False Start Clarification Made By NFHS In New Track And Field Rules

In an effort to more clearly define false starts in high school track and field events, two new starting violations have been adopted by the National Federation of High School Associations for the 2023-24 season. The rule was one of 11 which came from the Track and Field Rules Committee and formally approved by the National High School Federation of State High School Associations.

In Rule 5-7-4c, the previous language which required participants to remain motionless after assuming the set position prior to the starting device being fired, has been replaced with with language saying the violation will take place if the runner leaves their mark with a hand or foot after the set command but before the starting device is fired.

The starter may also cancel a start without charging a false start if the starter thinks “extraneous motion” doesn’t fit the criteria, but can cancel or recall the race if the starter thinks there was an unfair or unsteady start situation created for the competitors.

A significant change was approved by the committee in Rule 6 regarding field events. In the discus, shot put and javelin, athletes will be permitted to apply tape to their fingers as long as the fingers are not taped together, and all fingers can move independently.

State associations will also be permitted to allow participants in high school track and field meet to compete in more than four events. State associations could adopt different participation limits, up to 6 events.

According to the 2021-22 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, track and field is the second-most popular sport for boys with 569,262 participants in 17,070 high schools nationwide, and it is No. 1 for girls with 456,697 participants in 17,028 schools.

Full list of the Track and Field Comments on New Rules

3-4-3 – The change defined specific guidelines to the rules book to offer consistency and guidance to a meet referee when ruling on reruns.

4-2-2 – The athlete event table was revised and moved to clarify participation in more than four events will result in a disqualification.

5-7-2 – Offers a clearer standard of approximately two seconds between the set command and the firing of the starting device for a starter when conducting a fair and consistent start.

5-10-2 – The rules change permits an additional two individuals listed on a relay entry. Now coaches have the flexibility to list up to eight individuals on a relay entry and pick from any of the eight to compete provided those competing meet the entry limitations.

6-6-4 – Clarified that the measurement in the javelin is made from the first point of contact within the sector. If the first point of contact is made within the sector and the javelin falls outside the section this is not a foul.

7-2-2g (NEW) – Clarified that states conducting mixed relay events at their meets should be conducted under USATF youth event rules unless state association policy determines otherwise.

9-3-2 – The 2022 rules change clarified when measurements should be conducted for record attempts in the vertical jumps. Adding the words “or jostled” to any displaced cross bar clarifies the intent of the 2022 rules change.

Rule 9 – The rules committee added a new indoor track and field rules section to the book to simplify the use of the rules books for officials at these meets. Records was moved to the New Rule 10.