weight rule procedures and enforcement

[Russ]

I want to know what different states are doing to check hs vaulters' weights. Are they having you weigh in pre-season for a nurse/coach who then certifies your weght? Are they having you weigh in on the track prior to each meet? The NFHS rules leave it up to the individual states, so I'm curious to know what you hs vaulters are being asked to do where you live.

Thanks.

[Oldcoach]

Here in Indiana it is typical that no one checks weights or pole sizes until we get to our state tournament series(sectional,regional, state). At the sectional and regional level a coach has to supply a vaulter weight and a list of pole weights for each vaulter and then sign the paper.(at this level I have seen some guys that would appear to be using poles somewhat under their weight). At the state level they weigh in the vaulters and check and mark their poles. My personal experience.

[lonestar]

In Texas, no one checks at any of the local or district meets. Texas Relays and State Meet weigh in, inspect the poles with severe anal retentiveness to the point that if the pole tip isn't "glued on", they won't allow you to use your pole - yeah, they like to make up their own rules. Then they color code your number and pole with multicolored electrical tape.

At UIL regionals in San Antonio, they have the coach sign a paper with the athletes weight and the pole weights on it, then they inspect the poles to verify they're the same, and put a color coded sticker dot on them.

At TAPPS (private school) State meet, they have them weigh in and if they're over the weight, the coach and parents can sign a waiver saying they won't hold the university or officials liable in the event of breakage and/or injury.

I think the whole rule is pretty stupid to begin with. It's easily breakable, time-consuming to enforce, and doesn't guarantee safety. Pass a rule requiring people to land in the middle of the pit and you'll accomplish something.

[Russ]

Okay, that takes care of Texas and Indiana. What's going on in the other 46 where the high school pole vault is being contested?

I, for one, think that we really need to revisit this rule. After all it is supposed to be a rule designed to improve safety. If no one is checking except for the state championship level meets, maybe the rule having much of an effect anyway. Besides, should the rule even apply if the vaulter isn't even bending the pole?

Please, let's here from other states too. What are the officials doing, if anything, to check the pole weight ratings and your body weight?

[Russ]

Sorry, in my last post I have a typo, I meant to add the word ISN'T in that sentence:

"If no one is checking except for the state championship level meets, maybe the rule ISN'T having much of an effect anyway."[/i][/b]

[Aviendha]

well, i haven't gone past districts, but all thats done at any meet i've been to is they ask what the rating is on ur pole, and what ur weight is...they sometimes actually look at the weight on the pole, but plenty of ppl lie about their weight to use a smaller pole... i agree with u russ about not worrying about it unless the pole is bending but also only if ur holding at the end...i'm using a 12' 120, which is like 7 pounds under, but i'm holding almost a foot down, so actually its stiffer than my body weight...i wish i had a pole that was the right size...my school supposedly ordered one, but it hasn't showed up yet...although i did find a tube in our storage shed, unopened, that we all thought was empty until we actually took it out and realized there was still something in it...haven't had a chance to open it yet...it had to have appeared recently because we cleaned out the shed and threw away most if not all of those cardboard tubes...i think we still had tubes for every single pole the school had ever bought...and wow...i just completely rambled on about something not even related to the topic of this thread...

[rainbowgirl28]

I was never weighed in high school. I went to a 1A school in WA. At the B/1A/2A State Meet, they have not weighed vaulters in recent years, only required a sheet with the signature of the coach and maybe the AD, verifying the vaulter's weights.

I know one district actually weighed the vaulters because a girl was disqualified at her district meet for being over the weight rating on her pole.

I don't know if they weigh them at any of the major invitationals or the 3A/4A state meet.

When I was in Florida last year, they weighed the kids at one of the district meets. They actually had the scale set up near the pit and everything.

[Fo_Sheezy]

We hardly ever get weighed. We got weighed at a small invite last year and a really large invite. They don't even weigh us at districts OR regionals. I got cheated out of states last year, but I am sure they got weighed there.
The coach submits a form with our weight on it and when we check in, they check our weight against the weight of the pole. Its like an honor system; unfortunately though, a lot of people lie. Its sad to think that coaches are involved in this. Everyone should have enough sense to not be over the weight of their pole, and the officials should have enough courage to tell a girl who looks about 160 that she doens't weigh 130, and yes, I have seen this all happen before.

[Vaultref]

Whether all sections in NY actually follow this proceedure this is another question in itself, but what should be happening is this.

The vaulter is to present a form with some key information on it such as the vaulters name, school, date, pole information which includes the pole rating and the vaulters body weight. It is signed by various levels of school administration or athletic department staff such as the AD or coach and of course, the vaulter.

This form is presented to the official PRIOR to warmups along with all poles the vaulter might be using during the event.
Those poles are checked against the form and inspected for legal taping and position of a handhold band.
For the most part, taping has been good, but there are plenty that have so many rolled down layers, its like having a handle on the pole. Others have tried to present poles with no hand hold band or the .75 inch numerals for the pole rating. We correct those on the fly so to speak and provide some education on the topic. This requirement has been around since 1995. USATF (Youth) has added this weight verification to this years rules, so beware at USATF level meets. Officials should be checking something from here on out.

Weigh-Ins are sometimes required at major meets, such as a state qualifier or the state meet itself, but in general not at dual meets or weekend invitationals. The form is a legal document that can be used in case of any problem.
A major delimina is when the vaulters weight equals the pole rating. I'd guess that unless the vaulter was just weighed by the coach that day, that many of them are over the rating. The onus is on the coach provide correct information and safe conditions. They signed the form saying so.

I have a gut feel that weigh-ins will be done more often during the season as time moves on.

[lonestar]

Those poles are checked against the form and inspected for legal taping and position of a handhold band.
For the most part, taping has been good, but there are plenty that have so many rolled down layers, its like having a handle on the pole.

I never could understand the purpose of this rule. Does more than 2 layers really provide any advantage? The rule also states that the vaulter can use chalk or sticky subtances to improve their grip - how is that any different? I say, whatever helps the vaulter to hold on is safer. Ever see a pole fly out of a vaulter's hand in mid-bend?

Personally, I don't like a lot of tape on the pole, but I could care less if someone taped knots on the pole because I fail to see how it could create an unfair advantage.

[bjvando]

Just to let everyone know, in Southern California, at the CIF ( post regular season) meets, officials are going to be measuring each pole to make sure that it matches the "etched" in pole length, and on top of that, all vaulters are going to have to weigh in as well. Anyone that knows So-Cal CIF Prelims, knows that this meet takes long enough WITHOUT all these rules, let see how long it takes now...

All vaulters that jump on cut-off poles can thank a certain Southern California coach that moved each of the 6" weight labels, UP to 3" from the top of the pole. Altering the pole, which is illegal. Since this accusation( which i found out personally is true) the CIF committee is coming down very had on all the pole vaulters in CA. I am not against cutting poles( although technically illegal), if used properly. I believe that if a coach that is cutting off poles to benefit one of his vaulters, then that coach must know what he is doing, so it is therefore acceptable( in my opinion), its those coaches that cut down an old 16' pole to a 12' ft. pole because they didnt have a pole for a beginner, that makes it unsafe.... but im not here to start another "cut-poole" riot... these are just my 2 cents....

jump high

[ashcraftpv]

In Illinois, you were required to hand a sheet with all your vaulters weights to the event judge. At the state meet, they weighed all of the vaulters prior to competition.

Nothing like that here so far in WA. I think we are supposed to have some form of a paper with weights on it, but i have not been informed of any such rule as of yet.