2021 FHSAA Track & Field State Championships

May 7-8, 2021 - University of North Florida

1. General Information

1. Location

The University of North Florida

Hodges Stadium

1 S. UNF Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32224

2. Event Schedule

Click Here to View the Event Schedule

3. Spectator Tickets

Advance spectator tickets are available online via the University of North Florida.

$12 PER DAY PER PERSON WHEN BOUGHT IN ADVANCE (INCLUDES A $3 FEE FOR PARKING)

$15 PER DAY PER PERSON CASH ONLY AT THE SPECTATOR ENTRY GATE (INCLUDES A $3 FEE FOR PARKING)

GATES OPEN 1 HOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FIRST EVENT.

SPECTATORS WILL BE ISSUED WRISTBANDS FOR RE-ENTRY USE AT TIME OF INITIAL ENTRY.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ADVANCE SPECTATOR TICKETS

4. Packet Pickup

Packet Pickup is Located at the Team Entry Gate.  Only coaches are permitted in the packet pickup area.  PIckup times are listed below.

5. Coaches Meeting (Optional)

When: May 5, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: 2021 FHSAA Track & Field State Championships - Participant Coaches Meeting

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hm8pwSQ9T6CyqeczDCQ16g 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

6. Practice

Practice by any participating school at the site of the Florida High School State Championship Series during the week of the Florida High School State Championship Series is prohibited. (AP 4.14.2.3.4(b))

7. Venue Entry

1. State Series and Lifetime Passes

Only FHSAA State Series passes and Lifetime passes will be accepted.  The gate attendant will check for proper identification for pass holders at the front of the venue.  Pass holders are required to sign-in.  School administrators and representatives are strongly encouraged to utilize their State Series Passes for entry to the venue.

2. Coaches Entry

Wristbands (Coaches Passes) are distributed on a per gender team basis and must be worn at all times during the meet.  Credentials for pole vault access will be distributed on a per school basis.

• Teams qualifying 3 or less participants – two (2) passes
• Teams qualifying 4-7 participants – three (3) passes
• Teams qualifying 8-15 participants– four (4) passes
• Teams qualifying 16 or more participants – five (5) passes

In lieu of the expanded policy on coaches passes, additional passes beyond those referenced above are not available.

3. Student-Athlete Entry

Participating athletes will be admitted by displaying their competition bib number contained within the coaches packet.  Athletes must wear the competitor bibs on the front of their jersey/singlet. Athletes competing in the pole vault may wear their bib on either the front or back. Bibs may not be altered in any manner. Bib numbers will be required at check-in and for all events. Hip numbers will be issued at check-in and must be worn on the hip for all running events.  Athletes should provide their own personal water bottle or container.

4. Spectators

Spectators are not permitted to bring coolers into the venue.  Umbrellas are prohibited from the grandstand area stands—all spectators in the stands are entitled to a view of the events on the track.  Spectators are expected to adhere to the UNF Clear Bag Policy.

5. All attendees of the 2021 FHSAA Track & Field State Championships must adhere to the University of North Florida’s COVID-19 protocols including the wearing of face coverings at all times while on campus and should utilize physical distancing when possible.
6. Tent City. Tent city is located outside of the team entrance gate (See Appendix A).  Because some of the surface in that area is pavement,

8. Communication and Messaging

All real time messaging will be done via the Public Address system on site at Hodges Stadium and via Twitter.

To receive meet management updates (e.g. weather delays, schedule adjustments, etc.) via Twitter, please follow @FHSAA.  To receive meet management updates via text message on Twitter, text Follow @FHSAA to 40404.

Live Results are available via Half-Mile Timing.

Official Results, Rankings, and Qualifying Lists for the 2021 FHSAA Track & Field State Series are available on TFRRS Florida.

2. Meet Leadership & Staff

3. Games Committee

4. Meet Referees

5. Competition Area Access Protocol

1. Coaches

Proper credential (wristbands will be issued to all documented coaches based upon number of qualifiers from the school).  An additional credential will be issued to one coach per school (not per gender) with competitors competing in the Pole Vault.  Coaches are not permitted in the competition area.  

2. Contestants

Athletes must display/wear their uniform and bib number to access the competition area.  The Infield is restricted at all times.  Athletes should provide their own personal water bottle or container.

3. Reporting/Check-in Procedures and Heat/Lane Assignments

Runners will report/check-in at the clerk of the course on the east side of the venue.  All field event contestants will check in at the event venue.  Pole vaulters will be weighed at the event venue.  Athletes should provide their own personal water bottle or container.

4. Reporting to the Clerk of the Course

Athletes must be ready, willing, and able to compete upon reporting to the clerk of the course (No warm-ups, leggings, or other items covering the uniform).  Hip numbers will be given at check-in.  Singlets must be tucked into the uniform bottoms or worn as the manufacturer intended.

No bags or electronic devices are permitted in the clerking area.

BANDANAS, DO-RAGS, AND OTHER ADORNED HEADBAND-TYPE WEAR ARE PROHIBITED.

6. Weights and Measures

Implement inspection will take place North side of the grand stand (see Appendix A). Implement inspection must take place during the designated time period for each classification.

Once an implement is submitted for certification, it will remain impounded until the completion of the competition. Illegal implements will be secured until after the meet and may be picked up at the conclusion of competition.  Only certified implements may be used during official warm-ups and competition.  Contestants who require implements for practice after inspection should bring secondary implements.

A competitor may use another competitor’s implement during competition only with the other competitor’s permission.

Implements passing certification will be brought to the event site prior to the start of warm-ups.  Implements may be picked up at the event venue after the conclusion of the final flight of the event.

Implement Inspection hours are as follows:

Friday, May 7

1A - 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM

3A - 2:00 PM -3:30 PM

Saturday, May 8

2A - 6:00 AM - 7:30 AM

4A - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

*All implements must be checked-in during the scheduled times above for the throws.

**Pole Vault poles will be checked at the event site.  Athletes in Pole Vault will also be weighed at the event site.

7. Markers and Spike Limitations

1. Markers

Athletic tape may be used on the track surface.  Tennis balls may not be used as relay markers.

2. Spikes

The maximum length for spikes is 7mm (1/4”) pyramid ONLY.  Christmas Trees and Needles are NOT permitted.  Spike check will be conducted at the gate near the clerking area.

8. Triple Jump Foul Lines

1. Foul Lines are Fixed

Foul lines are fixed at the FHSAA Track & Field State Championship Finals in the Triple Jump.  The use of foul lines further than those prescribed below must be verified in DirectAthletics and approved by the games committee.  Prescribed distances are:

Girls - 8.5m

Boys - 11m

9. Excused Competitors

A 12-minute time limit will be utilized for excused competitors.  Officials will work with competitors competing in multiple events simultaneously.  Each competitor is responsible for reporting/checking in with all events at the start time of that event.

10. Event Announcements

The first call for each event will be made approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the competition.

11. Failure to Participate

If a contestant is scratched from an event, the contestant will be disqualified from participating in all remaining events in the meet.  A contestant qualified for state championship event(s) is required to compete in those respective event(s).

Waivers may be issued for documented injuries to athletes that would prevent them from competition.  Waivers may be approved by the FHSAA Executive Director or designee prior to the meet. (FHSAA Policy 10).  Any waiver request must be made in writing via email prior to the event to track@fhsaa.org.

12. Athletic Training

Medical personnel and athletic trainers will be available throughout the competition and located in the southwest corner of the venue.  UNF Athletic Training staff will not provide pre-event taping.  Pre-event taping is the responsibility of each team/coaches.

13. Decisions of the Referees and the Jury of Appeals

1. Referees and Decisions of the Referees

Referees are appointed by the FHSAA Track & Field Sport Administrator.  Final decisions will rest with the referees.  Starting in 2021, a committee system will be employed.  Three referees are appointed to each meet.  They are known as the “committee.”  A minimum of two (2) referees are required to address and agree upon a final decision at the FHSAA Track & Field State Championships.

2. Non-appealable situations

• Any judgment decision pertaining to violations or alleged violations of the rules.  
• A decision made by the finish judges or timers that does not involve misapplication of a rule, or the terms and conditions of competition.
• Whether a start is fair and legal.

1. Purpose of the Jury of Appeals

A jury of appeals shall serve as the final board of appeals.  A head coach must first consult the committee to discuss all potential appeals.  If the coach feels that the terms and conditions of competition or the application of the rules have been misapplied or misinterpreted after consulting the committee, a written appeal may be made to the jury.  The referee will have the proper appeal form.

2. Situations Subject to Appeal

• Misapplication of the rules, which must be filed within 30 minutes after the announcement of event results.  
• Correction of clerical or team scoring errors which may be corrected up to 48 hours after the end of the meet, unless another time period is specified in advance by the meet management.  
• Correction of meet results involving an ineligible participant which may be made at any time when discovered.  
• Failure to follow a procedure contained in the terms and conditions of competition announced in advance by the meet director to games committee.  This would include such items as the time schedule, the number of qualifiers to advance, number of trials, etc.

1. FHSAA Rules and Policies

Judgments related to FHSAA-specific rules regarding sportsmanship, FHSAA Policy, and Bylaws are made by the FHSAA Track & Field Administrator and are not appealable.

2. Jury of Appeals

Class 1A

Class 3A

Class 2A

Class 4A

14. Awards

1. Individual Awards Presentations – Located on the Infield

The Top 8 individuals in each event will stand on the awards podium.  The names of the top 3 in each event will be announced.  Recipients in the running events will be escorted directly to the podium from the finish line by Marshals.  A member of the officiating crew from each respective field event will escort those recipients directly to the podium at the conclusion of their events.  When exiting the awards ceremony, athletes will be directed to the finish line gate.

2. Awards presentation participation is mandatory.  

Recipients of awards who are “no shows” may be disqualified from further competition for unsportsmanlike conduct.  Recipients who are engaged in other events during awards presentation may retrieve their medals from the awards tent on the infield.

3. Team Awards Presentation

Team awards presentation will be conducted on the infield at the conclusion of the final heat of the Boys 4x400m Relay.  Each head coach and his/her team and team personnel shall approach the awards stand within 1 minute 45 seconds of first being announced.  After the presentation (3 minutes) the team will exit the infield area to the finish line gate.  Failure to appear may subject the coach/team to unsportsmanlike penalties.

4. Media Interviews

After receiving their medallions, individuals may be interviewed as they exit the competition area beyond the finish line gate.

15. Inclement Weather Procedures

In the event of inclement weather, meet management will update all participants and spectators by loudspeaker, FHSAA.com, and twitter updates (@FHSAA).  In the case of lightning in the area, all spectators and athletes will be required to return to their vehicles.

16. Survey

CLICK HERE for the 2020 FHSAA Track & Field State Championships Coaches Survey

17. Appendix A – Venue Map

18. Appendix B – Track Markings