New Scoring or Bad PV Meet Guy?

[Fo_Sheezy]

So today we had a meet…and I thought I did decent compared to some of the other girls because I only had 1 scratch and they all had 2 or more. But somehow I got 5th place. The guy who scored PV said that when people scratch out on the same height, instead of counting the # of sctratches, he looked at the height we all scratched out at (7’6â€Â

[KYLE ELLIS]

It goes to the previous height, so it really doesnt matter if you have a couple misses early. If those two grils missed twice at every bar till 7'6 then made it on there first, and you made all the early bars on your first and made 7'6 on your second attempt, they would win. (hypothetically) the number of misses doesnt matter, just the last miss. So every bar you pretty much start clean...

[rebelvaulter]

That's not the way we do it... we count the TOTAL number of misses, and if there is a tie then it goes to who missed the most at the last height...

[skycock]

this is the correct way, or at least what is in the rule book: if the last bar is cleared by two or more people on the same attempt each, then the previous bar is looked at. if that bar is cleared by these vaulters on the same attempt, then and only then are total scratches calculated. if the vaulters have the same amount of total scratches and cleared the last two bars on the same attempts, a tie will be awarded unless it is for a first place finish which then a vault-off will take place beginning at the last height cleared.

[Cpvault]

Skycock, you're right. I just looked at my official rule book, and that's how I understand it.

[rebelvaulter]

Is that for high school or college or both?

[VerticalAssault]

ART.2
b.
1. the competitor with the fewest number of trials for the height at which the tie occurs i.e. the last height successfully cleared , shall be awarded the higher place.
2. If the tie still remains the competitor with the fewest total number of unsuccessful trials throughtout the competition, up to and including the height last cleared, shall be awarded the higher place.

NFHS 2003 Rules Book
meaning the last height cleared, if both do it on the same attempt, then you count the total number of misses throught out the competition. Not the next height. Passes don't count as misses.

[Vaultref]

this is the correct way, or at least what is in the rule book: if the last bar is cleared by two or more people on the same attempt each, then the previous bar is looked at. if that bar is cleared by these vaulters on the same attempt, then and only then are total scratches calculated. if the vaulters have the same amount of total scratches and cleared the last two bars on the same attempts, a tie will be awarded unless it is for a first place finish which then a vault-off will take place beginning at the last height cleared.

if you would, I'd like to see such a rule reference for this unique way of tie-breaking.
Point being is it is not correct for any of the rule codes and as such should be disregarded.

[Vaultref]

[quote="Fo_Sheezy"]So today we had a meet…and I thought I did decent compared to some of the other girls because I only had 1 scratch and they all had 2 or more. But somehow I got 5th place. The guy who scored PV said that when people scratch out on the same height, instead of counting the # of sctratches, he looked at the height we all scratched out at (7’6â€Â

[belmore]

vaultref is correct in his example. It is important in competition to clear with fewer misses at each bar, first clearances really count in a tight comp. One thing I would like to point out about pole vault officials and track officials in general, these people are volunteers. There are few officials that get paid to do this, most are good hearted teachers and parents and coaches that love track and field or kids and volunteer their time. In the vault, with all it's idiosyncrisies, the vaulter will know the rules better than that volunteer official, or should. All vaulters should either download the USATF rule book or shell out the 10 buck or so for the nfhsa rule book. This is actually a safety concern, vaulters should take the responsibility to check that the standards are zeroed properly and that the pit is up to safety standards listed in the rules. It also makes for a better competition if the athletes and the officials are on the same page. The officials should be "invisible", they're just there to insure a level playing field, if the athletes are knowlegable in the rules and understand them, the spotlight is on the athlete and not the officials. You youth vaulters get the rule books and be ready to help at your meets, talk your parents into helping out. Everyone on this board should be certified officials and be willing to help out at local meets. Wouldn't that be great? All the vaulters and parents just on this internet meeting place take the time to take the simple test to be certified officials and volunteer at meets, help out athletes by giving them a safe and level playing field, meets would proceed quicker and with less controversy. Vaulters, treat your officials with a little respect, make sure you know your rules and ask questions when you're in doubt. Y'all jump high