VALE – The National Federation of State High School Associations Track and Field and Cross County Rule Committee recently announced a series of changes for the 2022 season.
Keeping with changes in other sports, head coverings worn for religious reasons are no longer denied. Rule 4-3-1b(8) states ”head coverings worn for religious reasons are not considered hair devices; must not be made of abrasive, hard or unyielding materials; and must be secured to the body and/or uniform.”
One additional change comes in the size of a company logo on a runner’s bottoms. Beginning next year, a manufacturer’s logo/trademark can be larger than the previous size of 2 ¼ inches.
“In track and field, uniform bottoms are increasingly being purchased by the athlete and not school-issued,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee. “It is becoming more difficult to purchase some garments without the logo completely around the waistband. Since allowing larger logos around the waistband has no bearing or impact on the race or event, the committee determined the change would minimize issues related to logo/trademark/reference on uniform bottoms.”
In addition, Rule 6 has been clarified that running in the direction other than how the event is conducted is prohibited during warmups, with the exception of the high jump.