I am a new track coach at a high school. I am speculating that the track
still has 440 yard markings but no one is able to confirm this. I used the
NFHS rule book to test the 300m hurdle markings and the first hurdle
placement was exactly 45m (147 ft. 7 1/2 in.) but every marking after that
was off.
Do you have any suggestions? Do I need to get certified by a governing
body?
Thank you,
Coach Michael Heinze
Manteca High School, CA
Track Markings
Moderator: George Payan
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George Payan
- Posts: 409
- Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 9:07 am
Track Markings
Coaches should pay attention to track markings. One of the responsibilities of the head coach is to check the markings. If you do not have plastic markers, use paint to go over faded markings. If you have painted markings, they should be repainted before each season.
If you have a 440-yard track, work with it all season long. If you had a metric track it would have plastic markings to indicate the distance. If you determine that you have a 440-yard track, do not be concerned about converting to a metric track because the school would have to hire an expert to do so. There are companies that do this. If other schools in your district have a metric track, you have a valid argument to have the school district convert the track to metrics to make things fair and equal.
Find out if league finals are on a metric track because you will have to be prepared to convert marks from yards to metrics.
You must abide by the requirements of the National Federation of State High School Associations Track & Field and Cross Country Rule Book. The web site is www.nfhs.org.
Coach Payan
www.CoachesEducation.com
If you have a 440-yard track, work with it all season long. If you had a metric track it would have plastic markings to indicate the distance. If you determine that you have a 440-yard track, do not be concerned about converting to a metric track because the school would have to hire an expert to do so. There are companies that do this. If other schools in your district have a metric track, you have a valid argument to have the school district convert the track to metrics to make things fair and equal.
Find out if league finals are on a metric track because you will have to be prepared to convert marks from yards to metrics.
You must abide by the requirements of the National Federation of State High School Associations Track & Field and Cross Country Rule Book. The web site is www.nfhs.org.
Coach Payan
www.CoachesEducation.com
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Rich Ede
First off, invest in a 100 meter tape measure. Measure the curb itself all the way around. A 440 yard track should measure 401.39 meters of curb (401.70 meters if there's no curb but just a line.) A 400 meter track will measure 399.33 meters of curb.
While it's true that a professional would be useful in recertifying a track, for practical purposes, have the track lined, use nails every 5 yards or so, 20 cm into each lane (30 in lane 1) and measure back from the finish line (clockwise) to the appropriate hurdle/relay/start lines. It helps to have a team work party and get LOTS of hands involved. Somewhere I have a complete chart of all the appropriate lines and their measurements from the finish. Email me rede@chs.cusd.claremont.edu if you want a copy.
While it's true that a professional would be useful in recertifying a track, for practical purposes, have the track lined, use nails every 5 yards or so, 20 cm into each lane (30 in lane 1) and measure back from the finish line (clockwise) to the appropriate hurdle/relay/start lines. It helps to have a team work party and get LOTS of hands involved. Somewhere I have a complete chart of all the appropriate lines and their measurements from the finish. Email me rede@chs.cusd.claremont.edu if you want a copy.