I would like to find the rule on pacing a runner. Story is I was at my daughter's track meet and ran about 20 yards TOWARD her as she was round the corner finishing her 800. A coach came up to me to say I could get her disqualified for pacing her? The official came up to me to say the same thing. I have searched the internet and have not found anything to clarify it. The meet was a small 5 team or so league meet, not a championship meet. Located in CA.
5krunner wrote:
I would like to find the rule on pacing a runner. Story is I was at my daughter's track meet and ran about 20 yards TOWARD her as she was round the corner finishing her 800. A coach came up to me to say I could get her disqualified for pacing her? The official came up to me to say the same thing. I have searched the internet and have not found anything to clarify it. The meet was a small 5 team or so league meet, not a championship meet. Located in CA.
Don't be one of those parents. Sit down in the stands.
American Hero wrote:
Don't be one of those parents. Sit down in the stands.
End of thread, we have a winner.
Like the other poster said, have a seat, don't be a freak. Who cares what the rule is, have some class. Imagine being on the track racing with your daughter and seeing some freak dad running at you.
Sit in the stands, cheer for your daughter, give her a big hug no matter how she does, and call it good.
Okay, I figured I get some responses like that.......whatever. I was not "racing" toward her nor was I waving my arms like a lunatic. I just feel the coach and official were alittle out of line with their reactions. Later in the meet, the official disqualified the boy's varsity 800 winner as he accused a runner from that school pacing the winner. After the race, the red faced official scolded the coach, and demanded the runner be disqualified..... So, I ask my original question again...
are there rules against assistance? you probably aren't supposed to be yelling splits, etc....
good advice above.
sit in the stands and cheer and be glad you got away with it with just warning
Why is it wrong to yell splits to a kid? I don't understand that. It's asinine.
This is the problem, "they" were the ones who were out of line, not "you" - you cannot take into consideration that YOU were the one who was out of line.
Sit in the stands, cheer for your daughter, pat her on the back, go home. People like you spoil it for everyone.
Two people point out to you that you are out of line, and they are they problem. Hmmmmmm, very interesting.
frontpage2000 wrote:
This is the problem, "they" were the ones who were out of line, not "you" - you cannot take into consideration that YOU were the one who was out of line.
Sit in the stands, cheer for your daughter, pat her on the back, go home. People like you spoil it for everyone.
People like you that were not there don't have a clue..........
Except from the biased perspective that you provided.Give it a rest dad, you are embarrassing your daughter.
5krunner wrote:
People like you that were not there don't have a clue..........
i agree with everyone else-- my dad was very supportive of my running in high school, but if he had ever been coming towards/that near me during a race, i would have been very angry. yelling from afar suffices-- she can hear you. you need to sit down.
not to mention, this thread is pointless because the rules are different in every state.
female wrote:
i agree with everyone else-- my dad was very supportive of my running in high school, but if he had ever been coming towards/that near me during a race, i would have been very angry. yelling from afar suffices-- she can hear you. you need to sit down.
not to mention, this thread is pointless because the rules are different in every state.
Did you miss the part about the meet being in CA? Anyway, Thanks Ann Landers and all the other Dr. Phil's on this site.
Yes - "pacing" is illegal. What you describe does not fall into what I would describe as pacing, however most officials would typically warn anyone cheering and running at the same time. You also get into various sportsmanship issues here. Bottom line - stay in the stands to be safe.
Although the rules do differ, almost all states use the NFHS rule book as the basis for the rule covering track. My copy is out in the car and I don't feel like go out there now.
coach42 wrote:
Yes - "pacing" is illegal. What you describe does not fall into what I would describe as pacing, however most officials would typically warn anyone cheering and running at the same time. You also get into various sportsmanship issues here. Bottom line - stay in the stands to be safe.
Although the rules do differ, almost all states use the NFHS rule book as the basis for the rule covering track. My copy is out in the car and I don't feel like go out there now.
Thank you, I appreciate your response. And yes, I plan on staying in the stands.
"Pacing" is a rule in effect at both the HS and college level. Basically, it says that at no time can an individual not entered in the race "pace" someone in the race. Now, the interpretation of the rule has become that any spectator traveling trackside in the same direction as a competitor, even if just for a few steps, is deemed to be "pacing" and said competitor can be disqualified. It's kind of a silly rule as I don't know how much advantage you're really going to gain by someone jogging alongside you for a few steps, especially at the end of a race when you're pretty much all out anyways. The spirit of the rule is good, but the way its sometimes enforced leaves much to be desired.
I once saw a competitor in the 5k run an NCAA auto-qualifier on a lousy day light years ahead of her competition only to be DQ'd after the fact because her boyfriend took two excited steps towards her on the finish straightaway. Sad. Luckily, she bettered the time a couple of weeks later anyways.
i got shit from an official once for me and a buncha guys sidestepping and twirling shirts while yelling for our teamate, she said she was gonna dQ him because we were pacing him.... i think regardless if what you did was illegal, you are embarrassing your daughter.
however, that being said...officials as a rule have something up their butt.
5krunner wrote:Thank you, I appreciate your response. And yes, I plan on staying in the stands.
The official is definitely on a power trip for doing this at a small early-season high school meet, but whatever. Why were you even on the track/infield/anywhere you could be suspected of pacing your daughter? When I was in high school, the rule I had with my parents for the meets they insisted on coming to was that they be in the stands at all times and that they not speak to me before my race was over. In XC, I would get pissed when other people's parents got in the way while we were trying to warm up, and there were times I said things to kids on my team about their parent's behavior. Parents at track meets are huge distractions.
Addressed in the NFHS Rule Book (can purchase online if you want) this is what you are looking for:
Rule 4-5-9
Art. 8 It is an unfair act when a competitor receives any assistance from any other person. Assistance includes:
a. Interference
b. pacing by a teammate or persons not participating in the event
f. coaching a competitor from a restricted area
There is further clarification in the case book with some examples, the best being the following two:
rule 4.5.8 situation i:
During the 1600 meter run, A2's teammates are stationed along the edge of the backstretch or curve and are: (a) calling out lap times; (b) running along the side of the track trying to get A2 to run faster; or (c) cheering or offering encouragement to A2. RULING: In (a) and (b), A2 is subject to disqualification. In (c) this is legal provided the teammates are not in a restricted area.
rule 4.5.8 situation j:
During the 1600 meter run, a teammate of A1: (a) runs a few steps toward the track shouting encouragement, or (b) runs alongside A1 for five or more strides. RULING: Legal in (a). Illegal in (b). Comment: It is not the intent of the rule to disqualify anyone for a spontaneous act of enthusiasm. However, running alongside a competitor for five or more strides would be considered pacing.
It would ultimately be a judgement call on the part of the meet referee and would be a DQ if the meet referee felt that an unfair advantage was given to the athlete.
Bottom line: Cheer from an unrestricted area (outside the oval) and feel free to give splits anywhere you please from an unrestricted area. Whoever said you can't yell splits is incorrect, you can, so long as it's in an area that any coach can do that from. You may not use a whistle or something like that in lieu of verbal instructions to inform a runner of their pace.
As a HS coach who has been called out on this, I would recommend not moving at all when you cheer/coach. The rule is a judgment call and if some official sees you walking (let alone jogging) a few steps in the direction (or general direction) of the runner... well you can see how its ambiguous.
I've also seen relay teams get DQ'd when team members are cheering for the other legs, so its a good idea to make sure your athletes are aware of this rule as well.