September 12, 2003

To:        NJSIAA Track Officials

 

From:    Donald E. Danser

            Assistant Director

 

            Carl Rickershauser

            NJSIAA Track and Field Rules Interpreter

 

Re:       Rule 4-5-8 (page 29 in the NFHS Track and Field Rule Book)

 

Rule 4-5-8 reads: “A competitor shall not compete while wearing an illegal uniform or using an illegal implement.”

 

Effective immediately this rule, as it applies to uniform and jewelry violations only, is now interpreted as follows:

 

If an athlete competes with an illegal uniform and/or is wearing any jewelry, the athlete is not to be disqualified after the completion of his/her performance.

 

It is the responsibility of every official at all times to prevent athletes from competing if they are wearing an illegal uniform and/or jewelry.

 

The best way to explain this interpretation is through a few “case situations”:

 

Case 1     In cross-country dual meet, all runners are lined up ready to receive instructions just before the starter is to start the race. The starter observes that a runner from Team A is wearing a watch. He tells the runner she cannot run unless the watch is removed.  The runner (a) removes the watch before the race starts and runs, or (b) the runner participates in the race while still wearing the watch.

 

Ruling:    In (a) there is no problem. The runner obeyed the starter’s instructions. In (b), the runner is disqualified from the event under Rule 4-5-2: “Unacceptable conduct by a competitor includes, but is not limited to, willful failure to follow the directions of a meet official…Penalty: Disqualification from the race.” (This disqualification does not require a report to the NJSIAA and there is no additional penalty. The report is required if an athlete has violated Rule 4-5-1, Unsportsmanlike conduct.)

 

 

 

Case 2.    In a cross-country meet, no official observes a watch on a runner from Team B. The starter lines up the runners and in his instructions, mentions that jewelry of any kind, including watches, is not permitted. The race is started. At the finish line, a coach from Team C appeals to the referee that the runner from Team B wore a watch and didn’t take it off, even after the starter had given his general instructions which included a statement about not wearing watches.

Ruling:    The athlete will not be disqualified. The violation must be observed before the race starts by an official. The referee cannot be put in the position of determining whether or not the athlete with the watch heard all of the instructions. To fall under Rule 4-5-2, the athlete must be told directly by an official to guarantee that the “willful failure to follow…” was what actually happened.

 

(over)

 

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Case 3.    In a cross-country meet, an official timer observes that a runner from Team C is wearing an undergarment under his shorts that is multi-colored. The timer immediately points this out to the starter/referee. The referee tells the runner that the undergarment must be removed before the race starts. The athlete leaves to comply. Then (a) the race is started before the athlete returns causing the coach to file an appeal, stating that the starter should have waited for the athlete to return, since the starter told the athlete to change or (b) the athlete says he can’t change.

 

Ruling:    In (a) the coach’s appeal is denied. The coach and athlete are responsible to be in a legal uniform and to report to the start on time. In (b) the athlete is to be removed from the starting line and not permitted to participate, again because it is the coach and athlete’s responsibility to report to the starting line in a legal uniform and on time.

 

 

 

 

Case 4:    In a track meet, teams are lining up on the track for the 4x400. The race is started. When the 3rd leg, steps on the track, a timer observes that the girl running for Team D is wearing a multi-colored garment under her shorts. The timer tells the referee who prevents the Team D 3rd leg from taking the handoff. Coach of Team D appeals, saying the rule is misapplied since the violation was spotted after the event started.

 

Ruling:    The appeal is denied. IF preventing the handoff can be done safely, without risk of interfering with other contestants, then it should be done. Otherwise, the referee should disqualify Team D at the end of the race. The key here is that the violation was observed BEFORE the individual athlete started competition. In the case sited, most of the time “preventing the competitor from competing” as required by 4-5-8 would not be practical until after the fact. Thus the disqualification at the end of the race is required.

 

 

Once more, this applies only to jewelry and watches. If, in a track meet, an athlete uses an illegal pole vault pole, shot put, discus, javelin, starting block, etc., the athlete would be disqualified from the event. The logic here is that illegal implements give athletes an advantage over their fellow competitors, while wearing jewelry or having an illegal uniform does not.

 

 

This ruling also stresses the need for the Pre-Meet Sportsmanship Statement that must be read to the coaches and team captains at smaller meets and/or a signature by coaches that they have read and understood this statement in large, invitational meets. (The statement can be found on page 13 of the 2003-04 [6th] Edition of the NJSIAA Handbook for Officials.)

 

It is recommended that whenever possible, before events start, meet officials have contestants/competitors form a line-up for a uniform and jewelry violation inspection.