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In the "comments" section of the 2003 NFHS Rules Book pp. 78-79, the comments state that prior to any practice a coach should make sure that "the landing system is the specified size...." Although this is merely a "comment" relating to the 2003 Rules changes and not strictly speaking a "rule," I would assume that if a high school vaulter were to be injured while practicing on a pit that did not meet the minimum size rules, that a lawyer would argue that the coach was negligent for failing to adhere to the stated policy articulated by this comment in the NFHS Rules Book.

My reading of the comment, however, is that there is no sanction per se for a violation of this comment.

I seem to recall that there was a thread somewhere on polevaultpower that addressed this very issue. I'm in the process of editing an article to be published by the Marquette Sports Law Review. In that article I refer to that discussion, but now that the editor has asked me to back up my reference, I'm having difficulty locating that partricular thread.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,

RUSS was this the thread??

http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/vie ... highlight=

I do recall that the NFHS did discuss practice versus competition. And I believe that you might have a problem if you use an unsafe or illegal pit in practice. It does leave a wide open posibility of responsibility or possible neglagence if you allow athletes to vault on an unsafe PV system.

OK I am not selling pit with this post as a bunch of base units set with a top pad within the dimensions would qualify as a safe system!!.

That may be it. If I can't figure it out, perhaps that will have to suffice. But honestly I thought that there was a discission last Spring or Summer more directly on point. If anyone can help me recall where it is, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

I believe the state of Tennessee made a list last year of high schools who had legal pits and allowed only them to practice. I think they also had a list of schools who were allowed to practice with the schools with legal pits. Only those schools were allowed to compete.

I could have just butchered that... try searching the Dyestat message board (I don't know if they prune old threads or not).

I suspect that individual states may have specific rules which prohibit practice on illegal pits in order to reduce liability for the state association.

We turned our old PV pit into a larger HJ pit for the Junior High Kids since we had just replaced the top cover the previous year so we wouldn't have to deal with this issue.

But what would have really been wrong with restricting it to 7/8 grade kids who were just beginners? Some of those kids might miss the front of the pads in the beginning. And a height of 6' will hardly toss you out the back . . .

I think the larger pits were going to be a neccessity, but the way the rulemakers went about it was just short of a knee jerk reaction without providing any helpful alternatives. I heard about this rule at a USATF meet in the summer, before it was approved in the meeting, and it still came out in the NHFS publication that was probably going to print at the same time. How does that work?

Folks on this board provided more useful info and suggestions than did the NFHS. And you know what, I spent the last season STILL removing pieces of pallets, rocks , and covering up concrete around a good number of pits. A new pit with pallets sticking out in front still equals a dangerous situation. How can you read the "minimum size" rule and not see the "hard and unyielding surface" part of the rules?

Maybe in some cases what was required was a school AD and coaches who would look out for the safely of the kids by using good judgement and some research.

I think most people would be surprised how many "facility" rules are overlooked every day in all school sports below college level by officials just so the athletes can compete.

Russ,
that comment section is a basic procedure for a coach AND official to use as it says prior to practice or warmup or competition. That comment reference also is directed to officials.
If a venue is determined to not meet requirements, you don't use it. One of the duties of a meet referee is to do just that. Too much at risk here.
Your bank account and the life of a vaulter.

i think you can practice on just about anything in CA

it's legal to practice on an "illegal" pit, u just can't have competition on it