- get the NFHS Rules App here.
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2023
|
- 3-4-3: Offers guidelines for meet referees
when determining a rerun.
Rationale: Defined
specific guidelines from the case book to offer
consistency and guidance to a meet referee when
ruling on reruns.
- 4-2-2: Clarifies that an athlete is
disqualified after participating in more than
four events.
Rationale: The athlete is not
disqualified from an event until the individual
participates in more than four events. The table
was revised and moved to clarify the number of
events in which an athlete may participate
during a meet.
- 5-7-2: Adjusts language to offer a standard
for starter hold times.
Rationale: Standardize
starter hold times for fair and consistent
starts.
- 5-10-2: Increases the number of individuals
who may be listed on the relay entry.
Rationale: Providing two additional names gives
opportunity for more athletes to be involved in
regular and postseason track meets.
- 6-6-4: Clarifies when the javelin measurement
should be taken.
Rationale: The measurement is
made to the first point of contact under Rule
6-6-7 so that should be within the sector. If
the rest of the javelin should fall outside the
sector, that should not be a foul.
- 7-2-2g (NEW): Adds mixed relay to the special
events list.
Rationale: Mixed relays are
becoming more popular at high school meets
adding them to special events offers guidance to
the states on how to conduct these events.
- 9-3-2b: Any displaced or jostled crossbar
should be placed on standards in exact same
position before next attempt.
Rationale: Adding
the words ‘or jostled’ clarifies the intent of
the 2022 rules change.
- Rule 9 (NEW): Creates new indoor track and
field rules section.
Rationale: There are 17
states that conduct state championships in
indoor track and field, over 150,000
participants, and 21 states that sanction the
activity. With recent changes to the outdoor
rules, it became clearer that it was necessary
to create a section specifically for indoor
track and field rules. Move Records Section to
New Rule 10.
|
2022
|
- 4-3-1-b-5: Clarifies that garments with logos
completely around the waistband on uniform
bottoms are legal.
- 4-3-1-b-8 (NEW): Clarifies that religious
head-wear is not considered a hair device.
- 5-3-3: Clarifies when each exchange zone is to
be used.
- 6-2-7 (NEW): Clarifies that running in a
direction other than how the event is conducted
if prohibited in warm-ups with the exception of
the high jump.
- 6-9-9: Clarifies that an athlete is not
penalized for a hat or sunglasses falling in the
pit after they have made their mark.
- 8-1-1-a (NEW NOTE): Clarifies cross country
course markings.
- 9-3-2-b, c (NEW): Clarifies when measurements
for record attempts for vertical jumps needs to
be taken.
|
2021
|
- No rule changes
- No track season due to COVID
|
2020
|
- 4-6-5-g, 8-6-1 Clarifies that a competitor
should not be penalized for helping another
competitor who is distressed or injured when no
advantage is gained by the competitor who is
assisting.
- 5-3-3, 5-3-4, 5-10-6 --> 11 Clarifies that
in the 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay, and other
relays with legs of 200 meters or less, each
exchange zone will be 30 meters long. All
exchange zones for races in excess of 200 m will
remain at 20m.
- 6-2-6 Clarifies that it is illegal to run
backward or in the opposite direction (non-legal
direction) on a horizontal jump, pole vault or
javelin runway.
- 6-3-2-b-4-a This change provides metric
measurements for tie-breaking jump-offs for
vertical jumps.
- 6-9-5 The length of long jump and triple jump
pits constructed after 2019 shall be at least
23ft (7meters).
- 8-1-1 Clarifies that a course should be
clearly marked with any or all of the methods
listed in the rule.
- 8-1-3 Clarifies cross country course layouts.
- OHIO: an athlete may wear a gps watch but may
not use it
|
2019
|
- 4-3-1 states “any visible garment worn
underneath the uniform top and/or bottom is
considered a foundation garment. A foundation
garment is not subject to
logo/trademark/reference or color restrictions.”
- The note on 4-3-2 states: “the official shall
have no uncertainty in determining that all
members are from the same team.”
- 8-3; In CC the torso determines the finish
place regardless of the number of timing chips
used.
- In the long jump, more than one take-off board
may be used during the competition.
|
2018
|
- A uniform does not need to be "school issued"
merely "school approved."
- Added the penalty of disqualification to rules
6-2-10 and 6-2-13.
- The pole vault crossbar now has a range of
approved lengths.
- The duplicate and separate uniform rules for
T&F and CC were combined. All will now
be in Rule 4.
|
2017
|
- Places the responsibility of providing liquids
during competition on the games committee, not
the individual coaches.
- The signal at the beginning of the last lap in
individual races now occurs in race distances of
two laps or more.
- Clarifies that a runner is disqualified by the
starter when charged with a false start.
- Clarifies the mechanics used to confirm the
result of an attempt when flags are not utilized
by calling “fair” or “foul”
- Allows the placement of one American flag on
each item of uniform apparel and deletes NOTE
restricting flag placement
- Adds receiving physical aid by any other
person during a race to the list of unfair acts
of assisting a competitor
- A participant assisting an injured/ill
competitor when an appropriate health-care
professional is not available is no longer
disqualified.
- Establishes the location and spacing of cones,
when used, in the absence of a curb.
- Deletes the requirement of separating
competitors from the same team if they were to
be in the same heat in the first round of
competition.
- Competitors in distance races (800m and
greater distances) use only a standing start,
remaining motionless for the start without their
hand(s) touching the ground.
- Includes how trials are recorded when a legal
implement breaks during competition within the
rule and deletes as a NOTE.
- Clarifies that directional sign posts can be
used with or in place of directional flags in
cross country
- Clarifies the three consecutive passed heights
must take place before the competitor attempts a
jump.
- Clarifies when the two minutes of warm-up
jumps are permitted when a competitor has passed
three consecutive heights with no attempted
jump.
|
2016
|
- The head starter is now responsible for
checking the starting blocks
- Head event judges MAY use red and white flags
to indicate foul and fair trials
- Expands and clarifies definitions of
trial/attempt, flight, round, pass, foul and
what determines the initiation of purposeful
action of completing the specific throwing or
jumping event.
- Establishes a maximum diameter for the boys
and girls indoor shot puts to account for the
synthetic cover.
- Updates size of takeoff board to accepted
sport specifications by recommending it be 8
inches wide, but permits up to 24 inches.
- Permits the use of double boundary lines
marking both the inside and outside boundaries
of the cross country course.
- Recommends the use of a video/photograph
back-up system for cross country when
transponders are used for place finish with a
review activated when the timing system
indicates a one-tenth second or less
differential.
- A finish corral is recommended at cross
country meets in which the transponder system is
used for the order of finish.
|
2015
|
- No jewelry rule
- Jumping and Throwing events; the trial that is
carried to completion must be initiated within
the time limit.
- If an implement becomes illegal during a trial
due to no fault of the athlete, another trial is
given.
- If the trial was completed before the
implement becomes illegal, no additional trial
is awarded.
- Discus and Shot Put; it is not a foul if the
athlete is out of control when exiting the back
half of the circle
- The implement must land before the athlete
leaves the back half of the circle
- Discus and Shot Put; the event judge does not
have to call "Mark"
- High Jump and Pole Vault: "a crossbar
displaced by a force disassociated with the
competitor after he/she is legally and clearly
over the crossbar shall not be a fault and is
considered a successful attempt.”
|
2014
|
- Coaches/Athletes using electronics to
influence an official's decision, results in
their disqualification.
- OHSAA manual is online only.
- Introduced "foundation garment" that does not
fall under uniform rule.
- Stitching on undergarments is of no
consideration any more.
- The use of electronic communication devices is
permitted during meets in unrestricted areas and
coaches boxes; however, they may not be used for
any review of a referee’s decision or to
communicate with an athlete during a race or
trial.
- In the pole vault, per Ohio modification, the
Head Vault official, as well as the field
referee or head field judge, may verify the
legality of poles
|
2013
|
- Relay; both runners shall not touch the baton
outside the exchange zone
- No cartwheel technique in shot put
- Added time limits for consecutive attempts
- PV range of standards is now 18" to 31.5"
|
2012
|
- The referee's authority begins upon arrival at
the meet and concludes 30 minutes after final
results have been made official.
- Undergarment stitching of contrasting color is
legal if stitching is for the actual seam
- Races of 800m or more, the athletes must place
themselves 3m behind the starting line
- Other than the competitor, no person shall be
allowed to touch the vaulting pole to prevent
the pole from dislodging the crossbar
- CC measurements of the course shall be along
the shortest possible route.
|
2011
|
- Unsporting conduct by spectator is
responsibility of meet director
- Allows bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips no
longer than 2"
- Jewelry rule; 1st violation leads to team
warning, not disqualification
- Rule 4-4 clarifies rules on braces, casts,
padding, prostheses, concussions and for
modifications due to medical or religious
reasons
- The head event judge may change the order of
competition and permit successive trials
- It is no longer a miss if the bar is displaced
and there is equipment malfunction.
- PV competitor has passed three consecutive
heights and has not entered the competition
should be permitted two minutes of warmu-up
jumps per number of competitors entering without
the crossbar. The competitors shall enter
the competition at that height. Such
warm-ups must be taken at a height change.
(Rule 7-5-16)
- Ohio: Field event contestants must report
before the start of their flight.
(Rule 4-1-3)
- Ohio: No headgear may be used except headbands
manufactured for that purpose and navy watch
style caps. (Rule 4-3)
- Ohio: The use of video productions may not be
used by anyone for coaching purposes.
(Rule 4-6-7-g)
- Ohio: Cross Country; The use of modified
scoring is approved. (Rule 9-2-3)
|
2010
|
- Coaching areas must be clearly marked by meet
management before the start of the meet.
- Video replay shall be approved by the games
committee before the competition
- Specifies the location of the anemometer;
3-17-2
- Broadens restricted communication devices;
4-5-8-a
- All heats in a running event shall use the
same starting procedure; 5-6-3
- Hurdles; eliminates deliberate knocking down
by foot; foul if knocked down by hand; 5-13-2-b
- An approved bungee cord may be used during
warm-ups in high jump and pole vault; 7-2-11
- Effective Jan. 1, 2013 the crossbar shall be
circular
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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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