DontStopPre, on , said:

The rule prohibiting the use of video during a meet was repealed last year. It is permitted anywhere on the meet site but may not be used to review an official's decision or to communicate with an athlete during a race or trial (no watching videos while you are running, guys).

dkap, on , said:

I assume you're referring to not using video to coach during a meet and also the rule stating coaches can't use walkie talkies or cell phones or the like to communicate with each other during a meet. I never understand why a PV coach texting a sprint coach about what pizzaria to take the team after the meet violates rules lol.

Joe Lanzalotto, on , said:

Agree. Will we now start to see out of control discus newbies flailing themselves out of the back of the ring thinking that it will help? And why not the same rule for shot putters who spin?

I do believe that some gangly jav thrower or high jumper will eventually get his jav stuck in his necklace or bracelet or wrap his bracelet around a HJ standard but that's between him and his coach ... officials are now finally free from being fashion police and can officiate like they should.

Joe Lanzalotto, on , said:

That's what I was saying.

Watches were okay in most states, but outside electronic assistance (or whatever the wording) was generally a no-no. With GPS, watches now fit that bill. It has become much tougher to define what is competition equipment. Admittedly, it's a weak connection between that aspect of watches and jewelry.

Dan

Watches were already legal before this change except in NJ (and if there were other states that prohibited them).

Changing the discus rule to no longer require the thrower to be in control is indeed strange. If the discus why not the shot and the hammer?

Gotta love a rule change that absolutely no one will object to. Well, maybe some coaches of overly expressive athletes.

I wonder if this came about because of the near-ubiquitousness of GPS watches and the blurred distinction between equipment and assistance? If that becomes harder to define, then so does the difference between watches and jewelry.

Dan

Joe Lanzalotto, on , said:

In Washington state we've never considered watches jewelry (thank god, even though I'm not personally for wearing a watch when racing, but it shouldn't be illegal). I was just curious if xc athletes could start racing in earing, necklaces, Livestrong bracelets, etc in 2014 or 2015.

Im curious as to what was the impetus behind changing the rule governing exiting the rear of the discus ring. Seems a strange one.

DontStopPre, on , said:

In theory but each state association can do what they want. For years watches were okay according to the NFHS rulebook but not in New Jersey where the state association regarded them as jewelry.

Finally! Now if we can just get the NFHS to go ahead and adopt the entire USATF rule book, we can streamline the rules across America :-)