Safety & Safety & Common Sense Common Sense

in the in the ThrowsThrows

VHSL & USATFVHSL & USATFRules Clinics

Updated Winter 2009

Joe Showker, Virginia USATF Special thanks for oversight and contributions to:

Bill Boyd, Virginia USATF Safety

George Kleenan, USATF National Rules Chair

Mark Heckel, National Throws Coaches Assoc.

www.valleytrack.org/officials/officials.html

Just anotherMeet?

We cannot be too careful!read story

A SuccessfulA SuccessfulCompetitionCompetition

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance..that goes for the officials

•No one gets hurt•Performances are accurately measured•Athletes compete under the rules

Pre-competitionPre-competition

When possible, use VHSL or USATF certified officials.

We NEED MORE Certified OFFICIALS as it frees up the coach

to do their job.

OFFICIALS control the

competitionareas

The event official will dictate when

- , warm ups begin , when they end and when the area will be

.cleared

Pre-competitionPre-competitionArrive at event 90 minutes prior to published time with open circle warmups at 30 minutes. Designate a coach to supervise if the judge is not present. Follow pre-meet table.

INSPECT THE AREA FOR SAFETY

Get the “Lay of the land”•How do you get to the throwing areas?•Is there a coaches box?•Create the athletes restricted area if not marked.•What conditions or ground rules may be in effect

that will effect the event?•Know where the warm-up area is, if any

If you see a potential hazard that has not been addressed, SAY SOMETHINGSAY SOMETHING!

Pre-meet Timetable:1-Safety Check - Sector Zones2-Inventory/Calibrate3-Organize Crew4-Warm-up Requirements5-Competitor Briefing

Pre-competitionPre-competitionINSPECT THE IMPLEMENTS to

the proper specs and the age group

level prior to competition, then again

if the implement comes in contact with a

hard surface (cage, building, rocks) or

breaks a record.

Check implements for loose or damaged pieces, “burrs” non-smooth edges, loose core plugs or plates, wires/handles/straps on hammer and weight implements. Rubber discus have a unique set of conditions that render them illegal.

Impound and store implements that do not comply with certification standards.

Be prepared to defend your decisions with a rule or case book, and accurate measurements.

Certify your scales each year for accuracy and

Retain the paperwork record verifications

Illegal equipment can show up in any high school event

Pre-competitionPre-competition

If the cage, netting, sector, or landing area is unsafe, you must make it safe for competition or the event should NOT be run.

Landing zones must be made

safe if spectators or athletes are

present.

Long jumpers at high risk!

ShortFrontCagesAreDangerousAndLiability MagnetsIn a court of law.

A painted ring shouldbe CLEARLY visible

Pre-competitionPre-competition

Huge Potential Danger area with

high school cages

where there are no panels or

shortened fronts

Warrant Extra

care and extra warning markers during

competition

Danger

PotentialDanger

Cautionary

Cage with short face panels

Zones of SafetySafestCautionaryPotential DangerDanger

Pre-competitionPre-competition

Athletic administrators

May need to upgrade

Or

Purchase

New Cages

To Avoid

Injury & Litigation

ThrowSector

InjurySector

ReducedWith

DeeperFront Panels

4-5 ft.from Cageto SectorLine

Pre-competitionPre-competition

Potential Danger

Is drastically reduced

With deep, extended cage panels.

If the cage is short paneled or short in height,

the Cautionary area becomes a Potential Danger area

And

MUST be streamered and protected

Danger

PotentialDanger

Cautionary

Safest

Zones of SafetySafestCautionaryPotential DangerDanger

Cage with deep, extended panels

Pre-competitionPre-competition

The condition of the cage, netting and supports is vital to the safety of the gallery and nearby athletes.

Check for holes and poorly anchored connections.

Drooping Net

Broken Support

Short front cage

Poorly kept netting Pre-competitionPre-competition

Worst Case Scenario…

Injury was to thrower

sitting on a bench…

Located about where the crowd is.

Keep athletes in

safe areas!

Pre-competitionPre-competition

Restricted area for competitors with NO electronics. YellowYellow police tape helps designate competition area.

Check-in for ALL flights must occur prior to the beginning of the event, NOT by flights.

The event has started with the first throw. No check-ins in high school after the event has begun.

Keep the gallery separated from the athletes

Pre-competitionPre-competition

“Most injuries in the throws occur during warm-upsand between flights.”

The Head Judge is in charge. He/she has a duty to inform the athletes of ALL the basics including:

•When warm-ups begin and end.

•Implement retrieval- use the “Salvo” method for long throws if short handed

•Shot – “SSR” – Same Side Return

•Discus/hammer – “check’em at the door”

•Javelin – the “box method” when warming up with short throws

Pre-competitionPre-competition

Inform the athletes in a pre-throw briefing:•Safety considerations•Uniforms (check during warm-ups)•Fouls - including time fouls•How to enter and leave the circle•Prelim & Finals details•Check-out/Excusal procedures•Electronics - restricted areas•Sportsmanship•Record protocol if needed

The first and last thing you tell the competitors is:“Never turn your back on the circle”

Unbelievable!

Pre-competitionPre-competition

Do not anchor netting too tight nor tied directly to poles. Allow the loose net to absorb the throw energy.

Officials, tape pullers, and athletes should stand CLEAR of netting as implements thrown into the net will extend past the posts.

Make sure all netting anchor points aresecure and properly connected.

Be ReadyBe Readyfor Surprises!for Surprises!

New techniques, short cuts, and situations outside the rules will

test your knowledge of the rules.

Watching warm-ups is called “preventative officiating”.

During During CompetitionCompetition

•NEVER turn your back to the circle or the runway!

•NEVER FORGET RULE #1

•KEEP your eyes on the circle, even when separated by a cage.

“Cages are designed to dissipate the energy of the implement – they may not be able to stop it!”

Mark Heckel-NTCA

http://www.mach2k.net/ntca/safety

During During CompetitionCompetition

How safe are those in the gallery should a spinner lose the implement out to the side during a throw?

Is this cage & netting safe?

Develop an Eye for Trouble.

During competitionDuring competition& between flights& between flights

Trouble indoorsfollows athletes and

spectators

How could streamers or

physical barriers improve these situations?

How could common sensecommon sense improve these

situations?

Indoor events can be more dangerous

than outdoors!

Accurate Accurate MeasurementsMeasurements

IncorrectCorrect

A tape puller pulls the tape across the circle

Measure throws properly by Nat’l Federation or USATF/NCAA rules:

Discus - lesser inch, lesser centimeter

Shot - lesser 1/4 inch, lesser centimeter

Measure throws accurately on inner edge of the circle or toe board...bisecting the circle across a center point in the circle.

A tape puller pulls the tape across the circle. Do NOT step in the circle if there is any debris, grass or grit on

your feet.

MeasurementMeasurementAccuracy Accuracy con’tcon’t

Have ADULT markers in sector stand in to view the implement landing perpendicular to flight (off to the side).

Teach them how to track the landing and mark the implement.

Use two markers in sector (one with tape and sticker, the other with a pin or stake).

Coaches of competitors should not be judges nor markers, especially in championship meets.

Measure the mark correctly.

Outer ring is the splash markInner ring is the actual measured mark

ThrowDirection

MeasurementMeasurementAccuracy Accuracy con’tcon’t

A good official knows

where the foul spots

are and watches closely

Don’t call what you Think you saw.

Call what you knowYou saw.

Or

Make No Call

FoulOr

No Call?

Measurements Measurements and Recordingand Recording

No students in sector marking or holding tape.

Throw marks should be recorded by an official

OTHER than the person reading the tape.

Have 2 recorders if possible

in scored or championship meets.

“Redundancy”

VERIFY ALL meet records with the head field referee or meet referee.

MeasurementMeasurementSafety!Safety!

Use a back saver device to insure accuracy, and control of the tape.

Retrievers stand to side of sector, and run the implement back in. Competitors should NOT retrieve implements at any time. During warm-ups, allow several throws, close the circle, then retrieve while no throws are being made.

Allow the tape puller at the circle to roll out enough slack so as not to jerk the marker backwards (losing sight of the mark) or get hit by a discus. A second marker with pin or peg marks the spot until tape marker arrives at spot.

Sector Safety & AccuracySector Safety & Accuracy

3

5 5

Spectators Competitors

Areas must bewell protected,& well marked,

10 ft.MinimumFromBannerTo SectorLine

3-5-3Triangle =34.92degrees

The safest place for spectatorsand competitors is behind the circle.

Safety common sense and proper implementation Safety common sense and proper implementation of the rules affects all eventsof the rules affects all events

Standards - worn non-compliant foam

Sharp jagged edged bases

No reference mark for standardsStandards aligned with the front of the mat

Non-padded unyielding wooden pallets

A SuccessfulA SuccessfulCompetitionCompetition

Track and Field encourages life skills development.•Meet officials - transparent & forgotten.•Athletes are watchful and remain safe•ALL grow through competition•Patrons enjoy the thrill of victory/agony of defeat

www.valleytrack.org/officials/officials.html