What to do

[ACvault]

Hi, I'm a sophomore at my high school and my current PR is 9'0 which I did in indoor this year. I use a 140 UCS spirit, and it is a 12 foot pole, and I weigh 132. I had a meet invitational yesterday and the opening was 9'0. At pole inspection the official said I could not use my pole because there was a small crack at the top. He then gave me a 140 UCS spirit, 11'6 in height. I held at the top of this pole but was unable to clear. On the 12 foot pole I regulary use I hold right near the top. So right now I need to decide if I need a new pole. Also, I cannot bend the 140 I usually use, any advice for that would be helpful as well.

[rainbowgirl28]

A small crack at the top? That's not going to affect your pole. Lots of poles get banged up at the top from hitting the standards and whatnot. You don't hold that high and the pole doesn't bend there, so as long as the crack is not spreading down into the pole, it shouldn't be a problem.

I didn't think there was any rule that allowed officials to disqualify poles for something like that???

[higherflyer]

I agree no official can say whether you can use a pole or not based on its condition.
like RGB said it will not affect the pole.
i think that 80% of my poles have a crack at the top.
next time have them show you the rule in the rule book and do not take no for an answer, get the head official if you have a problem.

This has happend twice this year an Un-official that was running the pv said that it is a miss if you exit the pit under the cross bar. i told them no it wasn't and he didn't even argue.
wow people sure like to make up rules