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Misconceptions, myths and clarifications reguarding the high jump.

#1. On her third attempt at 5’ in the high jump, the competitor’s leg touches the bar during clearance. As it wobbles on the standards she leaps off the landing pit. She is three steps away from the mat when the bar finally falls. Is she still in the competition?

Ruling : No. That would constitute a third consecutive miss in the competition and she is done for the day.

One of the perpetual myths in high jump is that if you are off the pit before the bar falls, it is a good jump. There is no such ruling. If there were, I’d be tempted to teach jumpers not to land on the mat at all! Rule 7-4 article 16a.of the National Federation Rules states it is a foul if the jumper “displaces the crossbar in an attempt to clear it”. No time limit or position of jumper is specified. It is the judges ruling whether the jumper caused the bar to fall. This is a crucial issue when we discuss the effect of bar displacement by wind or improperly placed mats.

My first experience with the high jump was in 1966. At no time between then and now has there ever been a rule regarding “leaving the mat before the bar falls”. Yet, every year `I see jumpers attempting to rush off the mats for just that purpose. That has to make it one of the most consistent myths in the sport of track and field.

#2. Both jumpers miss at 5’0”. Jumper A cleared 4’10 on her first attempt but has five misses at lower heights. Jumper B cleared 4’10 on her second attempt but had no misses at lower heights. Who wins?

Ruling : Jumper A. The first tie breaker in high jump is the number of misses at the last height cleared. You consider total misses only if they are tied at "final clearance" height. If they are also tied for total misses the points are shared - unless it is for first place.

(example. Let’s consider an invitational meet where 6 places are awarded. There is a clear winner for first place but three competitors are tied for second place. The point totals for three places are combined and shared evenly. That would be 2nd=8, 3rd=6 and 4th=4 for a total of 18 points divided by three jumpers. Each jumper is awarded 6 points.)

If it is for first place a “jump off” is initiated.
Each jumper takes one more attempt at the failed height.
From that point, if a tie still occurs the bar is either raised or lowered by 1” – depending upon whether the previous jump was cleared or missed.
There is only one attempt at each height, raising or lowering the bar until the tie is broken. Each jumper is credited with the highest height attained, whether in the regular competition or jump off.

* Passes at heights can create even more confusion. How do you determine the starting height of the jump off if the last height attempted is not the same for all the jumpers involved? In this case the jump off starts at the lowest of the “last attempt” heights. Passing is prohibited during the jump off.

#3. The jumper clears the bar cleanly. She decides to exit the pit by going back under the bar. Is it a clear or a miss?

Ruling : There is no rule prohibiting exiting the pit by going under the bar. But it is an unnecessary risk. If, while leaving the pit the jumper contacts the standards and dislodges the bar, the jump shall be ruled a miss. A jumper is also prohibited from touching the bar in any manner after a jump. Rule 7-4 article 16c calls for a foul “if the competitor, after clearing the bar, steadies the bar.”

#4. Can an athlete take a warm-up jump after the competition is started?

Ruling : Under certain conditions the answer to this question is yes. Section 7-4 article 9 allows a competitor a warm-up jump without the bar in place if they have passed three consecutive heights. This warm-up must be taken at the height change – i.e. before any jumps have been taken at the new height.

Other rules governing the jump:

The jump must occur off one foot.

Jumpers have one minute to initiate an attempt that is carried to completion. That means the jump can occur after 60 seconds as long as the jumper has initiated that approach.

If during an aborted approach the jumper touches the landing area or ground beyond the plane of the crossbar or crossbar extended, it is considered a failed attempt.