05/09/23 – Reminders about Regional Track & Field Meets

May 9, 2023 Track and Field Blog Updates

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE

We want to remind Athletic Directors and coaches about the strict time schedule at postseason track & field meets. Throughout the regular season, we realize that many athletes are competing in a rolling schedule style meet. However, both the regional and state track meets are structured to be held to a specific time schedule. With the state meet taking at-large qualifiers, it is important that all 21 regions adhere to a strict time schedule to ensure competitive fairness for the at-large qualifiers attempting to advance to the state meet. With the regional schedule, coaches should prepare athletes to communicate with meet personnel and check-in/check-out of each event. Athletes should arrive to the clerk for running events no later than second call. The games committee has determined that athletes who check-out to compete in a running event have 12 minutes from the completion of that event to return to check-in. 

Managers are required to ensure that the regional meets adhere to the posted time schedule. Running events cannot start before the published scheduled time. This allows for the same amount of rest for all athletes competing across the state when qualifying for at-large positions.

It is critical for coaches to assume the appropriate scheduling role in entering athletes. While rolling schedule meets (and cafeteria-style events) in the regular season may allow for athletes to compete in a variety of events, it simply may not be feasible to enter that same number of events in a timed postseason meet. This is one example of the myriad of decisions coaches are required to make, and coaches must make them wisely, to ensure a positive experience for the athletes and the entire team.

Coaches, it is also very important that you speak with your athletes about the schedule prior to the meet, particularly those that are in multiple field events, or a combination of field and running events. Athletes and coaches must know the appropriate rules regarding check-out (and in) and MUST COMMUNICATE continually with meet officials (particularly the head judge of each event) to ensure a smooth transition if necessary to report to another event. The games committee has determined appropriate time limits for competitors excused to compete in another event but it is the athlete’s responsibility to adhere to check-in requirements. Athletes must check back in with the head judge upon return to the event. This is very important, so please discuss this procedure with your athletes.

LANE RACES

• Includes the 100-200-400-100 Hurdles-110 Hurdles-300 Hurdles plus 4×100 and 4×200 and 4×400.
• A reminder that at the regional meets, the fast heat must always be full. If someone scratched out of the fast heat, the fastest time in the second heat must be moved up (the lanes do not have to be adjusted they simply go into the vacated lane).
• The fast heat shall be full even if that leaves one competitor in the slow heat.

POLE VAULT/HIGH JUMP 

• All regions shall begin at the same height for the pole vault and high jump events.
• For Pole Vault, the bar will then rise in 6-inch increments. When one vaulter is left, they may determine where they would like the bar.
• For High Jump, the bar will rise in 2-inch increments. When one jumper is left, they may determine where they would like the bar. Starting heights for each event have been set. They are as follows:
  • Girls High Jump – 4’0″
  • Boys High Jump – 5’0″
  • Girls Pole Vault – 6’0″
  • Boys Pole Vault – 7’0”

REGULAR SEASON MEETS

• The KHSAA has also received several inquiries regarding regular-season meets. Schools are not permitted to participate in a regular-season meet after your regional has concluded.
• Please be sure that no school competes in more than 19 meets (which includes indoor) and no meets may be conducted after May 25.

UNIFIED & ADAPTED EVENTS 

• As a reminder, KHSAA will again offer unified and adapted events in the postseason. 
• Athletes must be entered into the regional by the Head Coach, please see this link for instructions on registering your athletes: UNIFIED & ADAPTED ATHLETE ENTRY
• For 2023, each school will be limited to entering a maximum of six (6) unified pairs in each running event (2×50, 2×200, and 4×100) and a maximum of four (4) unified pairs in each field event (long jump and shot put). 
• The KHSAA will also offer three adapted events and here is how those events are to be conducted during the postseason.
• ADAPTED 100m WHEELCHAIR
  • The athlete must utilize a racing wheelchair.
• ADAPTED DISCUS
  • Athletes will have 3 throws in the preliminaries and 3 throws in the finals.
    Boys and girls in the discus division will through the 1 kg discus.
• ADAPTED SHOT PUT
  
  • Athletes will have 3 throws in the preliminaries and 3 throws in the finals.
    Girls in the shot put division will throw the 6 lb shot. Boys in the shot put division will throw the 4 kg shot.
• After the entry deadlines, based upon entries received, heats/divisions/classes will be determined if necessary. 

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 289 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches, and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.