Wristband Rule

[rainbowgirl28]

Some of my kids have been getting nasty bruises, but we will probably go without the forearm protectors at districts and state. Coaches from other schools would be very eager to find a way to DQ one of our athletes and it's better for us not to risk it.

[OH-IOvaulter]

Sorry becca didn't realize which rule book I was reading at the time. But I think you're right, just tape from wrist to elbow, which is permissible.

[AVC Coach]

Coaches from other schools would be very eager to find a way to DQ one of our athletes and it's better for us not to risk it.

That ticks me off to hear things like this! Coaches with that attitude don't deserve the opportunity to coach young people.

If your kid gets beat because the other athlete is better or just more prepared, then hello, work harder! Don't try to find some petty reason to DQ the kid(s) that might beat yours.

[belmore]

considered equipment here in texas, but national high school rules seem to be interpeted differently all around the country.

[rainbowgirl28]

Coaches from other schools would be very eager to find a way to DQ one of our athletes and it's better for us not to risk it.

That ticks me off to hear things like this! Coaches with that attitude don't deserve the opportunity to coach young people.

If your kid gets beat because the other athlete is better or just more prepared, then hello, work harder! Don't try to find some petty reason to DQ the kid(s) that might beat yours.

None of the other vault coaches would do it, but I wouldn't put it past some of the other coaches.

The main thing is, I don't know how they will interpret it at State.

[master]

I don't have easy access to a rule book. Can someone please post the rule that declares a wrist protector as something subject to disqualification? It would be quite a stretch to have it classified as jewelry.

- master

[bayouvaulter]

It falls under rule 3-2-4-o which states the the games committee has the right to restrict any items which are worn in excess of the school uniform required by rule. Wist bands would fall into that. But it also says that the committe must notify all teams involve prior to competition which items if any are restricted. So if the games committee doesn't tell all schools that wrist bands are restricted then they are legal by rule. Unless the lie about it to the state association which is what happened to my vaulter. So I would have the coach ask if there are any restricted items at the scratch meeting and if they do not say wrist bands are restricted then they are legal!! Good luck

what is real scary is that rule 7-3-10 stated that no competitor shall wear a shoe or shoes that incorpate or contain a device that gives a competitor an unfair advantage. humm pole vault shoes are designed to give you an advantage.....so maybe some coach will protest them and he may find a referee that agrees and guess what dqed!!! hope it never happens but they seem to always leave a door open for things like that!!!!!

[master]

Thanks bayouvaulter. I wouldn't have thought it to come under a heading of uniform but now that you mention it, I guess it could to someone that doesn't know its purpose.

I really hate those rules that turn things over to the "games committee". When was the last time... no... when was the first time you have ever been provided with information from the games committee for a HS meet. Maybe the publications for state meets qualify, but I haven't seen one for a dual meet.

- master

[Vaultgrrrl]

I wasn't aware the use of a forearm protector was an issue until I was sitting in the stands at the Missouri Class 3 meet and watched a girl have to tape over her Bell Athletics logo. As an official, I've always allowed them because there's no rule otherwise, but just to double check I sent an email to MSHSAA asking about the use of forearm protectors and logos on them. The email got forwarded to Becky Oakes, the editor of the NFHS rule book. Her reply was this:

The wearing of a forearm guard is not prohibited at this time by rule.
However, if in review of the item on site it is determined for some
reason to be considered an aid, Rule 7-2-10 could apply. This is a
decision that would be made on site or may come through MSHSAA
office if you have had to review a specific product. This is not a part
of the uniform and therefore the restriction on the size of a
manufacturer's logo would not apply. The forearm guard would be
permitted similar to the wearing of a helmet in the pole vault unless
determined otherwise by MSHSAA.

Most likely the Track Committee will develop a case situation on this
type of equipment as the question has come up during the season.

Hope this helps!

[1yeldud1]

I was also at that meet - I believe the only issue at the time was the size of the logo on the Bell Athletics forearm protector. We had another vaulter using a wrtist band for a forearm protector and she was instructed to turn it inside out to hide the large Nike logo.

[vaultdad]

This sounds like a great marketing opportunity . . . .

Pole Bands for Vault Poles!!

Since the manufacturer can have as large a logo on the pole as they want, we could create "matching logo" pole pads for each pole and eliminate the controversy entirely.

Seriously, as an official I have never asked anyone to remove a wrist guard that protected the vaulter from an injury due to repetitive motion such as vaulting. As for logos of any kind on this type of protective gear I find the concept of covering them laughable. It reminds me of the movie where Prefontaine pulls the Swoosh off his shoes because it "looked like wind resistance" to him when what he was really saying was " this looks really ugly to me at this size". If the logo is not offensive, just let it go.

Some of these kids have bigger tattoo's than the logo on a protective wrist guard. Should those be covered if a kid has "Nike" tattoed on his/her forearm? That's even a Copyright infringement if the bearer doesn't have permission to use it from the owner of the brand.

[BadMotherVaulter]

forearm bruise = badge of honor.

wear it proud.