POLE VAULT OFFICIALS’ DUTIES
CHIEF JUDGE
1. Obtain all necessary information & equipment from meet management, and set up the vaulting area (see Preparations Sheet).
2. Assign other officials to their positions, and review their duties with them. Ask for questions.
3. Supervise inspection of the crossbar, pit, standards, zero settings and markings, and measuring devices.
4. Supervise placement and check-out of performance boards and the timing device; or arrange for stopwatch timing, warning flags, and relay of settings info.
5. Brief athletes on rules and the conduct of the event (see Briefing & Rules Sheet).
6. Check and keep the area around the pit clear of people and obstructions which could present safety hazards.
7. Periodically check the placement of the pit relative to the back of the box; make adjustments as necessary.
8. Coordinate with the Flight Coordinator as necessary to be certain of the identity of each vaulter.
9. Supervise the competition and determine if vault is legal or illegal, and initiated before the expiration of the time limit. Indicate cleared or failed with red or white flags.
10. Record passed (P), cleared (O), or failed (X) on the event sheet for each athlete’s attempt.
11. Coordinate with the Flight Coordinator and the 2nd Recorder regarding competition results, as each height is concluded.
Resolve ties per rules (lowest # jumps at tied height; lowest total # failures; jump-off) NCAA: 7-1-5; USATF: 74.2.
12. Supervise the measurement of all record heights, along with the Pit Coordinator and Chief Field Referee.
FLIGHT COORDINATOR
1. Check-in all athletes. Ask for their opening height and initial standards settings; note these on the event sheet. Notify the Chief Judge and 2nd Recorder of opening heights, and all record a “P” on event sheets for those athletes up to that height.
2. Inspect athletes’ hands for taping, and inspect poles for maximum of 2 layers of tape.
3. Manage the athletes’ warm-ups – bar heights & settings when desired; end warm-ups 5-10 minutes before event start.
4. When there are 9 or more vaulters in the competition, use the “five alive” system; notify athletes when they will be coming into the competition (as soon as one athlete has cleared the height or failed a third time and been eliminated). If using the five alive system, and there are 8 or fewer vaulters remaining after a change in height, shift to a single flight system, and notify the Chief Judge, 2nd Recorder, and athletes of this change.
5. Notify the Pit Coordinator of the standard settings for the next vaulter. If a setting is changed after the vaulter is called up, relay the change to the pit, and inform the athlete that the clock has started.
6. Record: passed (P), cleared (O), and failed (X) on the event sheet for each athlete. Coordinate with the other recorders after each round to be sure all agree.
7. As a vaulter exits the pit, call out the order of jumping for next three vaulters: “xxxx” Up; “xxxx” On Deck; and “xxxx” On Hold. When the pit is ready, again call the next vaulter “Up.”
8. Notify the Chief Judge, Pit Coordinator, and the athletes when a height change is to be made.
9. Observe athletes and report infractions of rules to the Chief Judge - electronic devices, coaches, crossing the track, etc.
POLE VAULT OFFICIALS’ DUTIES (Continued)
PIT COORDINATOR
1. Prior to competition, assist the Chief Judge in checking-out the placement and adjustment of the pit, crossbar(s), and standards (see Preparations Sheet). Make note of the actual height indicated on the standards for the opening height, and the increments above that for all increases. Measure and set the measuring device for the opening height.
2. Check the setting that the next vaulter wants; relay that to the side officials. Check that they have the standards at the appropriate setting.
3. For each vault attempt, check the crossbar to ensure that the end pieces are properly aligned on the bar; the marked side is facing the vaulter; and the bar is steady and snug against the standards.
4. Inform the Chief Judge that the pit is safe and ready.
5. Assist the Chief Judge in watching vaulters for violations of the rule regarding hands on the crossbar.
6. Catch the pole if it’s coming back toward the runway; return it to the athlete.
7. Measure the bar (6-1-17; 181.2):
- Initially, and every increase in height
- Every time a new bar is put into use
- Every time the standards are displaced
- For records – initially, and each time bar is touched
9. Periodically check the actual placement of the standards and the settings tape, to ensure that the zero settings match the plane of the back of the box.
10. Periodically check the placement of the pit relative to the back of the box; make adjustments as necessary.
CROSSBAR AND STANDARDS JUDGES
1. Inspect the crossbar to ensure that end pieces are properly aligned on the bar.
2. Quickly place crossbar on pegs of the standards. Make sure that the bar is steady and snug against the standards, and that the marked side is facing the vaulter.
3. Stow bar raisers out of the way of vaulters and runners.
4. Move the standards to the appropriate setting for the next vaulter.
5. When measuring heights, set the standards at zero. When the standards are raised, be sure that they are fastened securely.
6. Catch a pole only if it’s clearly falling away from the pit and standards, toward the runway, track, or yourself. Don’t touch it if it’s under or past the bar.
7. Watch out for a falling bar; it can cause injury – to you and to athletes. Be alert and respond quickly to clear the bar or the pole if they will interfere with runners on the track.