Officials Tips – vol. 2
Wear this, not that!
A guy walks up to the starting line and says…. Actually, he showed up wearing multiple piercings all covered with tape, and multiple rubbery wrist bands. According to the rules, you can’t do that. Gone. DQ. Not runnin’ today bud. He was dispatched rather quickly and we proceeded with the race. Needless to say, wear the proper uniform without all the little extras, and that won’t happen to you.
Timing is everything.
When arriving at a venue, ever notice that their aren’t many people over at the long/triple jump pits? Save yourself some time getting your marks EARLY and avoid standing in that HUGE line waiting to get a few run throughs. Get a quick warm-up so your legs are nice and warm, stretch, then get to the pit ASAP. Grab a teammate and establish your mark…BEFORE the line forms. It will save you a ton of anxiety knowing your marks are set and you’re ready to go. You can spend that extra time focusing on what lies ahead in your event(s).
Check this out.
If you need to leave to compete in another event. Check with the official BEFORE leave the event area, AND, leave only when it’s just about time for you to run, not when you hear a ‘1st call’ for the event. It’s ok for you to remain in the field event area and get warmed up for a race, besides, you might as well get an extra jump or throw in before you jet set to a race. I’ve seen more than one athlete too tired to jump after a race. Ask the official if you can take your 2nd or 3rd jump/throw consecutively and get them out of the way.
Out of my way!
Coach Guido and I watched a tiny, little, really short, modified athlete nearly get steam-rolled by a linebacker rounding the corner behind the high jump pit at Hobart. She was clueless when warned that she needed to ‘look both ways before you cross the street.’ Indoor track has a lot of ‘human obstacles’ that don’t always pay attention sufficient to keep them off the track. Again….stay focused on your behavior and don’t get in the way of others. You certainly don’t want someone gettin’ in your way when you’re about to set a PR or break a school record.
If someone does get in your way and you plow into them….consider yourself an excellent teacher; you will have just taught them never to stand on the track when a race is underway.
~Go Raiders!
Rochester, NY