Because old people wrote the rules and old people love nothing more than controlling the actions of young people.
When they are old they can set the rules they want and the generations following them will be complaining just the same.
Have to say the worst thing is seeing people my age weave down the pavement (sidewalk) like a drunken sailor with there face buried in the phone. Kids at least you expect it and id say they actually walk a staightor line!
Why does that rule exist? What advantage could possibly be earned while looking at your phone in the bleachers? I'm at a loss.
I'll give one answer as though this is a serious question.
It is likely so field event athletes are not looking at an attempt mid-competition, either alone or with their coach. Accurate or not, having access to something like a phone, that may/may not be available to everyone, is illegal.
As a cross-country and track coach I have a team rule of "no phones" with the exception of communicating with parents. Until that rule we had athletes sit in the team camp on their phone all day without interacting with teammates, watching the meet, warming-up/cooling-down properly, etc. Our team dynamics improved greatly since that rule. but it has nothing to do with the MHSAA rule in question.
Come on. Access to a phone is available to everyone. Even in the rare instance where a student-athlete does not have a phone, teammates / coaches do. That is not part of the reason.
I do kind of enjoy the phone calls the following morning with angry parents worried that fast little Josh might miss out on a scholarship because I didn’t ensure that he was on the start line. They always shut up when I state that Josh obviously values TikTok videos over his college opportunities and that they need to have a family conversation about their son’s priorities.
The rule says that an individual cannot use their phone during competition, not that they cannot use their phone once they have become a competitor. Two different things. Any time a competition is occurring at all could be said to be "during competition" even if the individual using the phone is not involved in the competition.
It's almost impossible to write a rule that can't be misinterpreted by someone who is determined to misinterpret it. You show us some examples of the rule being applied to people spectating from the bleachers, and we'll take your concerns (slightly) more seriously.
This rule isn't about phones in bleachers. It prevents cell phones in the competition area so athletes are paying attention to what is going on around them and not causing accidents/injuries. There is no reason to have a cell phone when you are competing or warming up in the competition area.
Read the rule. It doesn't say anything about "the competition area."
we got told this in California to. our coach wouldn't even let us take our duffel bags or phones on the infield and locked them in a room. This lead to people not knowing the order of events and I couldn't refuel between events, (food was in duffle bag) so my performance suffered.
First off, that handbook is in its third year, and if that rule really meant that students couldn't use their cell phones during the entire meet, whether they are actively competing or sitting in the stands picking their nose, you would have heard about it by now. How many high schools are in Missouri, and you think officials are policing the stands demanding kids turn off their phones? I live in Missouri, and I assure you that is not happening.
Apply the same definition of competition used throughout that handbook to the cell phone rule, and it's pretty clear MSHSAA doesn't want you to use your phone while actually competing in an event. For instance, anyone who reports to the long jump area to check-in after the judge has started the competition will not be allowed to participate in the event. That doesn't mean an athlete has to check-in before the meet starts, it means he/she has to check-in prior to the judge starting the long jump competition - you know, when athletes are actually jumping or waiting their turn to jump. Similarly, in the instance of a tie in the High Jump or Pole Vault, the "Tie breaking competition should be held at the conclusion of the field event." Again, while actually pole vaulting or waiting to vault, not while sitting in your team tent scrolling through the letsrun messageboard.
Whether you're actively competing or waiting your turn, MSHSAA doesn't want you to use your phone, which actually makes a lot of sense. How many football or basketball players sitting on the bench do you see using their cell phones during a game?
I'll give one answer as though this is a serious question.
It is likely so field event athletes are not looking at an attempt mid-competition, either alone or with their coach. Accurate or not, having access to something like a phone, that may/may not be available to everyone, is illegal.
As a cross-country and track coach I have a team rule of "no phones" with the exception of communicating with parents. Until that rule we had athletes sit in the team camp on their phone all day without interacting with teammates, watching the meet, warming-up/cooling-down properly, etc. Our team dynamics improved greatly since that rule. but it has nothing to do with the MHSAA rule in question.
As a coach, I like kids having phones.
I've rarely gone to meets where throws are in some sort of convient area. Kids generally want to cheer on there teamates and will go over when their teamates are in a flight. Having someone text the group when to come over is good, plus being able to text them if the meet runs ahead or behind schedule, so they can warm up on time.
I don't think the phones reduce social interaction for the most part. Kids often are following other meets live results and talking to each other about how their rivals are doing, updating strava, planning meetups with kids from other teams etc.
Wait? You do not think phones reduce social interaction? That is really really dumb.
This rule isn't about phones in bleachers. It prevents cell phones in the competition area so athletes are paying attention to what is going on around them and not causing accidents/injuries. There is no reason to have a cell phone when you are competing or warming up in the competition area.
Read the rule. It doesn't say anything about "the competition area."
If you know even a little about track rules and the terminology it is pretty easy to discern the meaning from the context. Here is the exact text. Yes I agree it could be more clear, but it is clear enough for all but the most obtuse to know what is meant by it.
PS it does not say "during A competition" in which case it would be less clear. No reasonable person thinks this applies to time in the stands or the team tent.
Student/athletes are not allowed to use cell phones during competition.
At my HS (not in Missouri) we sometimes use phones in competition for field events so athletes can review their previous jump/throw with a coach before their next one. I wonder if this is intended to stop that sort of thing.
Also, does anyone have an idea of how well this is enforced?
I'll give one answer as though this is a serious question.
It is likely so field event athletes are not looking at an attempt mid-competition, either alone or with their coach. Accurate or not, having access to something like a phone, that may/may not be available to everyone, is illegal.
As a cross-country and track coach I have a team rule of "no phones" with the exception of communicating with parents. Until that rule we had athletes sit in the team camp on their phone all day without interacting with teammates, watching the meet, warming-up/cooling-down properly, etc. Our team dynamics improved greatly since that rule. but it has nothing to do with the MHSAA rule in question.
Come on. Access to a phone is available to everyone. Even in the rare instance where a student-athlete does not have a phone, teammates / coaches do. That is not part of the reason.
Your privilege is showing.
It is NOT necessarily available to every kid. I recently was at a HS meet in Colorado in which of the 23 boys and 16 girls on the team, 3 owned cell phones. This was according to the coach, if she was being honest.
And whether you or I think "access to a phone is available to everyone" is moot. If a state governing body believes that there is a minute chance of an unfair playing field, they see it as their job to level things.
I did not say that was the reason, but having been employed by a state athletic governing body, not Missouri, it certainly "could" be a reason, justified in your mind or not.
F. ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Are permitted to be used in unrestricted areas and coach’s boxes 1. It is the responsibility of the Games Committee to establish restricted areas and coach’s boxes. 2. Communication Devices: The use of cell phones or other communication devices is prohibited during competition. Use is a disqualifiable offense. 3. May not be used to review an official’s decision
People don't need their faces in phones all the time. Put it down and enjoy the moment. I wish more places had no phone rules.
Track meets are not "moments" they are a friggin eternity. There is nothing with more idle time than a track meet. It is literally the most obvious and applicable time to *have* a phone.
Also, people that want "no phone rules" usually want it for someone else, I notice.
Read the rule. It doesn't say anything about "the competition area."
If you know even a little about track rules and the terminology it is pretty easy to discern the meaning from the context. Here is the exact text. Yes I agree it could be more clear, but it is clear enough for all but the most obtuse to know what is meant by it.
PS it does not say "during A competition" in which case it would be less clear. No reasonable person thinks this applies to time in the stands or the team tent.
Student/athletes are not allowed to use cell phones during competition.
So why did they change the wording in the 2023 manual if the meaning of the original rule in the 2021 manual was so clear?
I knew a girl who got disqualified because the girl holding her blocks was on her cell phone before the hurdles started. She qualified for state first time as a senior and didnt get to compete because of this rule. Had a high jumper teammate who also got Dqd because of the rule at a small meet with like 10ish teams. She argued with the officials made a big spectacle about it. Went on to win like 4 NCAA D2 titles and is top 3 all time in her event at the D2 level.
Neither athlete was on their phone. it was others around them who were. first girl just asked a random girl near the start line. and second girl her mom was filming her jumps
I am also a coach in Missouri and can tell you it only means in the competition area. Field events and the track. Originally it meant for the duration of you time in competition. Once your event is done and outside the fence pf the track or field event area you are good. It used to mean no show of video in the field event at all. Now coaches are allowed to show video in designated areas away from the event. On a larger philosophical conversation. Phones are not allowed out at practice without permission. No head phones in and not running with cellphone in hands. Instead they are put up with the rest of their stuff until the session has concluded. I believe athletes need to focus without sscreens for deeper concentration and dopamine regulation. We don't want kids getting smoked by an implement or a runner while at practice. We have Javelin in the state of Missouri it's important to be aware of your surroundings.
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