered.
4. In vertical jumps, measurements are made perpendicular from the ground to the lowest part of the upper side of the bar, and shall be recorded to the nearest centimetre below the height measured.

RVSA Heights and Weights

1. High Jump

The bar is raised five centimetres for the first two jumps and from then on is raised three centimetres per move.

2. Discus

3. Shot Put         

Tie-breakers in Field Events

1. High Jump
1. The competitor with the lowest number of attempt at the height at which the tie occurs is awarded the higher placement.
2. If the tie still remains, the competitor with the lowest number of failed attempts throughout the competition up to and including the height last cleared is awarded the higher placement.
3. If the tie still remains, and concerns first place:

1. Tying competitors have one more jump at the lower level at which they failed.
2. The height of the bar is lowered or raised to the heights previously announced by the chief judge of the event until the tie is broken.
3. Tying competitors jump in the same order as in the competition proper.
4. They make one attempt at each height and must jump on each occasion that the height of the bar is altered.

4. If the tie concerns any other place, the competitors are awarded the same placement in the competition.

2. Horizontal Jumps and Throwing Events.
1. On the basis of the second best performance of tying competitors.
2. If a tie still remains, it is decided on the basis of the third best performance and so on.
3. If the tie still remains and concerns first place, the competitors compete again in the same order until the tie is decided.

Shot Put

1. Only two competitors per school can participate. If an athlete’s name is not listed as an alternate in an event, he/she is not allowed to compete.
2. Each competitor receives three trials. The top six competitors will receive three more trials. The furthest throw throughout the entire competition is recorded and counts toward the top six results.
3. Valid Throws
   1. The shot is put from the shoulder with one hand only.
   2. At the time of commencement of the put, the shot must touch or be in close proximity to the chin.
   3. The shot must not be brought behind the line of the shoulder at any time.
   4. Up to the time of release of the shot, the hand must not be dropped below its starting position.
   5. If the thrower contravenes any of the above, it is an invalid attempt.
   6. All throws must land within the inner edge of the lines marking the sector. The competitor is allowed to touch the inside of the stop board. The competitor is not permitted, after he had stepped into the circle and started his/her throw, to touch with any part of his/her body, the ground outside the circle, or the top of the stop board.
   7. A competitor must commence the throw from a stationary position inside the circle.
   8. Provided that in the course of a trial the foregoing rules have not been infringed, a competitor may interrupt a trial, may lay the shot down and may leave the circle before returning to a stationary position and beginning a fresh trial, provided that the time allowed for the trial has not expired.
   9. The competitor must not leave the circle until the shot has touched the ground. When leaving the circle. The competitor’s first contact with the ground outside the circle must be completely behind the centre line or its extension.
4. When measuring, the zero end of the tape must be held at the point of impact and run through the centre of the circle. The actual measurement is taken from the inside edge of the circle. Distances are recorded to the nearest centimetre below the distance covered.
5. Assistance
   1. The taping of two or more fingers together or other devices which assist the competitor when making a throw is not permitted. The use of tape on a hand is allowed only to cover an open wound.
   2. In order to obtain a better grip, competitors are permitted to use a suitable substance on their hands only, but may not spray or spread any substance in the circle or on their shoes.
   3. In order to protect the spine from injury, a competitor may wear a belt of leather or some other suitable material.
6. At the competition site, each athlete may have, if possible, two practice throws. These should be made in order of throwing under the supervision of the chief official. Once a competition has begun, competitors are not permitted to use the circle or the area between the sector lines for any type of practice.
7. Implements must be returned by hand during the event. The official will disqualify any athlete who wilfully disobeys this instruction after having been cautioned. Any performances up to the point of disqualification count in the final placing.
8. Upon completion of the event, send the score sheet to the results truck with the first place participant.

Discus

1. Only two competitors per school can participate. If an athlete’s name is not listed as an alternate in an event, he/she is not allowed to compete.
2. Each competitor receives three trials. The top six competitors will receive three more trials. The furthest throw throughout the entire competition is recorded and counts toward the top six results.
3. Valid Throws
   1. All throws must land within the inner edge of the lines marking the sector.
   2. The competitor is allowed to touch the inside of the raised iron band. The competitor is not permitted, after he/she has stepped into the circle and started his/her throw, to touch with any part of his/her body, the ground outside the circle, or the top of the circular iron band.
   3. A competitor must commence the throw from a stationary position inside the circle.
   4. Provided that in the course of a trial the foregoing rules have not been infringed, a competitor may interrupt a trial, may lay the discus down and may leave the circle before returning to a stationary position and beginning a fresh trial, provided that the time allowed for the trial has not expired.
   5. The competitor must not leave the circle until the discus has touched the ground. When leaving the circle, the competitor’s first contact with the iron band or the ground outside the circle must be completely behind the centre line or its extension.
4. When measuring, the zero end of the tape must be held at the point of impact and run through the centre of the circle. The actual measurement is taken from the inside edge of the circle. Distances are recorded to the nearest even centimetre below the distance covered.
5. Assistance
   1. The taping of two or more fingers together or other devices which assist the competitor when making a throw is not permitted. The use of tape on a hand is allowed only to cover an open wound.
   2. In order to obtain a better grip, competitors are permitted to use a suitable substance on their hands only, but may mot spray or spread any substance in the circle or on their shoes.
   3. In order to protect the spine from injury, a competitor may wear a belt of leather or some other suitable material.
6. At the competition site, each athlete may have, if possible, two practice throws.  These should be made in order of throwing under the supervision of the chief official. Once a competition has begun, competitors are not permitted to use the circle or the area between the sector lines for any type of practice.
7. Implements must be returned by hand during the event. The official shall disqualify any athlete who wilfully disobeys this instruction after having been cautioned. Any performances up to the point of disqualification count in the final placing.
8. Upon completion of the event, send the score sheet to the Results Truck with the first place participant.

Long Jump

1. Only two competitors per school can participate. If an athlete’s name is not listed as an alternate in an event, he/she is not allowed to compete.
2. Each competitor receives three trials. The top six competitors will receive three more trials. The furthest throw throughout the entire competition is recorded and counts toward the top six results.
3. When measuring, the zero end of the tape must be held at the point in the landing area that has been made by the body or limb that is nearest to the take off line or its extension. All jumps are measured from the edge of the take off board nearest to the landing area, unless the competitor commits a fault by going past the take off line. Distances are recorded to the nearest centimetre below the distance covered.
4. Faults/failed attempts are not measured. They include:
   1. Use of weights or grip or employs any form of somersaulting before landing.
   2. After completing the jump, walks back through the landing area.
   3. In the course of landing, touches the ground outside the landing area but nearer to the take off line than the mark in the landing area from which the measurement would have been made.
   4. Touches the ground outside the landing area beyond the take off line with any part of the body whether running up without jumping or in the act of jumping.
   5. Takes off from either side of the take-off board (the runway) whether beyond or behind the take off line.
5. It is not a failure if the athlete takes off before reaching the take off board, but the measurement is still taken from the edge of the take-off board nearest to the landing area.
6. Upon completion of the event, send the score sheet to the results truck with the first place participant.

Triple Jump

1. Only two competitors per school can participate. If an athlete’s name is not listed as an alternate in an event, he/she is not allowed to compete.
2. Each competitor receives three trials. The top six competitors will receive three more trials. The furthest throw throughout the entire competition is recorded and counts toward the top six results.
3. When measuring, the zero end of the tape must be held at the point in the landing area that has been made by the body or limb that is nearest to the take-off line or its extension. All jumps are measured from the edge of the take off board nearest to the landing area, unless the competitor commits a fault by going past the take-off line. Distances are recorded to the nearest centimetre below the distance covered.
4. Faults/failed attempts are not to be measured. They include:
   1. Use of weights or grip or employs any form of somersaulting before landing.
   2. After completing the jump, walks back through the landing area.
   3. In the course of landing, touches the ground outside the landing area but nearer to the take off line than the mark in the landing area from which the measurement would have been made.
   4. Touches the ground outside the landing area beyond the take off line with any part of the body whether running up without jumping or in the act of jumping.
   5. Takes off from either side of the take-off board (runway) whether beyond or behind the take-off line.
   6. If a competitor, while jumping, touches the ground with a trailing leg.
5. It is not a failure if the athlete takes off before reaching the take off-board, but the measurement is still taken from the edge of the take-off board nearest to the landing area.
6. Upon completion of the event, send the score sheet to the results truck with the first place participant.

High Jump

1. Only two competitors per school can participate. If an athlete’s name is not listed as an alternate in an event, he/she is not allowed to compete.
2. Each competitor receives three trials. The top six competitors will receive three more trials. The furthest throw throughout the entire competition is recorded and counts toward the top six results.
3. When measuring, the zero end of the tape must be held at ground level. All measurements are made perpendicular from the ground to the lowest part of the upper side of the bar and are recorded to the nearest centimetre below the height measured. The height of the bar is measured whenever a new height is being attempted. If a record is achieved, the height of the bar is re-measured immediately after the successful attempt.
4. Athletes may pass at any height, but can not re-enter at that height or go back to a lower height.
5. Failed Attempts include:
   1. Knocking off the bar.
   2. Touching the landing area or ground beyond the plane of the uprights with any part of the body without first clearing the bar.
   3. Taking off from both feet.
6. Three consecutive failures eliminate the participant. (Even if the failures occur at different heights. (I.e. the competitor chose to pass after failing at the lower height.)
7. A competitor may place marks to assist him/her in his/her run-up and take off and a small handkerchief or similar object on the crossbar for sighting purposes.
8. After the completion of the event, send the score sheet to the results truck with the first place participant.