No Bungee at competition!

[powerplant42]

Stupid rule. If somebody wants a bar, give it to them. If they don't care, give them a high bungie, and try to keep it there for the duration of warm ups... they generally won't fall off unless somebody really comes down on one.
Come to think of it, I've never seen a bar used for a warm up in Maryland, but I'm starting to think that it's a good idea to use something there for reference, but I don't think the guys who run the vault in my county would listen to me. (They don't about anything else, like not teaching kids to use an 8 foot wide grip, or not to use 1 handers or pop-ups... ) Is there some rule that says they would have to allow me to get a bar up during warm ups?

[pvtaz]

Just curious... is this applicable for California?
We always have bungees at our meets for warm ups at Rancho Bernardo.
I asked Coach Martin about this and he was just as confused as I was

This rulings gonna suck if they say no bungee

[CowtownPV]

I'm sure it is about safety since this organization just this year said if you get spit out and land on the runway, but didn't break the plane, its not a miss, so run back down there and try again. I'm guessing they must be smoking some good stuff when they come up with some of these rules.

[vault3rb0y]

"Bungees in my opinion promote laziness at the top. You can cream the bungee and it stays up giving you a false sense of accomplishment".

Think about it, the last place you would want a false sense of accomplishment is right before you have to jump for real. Using a crossbar instead of a bungee in warm ups might also save the vaulter from a "no height".

I'm going to have to dissagree. I think the last place you want a false sense of accomplishment is right before you swing on a pole you arent going to make pit on, because you dont have a solid reference point in the air. Using a bungee could save a vaulters life, and i think that outwieghs having to use a crossbar to save from a "NH".

I believe vaulters need to take jumps without worrying about hieght in warm ups, only hitting positions. If you have to worry about hitting a bungee, you are way to scared to be a pole vaulter. But there is a legitimate reason for not wanting a bar up during warm ups, if you come down on it or straddle it, it will NOT feel good, and you will start thinking about the bar and not hitting positions. Once the competition comes around, you still just worry about hitting positions, but you need the warm ups to figure it out before the bar goe up. It also takes at least 30 seconds per athlete to put a bar up after they knock it down, inevitably in warm ups. If there are 20 athletes in a meet you are waiting and extra 5-10 minutes PER JUMP just for warm ups. You only have to put a bungee up once.

I've jumped 16'10" with a crossbar and never gotten over a bungee higher than 16' in practice... i dont believe in the 2' rule of thumb. 16' is 16' whether its a bar, bungee, barbed wire, whatever.

[bayouvaulter]

I agree with you Jason. I have never had an athlete jump more the a couple inches highier with a jungee. I have had some pr at practice with one, but
most would match it in a later meet. We always have used one and until a meet director says other wise I will continue to use one.
Just my view

[belmore]

I'll agree that bungee's are "lazy", and that they don't hurt, but I'm gonna have to say that having a bungee up during warmups at 80cm will speed up the process and give coaches and athletes a good ideal of where they are at in how the athlete is jumping. I have alway joked with my vaulters about winning the warmup comp, smoking a bungee and then coming up a little short with a hard bar. Having a bungee up during the warmups, being able to just adjust the height and letting 30 vaulters warm up in an hour without having to put a bar up and slow everything down warrants the use of that colored surgical tubing. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[master]

I think the statement posted on the NFHS web page says that neither a bungee or a crossbar is allowed to be used during warm ups before the competition or for warm ups (run throughs) during a competiton. So that should make the warm ups go faster (more jumps per vaulter).

Now, if we could just get rid of those pesky, time consuming run backs that some use to try to determine their steps.

- master

[drcurran]

When I put this note up I knew there would be lots of strong reaction. Please "don't shoot the messenger". A lot of the responses I agree with, safety, speed, and so forth. But the bottom line is this is a rule in the National Federation High School Rule Book. Like it or not we should all follow it. It is always a concern when someone post a statement like "I don't care what the rules say, this is what I'm going to do. . . ." Maybe at some meet someone thinks three (3) attempts is not enough so "at our meets everyone gets four (4) tries". If we have rules we should all follow them, and at the same time try to get the rules changed for the betterment of our sport / event! OK off my soap box!

Dan

PS - I myself don't like the no bungee rule in HS and I don't like the get another attempt if you still have time on the clock and you have not broken the plane and my contact rule. But when I officiate we follow them.

[bayouvaulter]

Dan
I have read the read book a few times and I have never seen were it said you can not have a crossbar or bungee up during warm ups before the competition. Maybe I overlooked it, if so when did someone vote on putting it into the rule book and if when was the discussion done on it. Seems like someone would have brought this up way before this time. Our outdoor season is almost over and we are now going to say its illegal to use bungees. We went to through two indoor nationals using them and now we can't. That doesn't make sense. Even the changing of pit size didn't happen in mid season and that saves lives! this has no bearing on safety, on second thought it does using a bungee or bar helps it. The bungee only helps speed the process of warm-ups. My feeling is if eveyone continued to use a bungee what would the rules committee do. My opinion is they would take it out of the books, if it ever gets in there!
If the speed limit is 70 and you go 75 does that make you a criminal. You
are breaking a law not a rule. But even the police allow it and if you have ever been on the interstate you know a lot of people also take advantage of it. So just call me the police. But I will enforce the 3 miss rule!!
Just my view on the matter and final comment!

Kevin

[master]

This (from the NFHS web site) would indicate they discussed this topic in 2006.

Code: Select all

Use of Bungee Cord in Pole Vault
Memorandum

To: State Association Track and Field Administrators

From: Becky Oakes

Subject: Use of Bungee Cord in Pole Vault

Date: April 16, 2008

___________________________________________________________________________

The NFHS has received the question of whether or not it is acceptable for a bungee cord to be used for warm-ups in the pole vault at an interscholastic track and field meet.

In 2006 the NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee discussed the use of the bungee cord for warm-ups at an interscholastic meet and agreed this would not be acceptable under Rule 7-5-16. This restriction would be in effect during the actual competition as well as the warm-up period prior to the event.

SITUATION: The pole vaulters from Team A want to use a bungee cord to place on the vaulting standards during warm-ups at the visiting school. The event judge for the pole vault informs the vaulters and their coach that this is not acceptable under Rule 7-5-16 during competition, and is not allowed during warm-ups, as the item is not the acceptable crossbar and may not be appropriate to be placed on this vaulting standard system. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Rule 7-5-16 is clear that a crossbar may not be used in warm-ups once the competition has begun. The field event judge has exercised the correct judgment for the pre-event warm-up, as only the use of a crossbar manufactured for the event should be used. Training devices such as bungee cords shall not be used at interscholastic meets.

This situation is provided to assist you in responding to questions you may receive regarding this matter. Please disseminate this interpretation to your coaches and officials as you deem appropriate. It will also be placed on the NFHS web site.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your attention and consideration.

BO/lb

cc: Bob Gardner, NFHS

- master

[master]

I think the statement posted on the NFHS web page says that neither a bungee or a crossbar is allowed to be used during warm ups before the competition or for warm ups (run throughs) during a competiton. ...

After re-reading the NFHS statement, I feel I was wrong with my above post. Now I think it indicates use of a legal crossbar during pre-competition warm ups is OK.

What do the rest of you think?

- master

[vault3rb0y]

If i were going to break the rules i wouldn't complain about them, i just wouldn't follow them. I will follow every rule, but just because it is a rule does not mean it is a good one. Most laws and rules in the USA are meant to protect the citizens and keep them safe, if we want to follow that analogy, and a bungee during warm ups helps keep vaulters safe, I have experienced it first hand, last year almost landing in the box because i finished a jump i shouldnt have. I hope they reconsider, thats all.