State AA Track & Field Championships
Joe Curcio – Meet Director Staunton River H.S.
Joe Carico – Athletic Director Harrisonburg H.S.
THE COACHES MEETING
Welcome to the State Meet!
Introductions: Directors, Games Committee, Jury of Appeals, Referee, Starter, Head Field Judge
Gate Passes: Upon your first entry to the stadium, we will stamp your athlete’s number and hand. This will allow your Athlete to leave the stadium and return as needed. Coaches using the Coaches name tag(s) in your team packet will have their hand and tag stamped when entering the gate for the first time. As per VHSL Policy and announced in the State Meet Information, your team packet contains (1)ONE coach’s tag if your school has 5 or fewer athletes entered in the meet; or has (2)TWO coach’s tags if your school has more than 5 athletes entered. Coaches, athletic directors and principals using the VHSCA, VSHSADA and VHSL membership cards (with driver’s license) will be processed at the admission gate and have their hand stamped. It is advised by meet management to utilize your VHSCA Membership if you have large staffs with your team today. Other staff members who do not have name tags will be required to pay admission to the meet.
Appealing: The Jury of Appeals (Regional Representatives from Region’s I, II, III & IV) will review all appeals. Please review the Rule Book as to what is appealable. By rule, no appeals will be accepted 30 minutes after the event results have been posted at the press box.
Appeals: An appeals form is included in your team packet. This sheet must be completed in full and submitted to you Regional Representative. Any decisions by the Meet Referees which you wish to appeal will be done through the Jury of appeals. Extra forms may be obtained through your Regional Representative.
Scratches: Scratching an athlete in any running event will disqualify the athlete from all subsequent running events. If scratched from a field event, the athlete is disqualified from only that field event. If you have any scratches please complete the scratch form (found in you coaches packet) and turn in to your regional representative prior to the start of the first event on Friday (5:00 PM) or by (9:30 AM) Saturday morning if you do not have athletes competing on Friday.
Infield & Competition Areas: The infield is restricted to competing athletes, officials, meet workers and members of the working press. NO COACHES are allowed on the infield unless requested by meet management. Other competition areas are marked throughout the stadium and throwing areas with streamers. Consult your rulebook for unique rules for competition vs non-competition areas. Inside the 4ft. fence is competition area.
Coaches Box: There will be a coaches box for the Pole Vault and a small one behind the shot put area. One coach PER SCHOOL is allowed in the box during the competition as long as the athlete is still competing. Coaches of finished athletes should leave the coaches box when finished. The electronics /cellphone/video ban is ACTIVE in the coaches box. The coaches box IS IN THE COMPETITION AREA.
Video Ban
Wireless Communication: According to National Federation Rules, no wireless, communication devices can be used during the meet by coaching staffs. No such devices are allowed inside the stadium. Only those allowed are for Meet Management. This includes coaches and athletes using cell phones and/or ipods in a competitive area. NOTE: If you must carry a cell phone with you today, the ring function should be silenced when you are in the stadium. Please assist us in this request…a ringing cell phone can be very distraction to competing athletes.
Uniforms: No jewelry, hats or headbands. Consult you rule book for further clarification. Special permission (letter from your school principal) must be turned in at the Coaches’ Meeting if you have athletes who qualify for the uniform exception! Please turn this form in to your Region Representative. Reminder – ONE WATCH is permitted.
Spike Sales: Spikes will be on sale throughout the meet at the team check-in table. (The price is $2.00 for a package of 12 spikes). Legal spikes must not be longer than ¼” pyramid maximum. HHS has directed us that the ¼” rule applies to all shoe types.
Color Code – Preferred Lanes: See sheet in your team packet for information on track marking colors and preferred lanes.
Five Alive: This procedure may be used if necessary in both the high jumps and pole vault.
Warm-up: Athletes my use the visitors side straightaway of the track during field events. Except for the hurdles, no warm ups on the press box side of the stadium. Hurdlers may warm-up on the straight-away prior to the trials for the hurdles. Field event competitors need to stay out of the infield until called by the announcer for their event recognition.
Reporting to the Bull Pen: The Bull Pen is located just at the beginning of the straight away near the third turn.
Bull Pen Check In & Check Out Rule: Do not check out of a field event until 1st call has been made for your running event. Be present in the Bull Pen by second call when roll call is taken. AN ATHLETE MAY LEAVE THE BULL PEN ONCE CHECKED IN AND RETURN TO A FIELD EVENT AS LONG AS THEY ARE AT THE STARTING LINE FOR THEIR RACE. A finish Clerk will accompany athletes to the starting line after 3rd call is made. Use the gate at the Bull Pen end of the track to report to the Bull Pen. Please remain in the Bull Pen and off of the Track Surface during the running of races. A marshal, inspector or clerk may be present to assist athletes.
Field Event Check out Rule: Athletes wishing to check out should inform the head judge when they are leaving. The athlete has 15 minutes from the checkout time to return to the event to take a trial or pass. The beginning of the finals will NOT be held up for a checked out athlete. In vertical jumps the bar WILL BE raised when all active competitors have cleared the current height. Checked out athletes may return to find the bar has been raised in their absence.
Tents: Tents will be allowed on the hill side around the bleachers on the Press Box side of the Stadium. Tents will not be allowed in the bleachers. Tents must be placed so they do not interfere with site lines from the bleachers or Press Box. Tents must be secured so that they are not affected by the wind.
Scoring & Awards: The Virginia High School League awards medals to the top eight (8) finishers in each event. Scoring will also be based on the top eight: 10-8-6-4-3-2-1 NOTE: Please remind athletes to be in their Team Uniform or warm-up; no hats, etc. when they are accepting medals in the awards area in order to give the “best public appearance”.
Relay: No markings may be used on the HHS track surface in the relays! Tongue depressors will be provided by the Games Committee and will be the only marking system. See your Regional Representative or the Meet Referee if you need tongue depressors for you relay team. When filling out your relay cards make sure you INCLUDE your athlete’s number beside his/her name.
Implement Certification: All throwing implements will be weighed and inspected. Discus’ (especially rubber) will not be certified if its edges are below minimum thickness or are rough, flat or textured. This may include new implements. Implements certification will begin at 3:45 on Friday and 8:15 on Saturday. Please tell your athletes to be prompt.
Sportsmanship/Properly Equipped Certification: All coaches need to complete the equipment and sportsmanship certification form (one form for your boy’s team, one form for your girl’s team) that is found in your coaches packet. This form must be turned in to your Regional Representative prior to the start of the first event on Friday evening (5:00 PM) or by (9:30 AM) Saturday morning if you do not have athletes competing on Friday. It is recommended that this form be turned in immediately following the Coaches meeting.
Coaches Meeting: Please fill out the coaches comments slip and voting ballot with any of your comments, suggested improvement, etc. and return to your Regional Representative or a member of the Games committee before leaving or mail to.
Virginia High School League, Inc.
1642 State Farm Boulevard
Charlottesville, VA 22911