NFHS pole vault rule change

[catdog1251]

I was on the website for the Nation Federation of State High School Associations looking up some info and noticed this bulletin on the track and field page. http://www.nfhs.org/web/2007/07/pole_va ... ave_g.aspx
I was extremely confused and concerned by this rule change and was hoping some coaches and athletes could clarify it for me. The rule change says that now vaulters can leave the ground without it being an attempt.
When I vaulted in New York State as a high schooler it was considered an attempt if you: left the ground, broke the plane, or touched the mat.
I do not own a NFHS rulebook(ordered but hasn't arrived yet). What does the NFHS consider an attempt? I really hope that touching the mat is not considered a foul because if it is it seems this rule would encourage athletes to leave the ground but not touch the mat, which seems extremely dangerous to me. Also if touching the mat without breaking the plane is legal then this rule dramatically changes the way a pole vault event is run. For example: we have all seen beginer jumpers who because of bad run, bad plant, and bad takeoff, leave the ground but do not penetrate and end up landing on the forward part of the mat. It seems under this rule, these athletes could jump up run back down the runway and take a second attempt if they do it under the time limit. This also seems extremely dangerous, to me there is nothing worse than taking an inexperienced vaulter and making them jump rushed and tired seconds after a jump where the failed to penetrate far enough to break the plane. It would also dramatically change the event for experienced good vaulters, for example: If one of my more experienced vaulters tries to move from his 14' pole to his 15' and has a bad takeoff or not enough knee drive and get rejected, but lands on the front part of the mat, he could run back up the runway grab his 14 and clear the height.
The NFHS press release states the reasoning for the rule change that doesn't make sense to me:
"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
It seems to me that vaulter could already do that, and the change is only making it more dangerous. It also says this: "This change will now allow all vertical jumps to be judged the same in regard to aborted attempts and trials." Why would you want to make the rules for High Jump and Pole Vault the same? They are comletely different events, and in reality pole vault is more similiar to long or triple jump in terms of approach. Sorry for this post being so long but it seems to me to be a fairly complex issue, unless I am missing something? Please respond with your knowledge and opinions. Thanks Sam Catterson

[rainbowgirl28]

I want to keep discussing this topic, but let's continue the discussion in the existing thread:
http://polevaultpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12849