FEET LEFT THE GROUND--IS IT A MISS?

[drcurran]

This situation really gets my blood boiling! The rule states if the vaulter leaves the ground in an attempt! If the official cannot tell the difference between an attempt to vault and an attempt to stop, then get the official a stop watch and send them over to the finish line to help out with timing! Think about this. As soon as a vaulter starts to run he / she has left the ground (running both feet are off the ground) so by some officials interpretation of the rule once you start running you can't abort.
I am so glad that the NCAA have aligned their rules to be the same as the IAAF ( in this case) if the vaulter leaves the ground but does not break the "plane" and make contact beyond the plane they the vaulter is still "alive" and on the clock! OK I feel better now!

Dan

[gtc]

in Missouri if both feet leave the ground it is counted as a scratch

No it isn't!

[OLD CATAPOLER]

Help me out here gtc!
I have officiated MSHSAA meets for years and each year I ask the head field event judge and starter about the "official" interpretation of this rule,
each year the same answer-the above situation is a miss!
I have advocated a change or openess to judgement of this rule and had been told there was discussion but as of now there is no change. If you know of any change or discussion of change please let me know! The officials I mentioned above serve those rolls at the state meet so I feel I am getting acurate updating.
I agree totally that this should be a judgement call (just as a pole release with a tailwind).

[gtc]

You need to keep in mind "these" officials also stood and watched as the bar was incorrected place at the wrong height on numerous occasions the last few years at the state meet. Just because they officiate at the state meet does not mean they can correctly interpret rules and certainly does not mean they can run a good meet. Unfortunately they are the last word. A year or so ago this rule was made a point of emphasis nationally I thought. If the vaulter leaves the ground " in an attempt" to clear the bar it constitutes a jump. So if the vaulter is clearly trying to put on the brakes and stop and puts the pole into the box to try and decelerate so as not to touch anything past the plane of the box and their toes come a few inches off the ground this is clearly not an attempt to clear the bar!
I know this used to always be called an attempt but again it was made a point of emphasis a year or so ago to clear up this interpretation. (I thought) I haven't seen it happen at the state meet since it was "clarified"

[master]

Whenever I go to the NFHS website to find something I get very frustrated. First of all, they should have a rules book and a case book online available for everyone to see. They would still sell the printed version that every head coach should have with him/her at the meets. But for situations just like this, NFHS should make it easy for any coach, assistant coach, parent or athlete to look up what the rule says and then see if they (NFHS) has made a "case" ruling on the rule which is intended to clarify by example.

A few years ago I was able to find on their website a document of changes to rules, but now I can't even find that without paying a fee by becoming a member or purchasing their books.

- master

[ashcraftpv]

I was at a seminar back in 2004 where Jan Johnson (who helped write the rule) clarified this rule . He stated that its only a miss if the vaulter leaves the ground with intent to make an attempt at the bar. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Please also note that stepping up onto the front buns does not count as a miss. Only is something is touched past the back of the box.

[master]

I was at a seminar back in 2004 where Jan Johnson (who helped write the rule) clarified this rule . He stated that its only a miss if the vaulter leaves the ground with intent to make an attempt at the bar. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Please also note that stepping up onto the front buns does not count as a miss. Only is something is touched past the back of the box.

So why doesn't NFHS publish those statements as a case ruling so it can be easily seen and referred to? That would seem to put this one to rest once and for all! As I say that, I have to admit I haven't read the past two case books for any clarification of rules that apply to pole vault. However, if it were in there, I would think someone on here would know about it and quote it.

- master

[Soar Like an Eagle]

I was at a seminar back in 2004 where Jan Johnson (who helped write the rule) clarified this rule . He stated that its only a miss if the vaulter leaves the ground with intent to make an attempt at the bar. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Please also note that stepping up onto the front buns does not count as a miss. Only is something is touched past the back of the box.

So why doesn't NFHS publish those statements as a case ruling so it can be easily seen and referred to? That would seem to put this one to rest once and for all! As I say that, I have to admit I haven't read the past two case books for any clarification of rules that apply to pole vault. However, if it were in there, I would think someone on here would know about it and quote it.

- master

NFHS 2003 Rules Book/Case Book Pole Vault Rulings And Interpretations by Robert J. Wahl, PIAA/NFHS Official
You can download this complete document.

I got this information from USA Pole Vault Initiative website.

[master]

NFHS 2003 Rules Book/Case Book Pole Vault Rulings And Interpretations by Robert J. Wahl, PIAA/NFHS Official
You can download this complete document.

I got this information from USA Pole Vault Initiative website.

See if this is what you are referring to http://www.pvei.com/documents/Rules%20Interpretations.htm#FAILED Look at 7.5.29/H.
If so, this doesn't seem to address the new wording of "in an attempt". It does specifically address the issue of allowing the pole tip to be planted in the box. I hope someone can find somewhere a similar "clarification" or "case book" ruling on the wording of "in an attempt".

- master

[WillinghamPV]

in Missouri if both feet leave the ground it is counted as a scratch

No it isn't!

tell that to the official who gave me a scratch last year at sectionals

[master]

Last night at practice I read the current case book and there was no example to help clarify this issue. I re-read the rule book also and it still states (as it has for the last several years),

It is a foul if the competitor: Leaves the ground in an attempt and fails to clear the crossbar.

- master

[pvchick]

in illinois--at the meets ive gone to as long as you dont hit the mat its ok. but i dont know if they do it differently at state or anything. they are pretty lenient tho. some girl left the ground with both feet--skimmed the mat and they still didnt count it as a miss. but whatev...