Track & Field Advisory Committee

Minutes
September 3, 2003 • 10 a.m.
FHSAA Headquarters
Gainesville, Florida


I. The Track & Field Advisory Committee met on Thursday, September 4, 2003 at FHSAA Headquarters in Gainesville, FL. The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. by sport administrator M. Denarvise Thornton.

Committee members in attendance were Dana Dodson, Poinciana High School, Mal Harpell, FACA Representative, Poinciana High School; Gary Littlejohn, Jr., South Dade High School; Jim Lowenstein, DeLand High School; Brad Penney, Cedar Key High School; and John Raleigh, Cardinal Mooney High School. Representing the FHSAA were: Cecelia S. Jackson, Director of Athletics; M. Denarvise Thornton, Associate Director of Athletics; Tamara J. Wilsey, Associate Director of Athletics; and John A. Stewart, Associate Commissioner for Athletic Operations.

II. Mal Harpell was unanimously selected as the committee chairperson.

III. There was a motion to accept the 2002 minutes by Mr. Lowenstein and seconded by Mr. Littlejohn. Passed 6-0.

IV. ACTION
A.1. Review Location/Dates of 1A/2A 2004 Track and Field Finals
The committee reviewed and discussed the letter sent by the Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee (GSOC) in reference to the conflict of hosting the 1A and 2A State Finals at Percy Beard Track and Field Stadium. The April 30 and May 1 dates conflict with the University of Florida’s Spring Graduation Ceremony.

The GSOC recommended 3 solutions:
A. Moving the meet up one day to Thursday, April 29 and Friday, April 30;
B. Host a four day meet from May 5-8; and
C. Host it on original dates regardless of cost and operational issues.

RECOMMENDATION (Endorsement Statement)
The committee recommends/endorses proposal A.
• Proposal A is the lesser of the evils and would create the following concerns: grad night scheduling and Class A misses one additional day of school in some instances
• Proposal B conflicts with advanced placement exams and is not viable for officials’ work schedules.
• Proposal C creates a major parking concern, acknowledging past situations, which adversely affected the administration of the state meet.
Motioned by Lowenstein/2nd by Dodson
TkAC: Approved (6-0)
ADAC: Support Option A (8-0)

A.2. Review 2003 FHSAA Track & Field Finals/Correspondence from Meet Director
The committee reviewed 6 items contained in the correspondence from the State Meet Director, John Hemmer. The discussions and actions are as follows:

ITEM #1 Change of view for horizontal jumps to the press box side for better viewing.
The committee believes that this would be beneficial if the logistics could be worked out (e.g. 8:15 AM coaches meeting, boys and girls at different times). The schedule would then be 10, 12, 2, and 4 for each event starting time. (This also provides less conflict between competitors in the long jump, triple jump and earlier sprints, i.e. 100 meter hurdles, 110 meter hurdles, 100 meter dash, etc.)

ITEM #2 Pole Vault begins at 12 and 3.
The committee does not support a change in this schedule without a rationale provided.

ITEM #3 Change from a time schedule to a rolling schedule.
The committee strongly endorses continued use of a posted schedule as listed in the manual. This was also addressed in Mr. Jay Getty’s communication. Staff will reiterate this point to the state meet games committee.

ITEM #4 Clarification of seeding in finals of time trial events.
The committee discussed 7.031 (page 8) in the Track and Field Manual, the seeding of the two heat winners and the time seedings for all other finalists. The committee would like to see this information repeated or referred to in the State Series Section (page 27, 20.055).

ITEM #5 Return to time trials in the 400 m in the 1A and 2A classifications - equalizing events
The committee prefers to remain with the running of the state meet in 1A and 2A as in previous years.

ITEM #6 In field events, advance all competitors tied for the last qualifying position in the finals.
Committee endorses remaining status quo, in support of other FHSAA policies regarding tie-breakers.

A.3. Review FHSAA Track & Field Regulations Manual
a. HJ/PV Regional Champ gets preferred position when tied with entering heights.
The committee agreed that this is the correct procedure and that it should be clarified in the regulations manual under 20.056(b)(page 28).
b. Review 7.031 for State Finals
Committee discussed that the wording of 7.031 was correct. The committee would like to see this information repeated to in the State Series Section (page 27, 20.055). This was also supported through communications received from Mr. Jay Getty.
c. Running event regulations
Committee agreed that the manual needs to correctly address Class 1A and 2A in running the 400m as a finals only heat under 20.042(b).
d. Regional host
When the manual converted to the smaller version, the information regarding Regional Championship trophies was omitted; staff will correct this in the next manual.

B. Track Recommendations (Effective 2003-04)

RECOMMENDATION #1
Item: Certified Officials
Recommendation: At state championship competition, all events must be officiated by certified officials, with at least one FHSAA certified official for each event if available.
Motioned by Penney, and seconded by Lowenstein.
TkAC 1st Rdg: 8-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Rdg: 6-0 Support
TkAC 2nd Rdg: 6-0 Approve (9/04/03)
ADAC 2nd Rdg: 8-0 Support (9/10/03) Comment: AD’s support the concept of coaches becoming certified/registered FHSAA track and field officials. FACA and FHSAA should collaborate on maximizing the potential of registering coaches at the FACA meeting.

RECOMMENDATION #2
Item: Student officials
Recommendation: No high school student may work at any state series meet in a “decision-making” capacity.
Motioned by Lowenstein, and seconded by Raleigh.
TkAC 1st Rdg: 8-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Rdg: 6-0 Support
TkAC 2nd Rdg: 6-0 Approve (9/4/03)
ADAC 2nd Rdg: 8-0 Support (9/10/03) AD’s comment: This does not exclude students who are capable of assisting with data entry for the timing system, assisting with throwing implements, pit conditions, etc. However, anything that affects results must be administered by an adult.

RECOMMENDATION #3
Item: Track Surface
Recommendation: The preferred surface for the site of all state series meets should be a synthetic or rubber surface.
Motioned by Raleigh, and seconded by Lowenstein.
TkAC 1st Rdg: 8-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Rdg: 6-0 Support
TkAC 2nd Rdg: 6-0 Approve (9/4/03)
ADAC 2nd Rdg: 8-0 Support (9/10/03)

RECOMMENDATION #4
Item: Athletic Trainer Required
Recommendation: It is recommended that the host for all track and field state series competition be responsible for the availability of a certified athletic trainer and/or medical staff.
Motioned by Dodson, and seconded by Littlejohn.
TkAC 1st Rdg: 8-0 Approve
ADAC 1st Rdg: 6-0 Support
TkAC 2nd Rdg: 6-0 Approve (9/4/03)
ADAC 2nd Rdg: 8-0 Support (9/10/03) AD’s comment: Some areas consider the training supplies a meet expense item.

C. Track Recommendations (Effective 2004-05)
There were no recommendations from the committee.

D. FACA Recommendations

RECOMMENDATION #1
Item: Pole Vault Helmets
Recommendation: To implement the use of helmets for all competitors.
Motioned by Lowenstein, and seconded by Dodson.
TkAC 1st Rdg: Deny 6-0
(The committee discussed the current literature on pole vaulting and the use of helmets. The committee believes that they should remain status quo at this point in time, but closely monitor the NFHS research, stance, and recommendations.)

V. Discussion
A. General/Roundtable
1. Relay Cards
Staff expressed concern regarding the proper use of the relay cards. Only “eligible” competitors are to be listed. In essence, an athlete who has already competed in their maximum number of individual events could be “ineligible” if listed on all relay teams. The committee recommends that meet management reviews this relay card procedures at the coaches’ meeting for the state meet.

2. Policy 21/Invitational Events
Staff reminded the committee of the “off-season” policy and that athletes may not represent their school during their school outside its track and field season.

3. Classification of Track and Field Teams
Mr. Harpell, FACA Representative, expressed serious concern on the classification policy on behalf of the coaches in the state. In response to the classification policy, staff presented the committee with a copy of the policy as found on page 81 of the Handbook. There is great concern from coaches regarding on how track and field classifications were derived and why they were limited to only four classifications. The committee also discussed Mr. Bryan’s concern regarding the classes, but had no recommendation due to present policy.

4. Hy-Tek and Failure to Participate
Staff informed the committee of its plans to standardize the coding used when reporting hy-tek results, i.e. DNF, DNS, SCR, etc. Next year a coding system will be disseminated to all regional hosts so that those athletes who fail to participate will be easily identified.

5. NFHS Questionnaire
Staff reviewed the questionnaire with the committee and reminded them to please follow through when asked to participate.

VI. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.