TO: All San Diego County Athletic Directors, Girls and Boys Track Coaches

FROM: CIF San Diego Section, Track and Field Advisory Committee, and

San Diego Track Starters Association

SUBJ: 2013 Rule Book Reminders and Points of Emphasis

  1. Uniforms must be school issued (4.3.1). Tops must be full length or one-piece uniform. (4.3.1b) Tops and bottoms may have school identification. If a "sport" is included in the identification it must be "Track" or "Track and Field". T-shirts that meet these restrictions are acceptable. The new Penalty for an Illegal uniform will be enforced by Meet officials. (Rule 4.3.1 & 2 Penalty)
  1. The competitor's top must hang below or be tucked into the waistband when standing upright. (4.3.1b7)
  1. Waistbands on bottoms must be unrolled and worn above the hips. Bicycle shorts are acceptable as long as they are school issued. (4.3.1 & 4.3.1.c4)

  1. A visible garment worn under the uniform top and/or bottom displaying contrasting/different color stitching to the single, solid color of the undergarment and which functions as the actual seam for the undergarment's construction is legal. (4.3.1b8 & Note 2, 4.3.1.c7 & Note 2)

  1. Relay teams must wear the same color and design of school uniform. (Example: 3 runners with royal blue tops &bottoms, 1 runner with powder blue top & bottom would not be acceptable). If contestants wear undergarments they must all be of the same solid color. Please note the NFHS rules will be enforced regarding uniforms and visible undergarments for relay teams. (4.3.2)
  1. Removing any part of the team uniform, excluding shoes, while in the area of competition, as defined by the games committee, is illegal. (4.3.4)

  1. Field event judges will be enforcing uniform and jewelry at the CIF Championship meet and at dual meets the starter will enforce these rules. (4.3)
  1. Please remember, NFHS rules state, “the ultimate responsibility for each athlete to be in a legal uniform rests with the coach and the individual athlete. Rules 4.3 and 9.6 state the uniform requirements and restrictions for track and field. Coaches must stress to the student-athlete that the uniform shall be worn as intended by the manufacturer. Failure to properly wear the uniform will result in a penalty.”
  1. Only competitors are allowed in the staging area. Coaches, friends, family members or other visitors will not be allowed access to the staging area
  1. All contestants in running events must be visually checked by meet officials in the staging before being allowed to enter the track.
  1. Headbands, sweatbands with a single solid color may be worn. Non-prescription sunglasses are not to be worn during competition.
  1. Unadorned devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips, no longer than 2 inches may be worn to control a competitor’s hair. Streamers, ribbons, etc. are not allowed.
  1. No electronic devices of any kind are allowed in the competition area. This includes but is not limited to: I-Pods, MP3 players, CD players, radios, cell phones, camcorders, cameras &wireless devices.
  1. Jewelry is not to be worn by competitors. It to be removed before the time the contestant is checking in with the clerk/field event official and must be removed at the time of competition. Taped covered jewelry is illegal.Penalty for Jewelry Violations will be enforced by meet officials (Rule 4.3.3 Penalty)
  1. Any special uniform conditions or religious issues must be addressed with the starter/referee prior to the meet.
  1. Medical alert medals are not considered jewelry. The alert should be visible when the medal is attached.

  1. At invitationals, meet management shall designate, identify and mark areas for coaches to observe and confer with competitors during competition. In dual meets, the competition area is the track, field and any other adjacent or separate areas for field event competitions. Only coaches working the events should be in the Competition area. All other coaches and spectators should be in the stands. The host and visiting schools should work together to conform to this requirement.(3.2.3a and 3.2.4g)
  2. Coaches are reminded to have at least two(2) copies of all entries at Dual/Tri-meets, to be shared prior to the beginning of the meet with the Starter and other copies for the opposing team(s) Coach.

At dual track meets the starting official will enforce uniform and other violations and will follow the state guidelines for preventative officiating of these rules. On a second violation, the starter may disqualify the contestant. If an athlete competes with jewelry or illegal uniform as a second violation he or she will be disqualified by the starter.