Time limits for field event warmups recommended
An optional scoring system for indoor and outdoor track meets was proposed earlier this month for men’s and women’s competitions.
The recommendations were made by the Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country Rules Subcommittee and the Division II and Division III Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Rules Committee.
Before becoming official, all rule proposals must be approved. The Division II and Division III Playing Rules Oversight Panel will discuss the proposals Aug. 11, and the Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Oversight Committee is scheduled to discuss the proposals Aug. 12.
Under the outdoor scoring proposal, if a meet has 12 or more teams (16-point scoring) on a nine-lane oval track, the scoring system would be:
Individual events: 20-18-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
Relay events: 20-18-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
If the meet has 12 or more teams (16-point scoring) on an eight-lane oval track, the following scoring system could be used:
Individual events: 20-18-16-15-14-13-12-11-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
Relay events:20-18-16-15-14-13-12-11-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
For track events that advance by place and time, points awarded to places outside of the number of competitors in a final round would be determined by the results of the previous round using place first and time second.
For field events that advance by place, points awarded outside of the final round would be determined by the results of the previous round using place.
In an instance where a competitor has advanced to a final round with less than 16 competitors and is either disqualified during the final round for a violation of the rules, fails to start the final round or fails to finish the competition, that competitor would be awarded the least amount of points available to those competitors in the final round.
In the case of more than one competitor being disqualified for a violation of the rules, not starting the final round or failing to complete the competition, those competitors would be considered tied and the available points shared.
If a meet has advancement through rounds of competition, participants would receive points that would be added to their respective team scores.
In competitions with 12 or more teams participating and two sites used for the opening rounds of competition, meet management can, in addition to points awarded for place at the final site, award advancement and place points by round as outlined below:
100 meters–200 meters–400 meters–800 meters–1,500 meters-100 hurdles-110 hurdles-
400 hurdles
- 1 point to each of the 24 qualifiers at each site to the quarterfinal round.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the semifinal round.
3,000 steeplechase
- 1 point to each of the top 24 placers at each site based on place first and time second.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the semifinal round.
5,000 meters
- 1 point to each of the top 24 placers at each site based on place first and time second.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the final round.
10,000 meters
- 1 point to each of the top 24 placers at each site.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the final round.
4×100 relay and 4×400 relay
- 1 point to each of the top 24 placers at each site.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the final round.
Discus-hammer-javelin-long jump-shot put-triple jump
- 1 point to each of the top 24 placers at each site.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the semifinal round.
High jump-pole vault
- 1 point to each of the top 24 placers at each site.
- 2 additional points to each of the 12 qualifiers at each site to the final round.
Decathlon-heptathlon
- 3 points to each of the 24 competitors, provided a competitor’s result is not a Did Not Start.
In an instance when a referee advances a participant in an event to the next round of competition who originally didn’t qualify to advance under the prescribed advance method, that participant and the participant’s team will be credited with the appropriate points as awarded to other participants that qualified for the subsequent round of competition.
In the instance of a tie for a place beyond 24th in high jump or pole vault, the total number of scorers in the event increases. All those competitors would receive 1 point.
Indoor scoring option
Under the indoor proposal, an optional 16-point scoring system for meets with 12 or more teams could be used. The scoring would go as follows:
Individual events: 20-18-16-15-14-13-12-11-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
Relay events: 20-18-16-15-14-13-12-11-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
For events that advance by place and time, points awarded to places outside of the number of competitors in a final round would be determined by the results of the previous round using place first and time second.
For events that are a final only, or advancing by performance, points awarded outside of the final will be determined by the ranked order of performance.
In an instance where a competitor has advanced to a final round with fewer than 16 competitors and is either disqualified during the final round for a violation of the rules, fails to start the final round or fails to finish the competition, that competitor will be awarded the least amount of points available to those competitors in the final round.
In the case of more than one competitor being disqualified for a violation of the rules, not starting the final round or failing to complete the competition, those competitors would be considered tied and the available points shared.
For the 60 meters, 60 hurdles, 800 meters, mile, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, 4×400 relay, distance medley relay and all field events, points awarded outside of the final would be determined by the results of the previous round using place first and time second.
In the 200 and 400 meters, points awarded outside of the final will be determined by the ranked order of the results by time in the semifinal round.
All individual entries would have the ability to score in the competition. Also, one relay entry per school could score.
“We were trying to make the first round of competition have more value,” said Marc Davis, Division I men’s and women’s rules subcommittee chair and director of track and field and cross country at Troy. “People in general need to understand that first and second rounds of the NCAA meet happen before teams get to the final site. People will be able to bring those points with them to the final site. It’s a huge deal for track and field.”
Field event warmups
Both rules committees recommended that all preliminary warmups for horizontal jumps and throwing events could be no more than 30 minutes per flight. If all athletes in the flight are ready to compete before the allotted time ends, competition could start immediately.
All final warmups in the final in horizontal jumps and throwing events should not be more than 15 minutes. If all the athletes are ready to compete before the allotted time ends, competition could start immediately.
Other rule proposals:
- In cross country, turns should have distinct barriers located along the course.
- Rules regarding calibration of equipment would return to rules established in the 2023 and 2024 NCAA Track and Field/Cross Country Rules Book.
- If a competitor is suspected of using an illegal shoe, a protest is allowed.
- Current collegiate coaches and current enrolled track and field student-athletes of any competing school in a meet cannot officiate the competition.
- Both rules committees defined flagrant action as an evident, clear or decisive act that infringes or impedes another competitor.
