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NFHS Rule 7-5 Article 16 regarding, passing 3 or more heights and receiving a 2 minute warm-up, and entering the competition. Does not supersede Article 15 which allows a competitor to pass any attempt. After you take your 2 min. warm-up you have entered the competition and may not have another 2 min. warm-up, but you can still pass, even the height after your warm-up. From Becky Oates of NFHS: when the vaulter took the warm-up which is directly related to "entering the competition" that vaulter is now entered. He/she may pass but the vaulter no longer has the option for the two minutes of warm-up.

Are the comments by Becky Oakes officially published somewhere? If so, would you please tell us where?

ART. 16 . . . A pole vault competitor(s) who has passed three consecutive
heights and has not entered the competition should be permitted two minutes of warm-up jumps per
the number of competitors entering at that height without the crossbar in place. The competitor(s)
shall enter the competition at that height.
Such warm-up must be taken at a height change.

The way I read this, you must take a jump at the height you took your 2 minutes of warm up. That is what constitutes entering the competition.

Consider this. If the simple act of taking 2 minutes of warm up constitutes "...enter the competition..", then there is no need in the rule for having the statement "The competitor(s) shall enter the competition at that height." as it has already been achieved by definition.

There is need for both statements: "has not entered the competition" and "shall enter the competition". Taking your two-minute warm-up is what enters you. The rule isn't written that clearly, I don't think the writer anticipated the issue that a competitor might want to take their warm-up and continue to pass. But I think Ms.Oakes correctly determined that Article 15 supersedes, that is, you never give up your right to pass. She may have also determined that there is no unfair advantage/disadvantages involved in interpreting the rule this way. Pole vault is unusual in the sports world in that its one of the few sports where the better athlete is put at a disadvantage. This rule interpretation does a little to help alleviate that disadvantage.

Ms. Oates interpretation was in an e-mail sent to Tom McTaggart NYS T&F Rules Interpreter.

I was able to convince a great vault official named Jim Glinsky to contact our Section V Representative Ed Stores who contacted Tom McTaggart who contacted Becky Oates (have to stay in the chain of command . I guess you can try a similar path in your own state.

A side note, I believe her name is Oakes. https://nfhs-trackfield.arbitersports.c ... 05416/Site

If you would like to read an email trail regarding this, you can go here:
http://socat-trackofficials.org/e107_pl ... ic.php?157

Thanks for posting those emails. It is nice to read the exact wording of the people involved.

I think it sounds like a fair interpretation and makes sense. As long as the vaulter doesn't push for an extra warmup time, who cares when they take it.