Cross Country News and Track and Field News have been combined on to a single web page as of February 2009.
Cross Country News...A few suggestions for Officials to consider before the start of a race...
1. Watches are now LEGAL for XC athletes to wear during competition. (August 2011)
2. The wearing of feather(s) in an athletes hair is NOT LEGAL during competition. (August 2011)
3. Jewelry remains ILLEGAL. An Officials warning BEFORE the competition begins will result in disqualification if jewelry is observed during competition or at the finish line. (August 2011)
4. Undergarments having contrasting colored stitching remains ILLEGAL during competition.
5. Jersey tops need to be tucked in, front and back, at the start of the competition. Rule 4-3-1-b7... "The top must hang below or be tucked into the waistband of the bottom when the competitor is standing upright."
MHSAA "2011 Cross Country Rules Information & Update"
Click here for NFHS Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Changes 2011
The above rule changes were published on July 6, 2010 from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The MHSAA has provided an updated document for Cross Country 2010 titled "2010 Cross Country Rules Information & Updates" and was provided on August 4, 2010 and posted on August 6, 2010...
Click here for 2010 Cross Country Rules Information & Updates
Track and Field News...
For a handy pocket sized reminder of Field Event Rules click on the link below... Posted 2/3/2012:
See "Cross Country News section" above for a link to the NFHS Track and Field and Cross Country Rule Changes 2011.
The NFHS has produced a document for Track and Field and Cross Country Rule Changes for 2010. There will be clarifications following the MHSAA Rules Committee and the NFHS Interpretations Meeting in January. Click on the link below for this document...
Click here for 2010 Track/Field and Cross Country Rules Changes
Track Finals Information: Posted February 18, 2009...
Assistant Referees/Umpires at State Finals
Based on a recommendation from ATOM, we have gained approval for adding an Assistant Referee to oversee each of the Field Events at the Track and Field Finals this year. This means a person with the necessary expertise would be stationed at each of the Field Events to assure fairness and adherence to rules and regulations pertaining to that event only. In case of a problem, this official would deal with the situation and be a decision maker. If there was a situation that called for the Meet Referee to be involved, the Assistant Referee would inform the Head Field Event Referee of the need. At the completion of the Field Event portion of the Meet, the Assistant Referees would then report to the track and serve as umpires for the running events.
The purpose of establishing this position is that it puts five (5) more officials in a supervisory position, assuring our student athletes of the best officiating possible. It also allows Meet Management the opportunity to put the most qualified people in the State on the Track to make the decisions that come up during the competition.
If you feel that you have the expertise in a Field Event and would like to be considered for the position of Assistant Referee/Umpire, please contact Lew Clingman at HYPERLINK "mailto:lewcling23@yahoo.com" www.lewcling23@yahoo.com by March 30th, 2009.
Request for ATOM members to volunteer for the 2009 MHSAA Track and Field Finals with an interest in being an Umpire, Clerk, Referee, Starter or Field Event Official. Official's that are Dependable, Experienced and with a keen Knowledge of Track and Field Rules and Situations Needed. Join many other ATOM Official's from throughout the State of Michigan to Officiate at the 2009 MHSAA Finals.
The 2009 MHSAA Finals Sites will be held on Saturday, May 30 at the following locations around the Grand Rapids area:
Division 1 at East Kentwood High School
Division 2 at Zeeland Public Schools
Division 3 at Comstock Park High School
Division 4 at Ada-Forest Hills Eastern High School
If interested, please contact Lew Clingman at any of the following:
18 Worchester Dr. NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Home Phone: 616-459-3890
Cell Phone: 616-690-0553
Posted February 18, 2009
From the MHSAA Bulletin of August 2006...
During the Representative Council Meeting on May 7 - 9, 2006...Cross Country/Track & Field section(August 2006 Bulletin, page 15):
1. Approval of the Cross Country/Track & Field Committee recommendation to score and award medals for eight places (currently six) at Track & Field Regional competitions.
2. Did NOT approve at this time and in the currently proposed format the Cross Country/Track & Field Committee recommendation to conduct a team tournament in Track & Field.
3. Did NOT approve at this time and in the currently proposed format the Cross Country/Track & Field Committee recommendation to conduct a two-day Individual Finals in Track & Field on Friday and Saturday using Eastern Michigan University as the Finals site and four area high schools for preliminaries and semifinals.
4. Approval of the Cross Country/Track & Field Committee recommendation to alternate the gender for track running events and cross country races based on the calendar year rather than the school year so that girls track and cross country events will be run first in odd years and boys track & field and cross country events will be run first in even years. (Editors Note: Thus, Boys Cross Country events will be run first in the fall of 2006)
Midwest Meet of Champions...
This will be the final year hosted by the State of Michigan until it cycles around again. Each year it showcases several of the best graduating high school student athletes from the States of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
The meet will occur on Saturday, June 13, 2009 and is being hosted by Jackson High School at Withington Stadium. More information will be posted here as it becomes available and on the Midwest Meet of Champions web site. See the "Links" page for the address.