NFHS – Track and Field Rule 6, Section 8, Article 15 – The competitors weight shall be at or below the manufacturer’s pole rating. The manufacturer must include on each pole: the pole rating that shall be a minimum of ¾ inch in a contrasting color located within or above the top hand-hold position: a 1-inch circular band indicating the maximum top hand hold position with the position being determined by the manufacturer. Prior to competition, the coach must verify that all of the school’s pole vaulters and poles meet these requirements.
NFHS – Track and Field Rule 6, Section 8, Article 16 – A competitor shall not use a variable weight pole, a pole which is improperly marked or a pole rated below the competitor’s weight, or any other equipment that is not legal during warm-up or competition
Note: Altering the pole in any fashion renders it illegal
Weight bands – the label – on pole vault poles have been around for a long time. The rule requiring them went into effect in 1995. From ’95 to 2001 older poles could have a “coach made” temporary label. But since 2001, that’s a quarter of a century, the pole label rule has been the same.
So why is it an issue once again?
There are two reasons. First, labels take normal wear just like the rest of the pole. They get slid in and out of tubes, banged on crossbars, left in the rain. Over the years they wear out. Coaches are responsible for getting new manufacturer’s labels for old worn out ones. As long as the manufacturer still exists – that’s not a problem. (See the list ).
And second, pole vault poles have a long “shelf life”. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a pole from the 1990’s or even 1980’s, assuming it’s been taken care of. Sometimes a coach needs “that pole”, somewhere in the back of the shed, to help a particular vaulter.
But the pole, no matter the “born-on” year, still needs to meet 6-8-15.
Here’s an old Pacer pole. It “seems” to have two labels, the internal marking from the original manufacturer, and a second label added. But here’s the deal: the internal marking – embedded in the “gel coat” IS NOT A LABEL. Yes – it does identify the length and weight of the pole. But it does not meet two requirements: the pole rating (numbers) are not ¾ inch high, AND, this was not intended as a marker of the top hand hold.
So this coach did the right thing. He went back to Pacer and got a legal label for the pole. Pacer instructed the coach where to place it on the pole – and that’s what makes this pole legal!!!
Check-in
At this particular meet I had four pole “check-in” issues. (That’s a lot for one meet!).
- The first was the pole pictured, which is a legal pole with a legal label. – Legal Pole
2. The second was a pole that had only the “gel-coat” identifier, but no other label. That pole should be disqualified for no label. Warned (educated) coach – allowed for this meet.*
3. The third was a Spirit pole, with the label within two inches of the top of the pole. Spirit labels are always 6” from the top of the pole, so either the label was moved up, or the top of the pole was cut off. Either way, it violates Rule 6-8-16 which notes: Altering the pole in any fashion renders it illegal. Warned (educated) coach – allowed for this meet.*
4. And the fourth, my favorite of the night, was a variable weight pole. There was no label, (it was a 1986 pole, I checked the “etchings” for fun) but there was the gel coat identifier – which “rated” the pole from 100-120. That violates Rule 6-8-16: A competitor shall not use a variable weight pole, a pole which is improperly marked or a pole rated below the competitor’s weight, or any other equipment that is not legal during warm-up or competition. Disqualified from competition.
*OK, why didn’t I disqualify these poles? Here’s my dilemma: I’ve been around pole vault more than most of those coaches have been alive (forty-eight years as a coach and official). There was no intent by any of these coaches to “cheat”, and they really didn’t understand the qualifications of the pole. At this point in the season – I’m trying to educate, not be a pole “Nazi”. And, I am well aware that most officials would have accepted all four poles for competition. There has to be an element of fairness and education, not just enforcement.
Pole One – Legal as marked, let me take a picture for this article
Pole Two – Not legal as marked, but would be legal with a new label – told coach to get a label – would disqualify the pole at a future competition
Pole Three – Not legal as marked, coach could put label in proper location – told coach to move label – would disqualify the pole at a future competition
Pole Four – Never will be legal – not been legal for decades – disqualified
Ohio Pole Vault Safety 