Track & Field Advisory Committee

Minutes
May 18, 2009 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville

I. Purpose and Introductions

The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. Ms. Young reviewed the purpose of the meeting and introductions were made. Committee members in attendance were: Kristin McWilliams, Bishop Kenney, Scott Gowan, Chiles, Jovennie Fray, Trinity Catholic, Jim Lowenstein, Deland, Doug Butler, Holy Trinity Episcopal, Jan Murphy, Palmer Trinity School, Paul Baur, Westminster – Confirmed, Shanell Young, Director of Athletics, M. Denarvise Thornton, Associate Executive Director of Athletics.

II. Dave Holiday was voted Chairman. Motion: Lowenstein, Second: Butler (8-0)

III. Minutes were read over and approved. Motion: Murphy, Second: Lowenstein (8-0)

IV. Review: FHSAA Track and Field Regulations Manual

V. Review: FHSAA State Finals
1. Once again, the committee congratulated Winter Park for hosting the 08-09 Finals. The committee enjoyed both the event and the facility.
2. The online coaches meeting was a great option!
3. They would like to see packet pick up stay open a little later. The committee understands that the packet pick up takes more volunteers to run, and they suggested that the coaches could be subjected for paying for parking, if they didn’t pick up the packets by a certain time (TBD).

VI. Action Items: TKAC Recommendations

2008-09 Recommendations (Effective 2009-10 – June '09 BOD)
A. Rule 207.03 (2) a. Regional Advancement form prelims to finals
Change current rule from: Top four (4) from each heat advance to:
When F.A.T is used, advancement from prelims to finals: Three (3) from each heat and then the next two (2) fastest times.
Rationale: This would help to properly place athletes in the correct lanes when hand times are used in district competition.
Alternative(s): Motioned: Dearing 2nd Lipham
TkAC 1st Rdg. Passed. 7-0 (8/27/07)
ADAC 1st Rdg. Endorsed. (9/5/07)
Motioned: Dearing 2nd Lipham
TkAC 2nd Rdg. Passed. 6-0 (5/19/08)

B. To amend all classes track regular season to extend one (1) week through that classifications district competition. Removed - due to the movement of the stated meet.

C. Move the start date of Track & Field to an earlier date for 2008-2009 and beyond. Recommendation removed due to the implementation of Policy 6.

VII. 2008-09 Recommendations (Effective 2010-11)
C. To reverse the order of seeds to state:
(a) Preliminaries will be conducted in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, Discus Throw and Shot Put. Contestants in these events will be seeded worst to best according to their seed entry. For example: seeds 16 through 9 will be assigned to the first flight and seeds 8-1 will be assigned to the second flight in that order.
Rationale:
1. The better seeds are more prepared and warmer for the finals.
2. Gives the better athletes the opportunity to see all their competition before they compete, which relives additional pressure before they compete.
3. NFHS and College competitions follows the worst to best rule for these events
Alternative(s): Motioned: McWilliams 2nd Butler
Modify and Accept
TkAC 1st Rdg. Passed. 8-0 (5/18/09)
Fast track – Approved (7-0)

VIII. Discussion
New Start Date – With the adoption of Policy 6, the track and field season has been given one week extra on the front end on the season.

Starter gun malfunction – The committee came to the conclusion that this is more of a meet management issue. The meet manager should make sure that the starter is an FHSAA registered official and that they have enough blanks in the starters gun to recall a race immediately if need to.

Time schedule addressing pole vault at district/regions - the committee would like to see the same schedule given for both region meets and state meet. They did state that the schedule could also be facility driven, and they understand how each facility is different and they understand that waivers could be given for time changes.

New state meet time schedule – the committee like the idea of incorporating new start times for some of the events but not an entirely new schedule. They committed that most coaches are satisfied with the current schedule, but would like to see some of the field event start times adjusted. The committee said that they would revisit this at the next meeting.

IX. Roundtable

a. Three alive in the state meet pole vault. NFHS says five alive?
b. Need consistency of prelims in the 400m. Either take away the prelims in the 3A4A or add the prelims in the 1A2A. (5-3 vote taken to add to the 1A2A)
c. False start charged to the field at the state meet, instead of first to the athlete. Gives the athletes the benefit of the doubt when false start (8-0).
d. Uniforms should only have to match for relays. All other events must only have a regulation school issue color matching uniform.
e. Uniforms should not have numbers.

X. Adjournment
The meeting was concluded at 1:06 p.m.