Some schools in the state of Montana would like to change how athletes qualify for the state track meet. Before changes are made it wouldn't hurt to look at the pros and cons of making changes. The information below was provided by Dan Hodge who has coached at Flathead forever. What do you think? We think that qualifying standards should be left the way they are!
PROPOSAL TO ADD QUALIFYING STANDARDS FOR ADVANCEMENT TO THE STATE TRACK MEET
More athletes will qualify for the state track meet.
Athletes that obtain automatic qualifying standards before divisional meets and participate in the divisional meet will still advance to the state meet if they are not in the top five at the divisional meet.
Sponsoring schools and cities will see increased revenue with more athletes and fans attending.
Negative Points
Schools will be faced with increased expenses with more athletes qualifying for state meets.
Qualifying meets will not be equal. The conditions under which track meets are held vary from track to track. The following conditions must be taken into consideration with the qualifying standard marks.
Weather-wind could be to a great advantage on some tracks or a big hindrance on others. All qualifying meets should have wind meters.
All meets should use the same timing standard, all submitted times must be electronic times, hand times, or converted times.
Elevation must be taken into consideration air density does make a difference in some events; the NCAA has an elevation conversion table available to equalize this situation.
Qualifying meets and the same number of meets must be available to all teams.
If qualifying meets are used, many current track school schedules will need to be rearranged.
If all track meets are used as qualifying meets, MOA’s for track should be present so standards are meet in a far and just manner. All marks should to be certified.
State meets will require more time because of the added number of qualifiers in some events. Additional heats will need to be run.
State track meet will need a new schedule of events at the AA level to accommodate added trials.
Athletes that qualify early in the season by meeting qualifying standards may not be ready to compete in the divisional and state meet. All these athletes need to do to advance to the state meet is make a showing at their divisional meet with no advancement standards being meet. Therefore, if these athletes do not compete at the state level this will weaken state competition by leaving open lanes and open participation slots in the field events. This will lead to a lowering of performances at the state track meet.
Increased record keeping will be required at the state and divisional level. Who will be responsible and accountable for all the times and distances submitted.
Sponsoring cities will need to accommodate more athletes and fans; more restaurants and motels will need to be available.
Questions
If an athlete has obtained a qualifying standard during a qualifying regular season meet, are they required to enter that event in their respective divisional meet? If they are not required to enter that event, then these athletes could possibly advance to the state meet in an unlimited number of events.
We need a fair and honest competition rule. If an athlete is removed from competition due to illness, injury or any other reason other that disqualification by track rules they should be prohibited from future competition for the remainder of that day. Currently we have athletes that qualify for advancement in events but don’t compete so they may save themselves for other events in which they feel they have a better chance of placing. This action prohibits other athletes from advancing or participating in track meets.
Why not use the qualifying standards for advancement to divisional track meets and have athletes prove that they are capable of participating at a state track meet level the week before the state track meet? This will increase the level the quality of performances at the state meet.
Why not advance eight qualifiers in each event from each divisional track meet to the state meet and score eight competitors at the state track meet?
Can we limit each classification to only two divisional track meets: One East and one West or one North and one South? This would allow the top eight competitors in each event to qualify for the state meet, increasing state performances.
Why doesn't’t the State of Montana use the participation rule set forth in the National Track and Field Federation Rule Book? The Federation rule for participation limits an athlete to four (4) events per track meet. There are no exceptions for relay teams or multiple day meets; the rule just allows four (4) events.
Positive side of this rule: participation rules for the number of events an athlete may compete in would be clear, their would be an increase in the number of athletes competing in track meets, injuries would decrease because athletes could not participate in more than four events, increased performance results in events, athletes would not need to run from event to event as often as some must do now, make a team championship a team effort and not an individual effort, will be the same for all schools.
Negative side of the rule: limits an individual athlete to four events instead of the current five events in all track meets or in some cases seven events at the state level, requires a coach to use some strategy in the use of his athletes, will reduce the chances of a school winning a state championship with one athlete.