Track & Field Points of Emphasis - 2026

Point of Emphasis:

Throws Safety – Shot Put, Discus, and Javelin
Safety in the throwing events must be a top priority during both practices and competition. Coaches, meet officials, event managers, competitors and volunteers should review proper safety protocols during the preseason and before each meet to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous situations, during both warm-ups and competition periods. These safety measures must also be implemented consistently at practice.

Each throwing venue should be carefully regulated and set up with safety for athletes, officials, media and spectators in mind. A clearly marked safety zone must be established for each event, using flagging or rope placed outside the sector lines and the farthest potential landing area of the implement. It’s important to recognize that the flagged safety sector indicates the primary danger zone, but not the only one. Implements such as the discus and javelin can deviate significantly from their expected flight paths, and even well-marked venues require constant vigilance. It is recommended that meet management establish media areas within the safety zones of throwing events to give journalists/photographers prime access and still preserve the venue safety lines. 

Officials must inspect venues for hazards, including checking cages for holes, loose netting, or other deficiencies. Any damage must be repaired prior to the start of throwing activities. Event personnel and athletes must be reminded to never turn their back to the throwing area during warm-ups or competition and to always wait for an official’s signal before retrieving implements or leaving the designated area. These precautions are essential to prevent accidents due to premature entry or unexpected throws. Ongoing attention to safety by all involved is critical to protecting participants and ensuring the integrity of the competition.

Athlete Conduct
In NFHS track and field there is unsporting conduct and unacceptable conduct which applies to all coaches, athletes and other team/school personnel. Unsporting conduct is behavior that is unethical or dishonorable. It includes but is not limited to: disrespectfully addressing an official, any flagrant behavior, intentional contact, taunting, criticizing or using profanity directed toward someone. Unsporting conduct violations are a disqualification from the event and further competition in the meet.

Unacceptable conduct by a competitor includes but is not limited to: willful failure to follow the directions of a meet official, using profanity that is not directed at someone or any action which could bring discredit to the individual or the competitor's school. Unacceptable conduct is disqualification from that event.

There is a distinct, critical line between an athlete releasing pure, natural adrenaline and an athlete actively trying to demean an opponent as is interpreted in other NFHS rules codes. Some examples of spontaneous celebratory actions that are not considered taunting or unsporting conduct:

• High Fives with teammate(s)or competitors.

• Jump & chest bumping with a teammate(s) after an event or attempt.

• Pointing to the sky after winning or immediately prior to crossing the finish line.

• Pointing their hand/arm in the air indicating # 1 after winning or immediately prior to crossing the finish line.

• Yelling aloud (not using profanity or derogatory comments) that is not directed at any person.

• Yelling, cheering, clapping, fist bumping, and any other method of encouraging other competitors both on their team and on other teams.

Preventative Officiating
Preventative officiating refers to the actions taken by officials to prevent issues before they arise. Examples of preventative officiating in track and field include but are not limited to addressing uniform issues prior to an athlete or relay team checking with the clerk, prior to the race informing a relay athlete that his/her positioning relative to the exchange zone is not legal, a starter asking a race to “stand-up” rather than issuing a false start or explaining to a thrower during warmups that all fingers need to be able to move independently and cannot be taped together.

While some debate that preventative officiating may seem like coaching the athlete during the competition, these precautionary measures attempt to keep the athlete or relay team from committing an infraction that could be avoided prior to a race or trial. At times preventative officiating cannot be used as avoidable infractions are not seen until it’s too late. Preventative officiating is much more preferred than the concept of “gotcha officiating” or actively looking for infractions prior to or during a race or trial.

Coaching Responsibilities
The title of “coach” carries significant responsibility. Coaches are not only responsible for teaching and training their athletes, coaches are also responsible for knowing and communicating NFHS, state association, local games committee and terms of competition with their staff and athletes.

NFHS playing rules and interpretations are found in official NFHS publications. For example, if an athlete were to have a running and field event conflict, the coach needs to share with the student the necessary steps in how to check out and report back to an event. If a relay race used the incorrect exchange zones, the coach needs to know the process on how to file a protest first with the referee and if necessary, the jury of appeals.

State association policies are often found in organization sport specific manuals and handbooks. Examples include meet participation limits, procedures for requesting accommodations for a student with a physical or medical condition, or state meet qualifying procedures.

Local meet games committees have great flexibility in how their meets are conducted and as a result can vary site by site. Games committee decisions include starting height and successive heights of the crossbar, restricted/unrestricted areas, and specifying approved items for relay race markers.

With all of these sources of information, coaches need to stay on top of updates and share the information with the appropriate individuals. Not knowing a rule is not an excuse or reason to allow something that may be against a rule code. If there are rules questions, work with your athletic department to contact your state association.