PASCO INVITE COACHES MEETING

1) Welcome to Pasco and the Invitational. We have 1412 athletes representing 100 schools in competition today. Thank you for your cooperation and consideration. Take time and read all information included in your packet. We hope that all your athletes have PR's today. We are expecting great competition.
2) Packets include some programs to be used by the coaches. Programs have not been provided for the athletes. In the past many programs were left on the field thus we feel that the athletes that truly want a program will buy one. Thanks in your cooperation in NOT asking for more programs.
3) Only scratches can be made on the wall before you leave this meeting. Do NOT ask to make the additions or changes. Lane assignments for the meet were made based upon the times submitted by the coaches. This should lead to equal races for all if the times are real times for the athletes. Please remember this for future years. We want the best in the best heats if the athlete truly can run in that heat.
4) Javelin throwers need to be aware of the procedures for the javelin area. All javelins must be weighed and measured. They will then be taken to the javelin area by the judges. Warm-up times will be allowed before the event for all contestants. Warm-up times will be allowed between flights for only the contestants in that flight. During competition, all javelins will be kept in a barrel near the judges. Only throwers in a flight may have their javelins. No extra tosses or short warm-up throws may be allowed along the side of the javelin area. We must consider the safety of all and to respect the new field turf.
5) Competition does not begin for the pole vaulters until all athletes are weighed, pole examined and proper amount of warmup is provided. This will start at 9:30 am. Pole vaulters must use the proper pole. Vaulters will be weighed near the pole vault pit before competing and vaulters will be checked during the meet as to whether they are using a legal pole for their weight. Vaulters jumping with illegal poles will be disqualified. Be sure that your poles are clearily marked with the rating. Pole Vault Coaches will be ask to be in the area to spot for their athletes and to provide a layer of safety around the landing pad and runways. Note: We will start the Pole Vault at 11:00 to insure that we meet the above items.
6) Everyone needs a pass or number to get into the meet. Athletes must wear their numbers throughout the day to go thru the gate if necessary. Additional passes for coaches and managers are available at the coaches meeting. The pass gate is on the Northeast corner of the stadium (Up from the discus ring on 16th Ave.). Remind your athletes to get numbers before trying to enter the stadium. Coaches can leave numbers at the pass gate for athletes coming later. Numbers and passes are in your packets which are available on the field on Friday and at the athlete pass gate up from the discus ring on Saturday. Names are on the back of each number of the athlete competing. If you need more numbers there are some extras that can be obtained from my daughter, Sharon. If you did not bring an athlete that has been assigned a number, use this number for the replacement athlete. Four pins per number have been provided in your packet. If you need more pins, see Sandra Morgan, the clerk of the course. This year, each racer will be issued a hip number prior to each race. These are to be worn on the left hip and a runner will be disqualified if they try to start a race without a hip number(Exception is in the relays, the last runner must have a hip number)
7) During the opening ceremonies, competition will be discountinued. We ask that the athletes remain respectful of these ceremonies and that there will be no extra throws or jumps in the areas. A warm-up time will be given after the opening ceremonies for events interrupted.
8) Outstanding Athlete Ballots are in your number packets. Coaches that coach both the girls and boys will have two ballots. Coaches with just a few athletes will just have one ballot. All ballots must be turned into the head table before the last event.
9) Coaches are not allowed on the field or in the field event areas except for the pole vault. Pole Vault coaches will not coach at the pole vault area. If you wish to talk to your athlete, please take your athlete to the designated area at the start of the 100 on the backside of the track. On the eastside of the track, coaches must be behind the fence. In the shotput and discus area coaches are to be in the designated areas not along the track. It is important to stay on the outside of the fences while watching the long/triple jumps. Coaches need to remind athletes of the time limits for events. Visible countdown clocks will be used in the pole vault areas. Judges have been instructed to scratch the jump/throw for the athletes that are no-shows because of time elements. Remind coaches and athletes to check in and have weighed your shotput, discus and javelin in the shed behind the shotput ring.
10) Have all athletes report to start area before each running event where they will be checked in and hip numbers given to them. Field Event Athletes must check into an field event prior to the start of the event: i.e. A jumper in the sixth flight must check into that event prior to the first flight. Coaches need to remind athletes to show for awards when called on the intercom. Winners in final events will be escorted from the finish line to the awards stand for awards. Our new computer finish line should speedup the awards.
11) Lane drawings for the finals in the Boys & Girls 100 and 200 and the High Hurdles will be by time. All preliminary winners will be in the finals as well as the remaining fastest times to fill up the finals(10 runners). Athletes then will be seeded in the finals by times (Fastest-lane 5, second fastest-lane 6, third fastest-lane 4, fourth-lane 7, etc. until all lanes are filled)
12) Ice is available at the field house-Do NOT bother the people at the concession stand. If you have medical problems, we have licensed EMT's on duty near the finish line. There is a medical tent just off the finish line in the infield.
13) Meet results will be available at the conclusion of the meet in the press box. Individual race results will be posted on the windows of the new meeting area at the top of the stadium. Sheets will be available at the Press Box after the opening ceremonies showing the lane assignments of the preliminaries into the finals. Results will also be posted on the internet but will not be mailed to the schools as in the past. That site is www.jcrawford.net
14) Remember we will be using a 3 turn stagger in the 4x400 relays. The 4x400 relay will start at the normal start line in front of the main bleachers.
15) Jumpers will be limited to the number of marks they can make next to the runways. Long and Triple Jumpers can only have one mark next to the runway but not between the scratch line and the landing pad. High Jumpers can only have two marks on the jumping pad. Pole vaulters can only have one mark next to the runway.
16) Seeded runners in the 800, 1600 and 3200 will be placed on the outside of each fall line instead of the inside like in the past. Remember that the field for the 1600 and 3200 has been divided into two Groups-Group A will be lined up between lanes 1 and 5 on a fall line and Group B will be lined up between lanes 6 and 10 on a fall line that has the one turn stagger for lane 6. Group B must stay outside the cones that have been placed on the line between lanes 5 and 6 until they exit the curve at the 300 meter mark. Spills in the first 100 meters will constitute a restart. Be sure to have the runners protect themselves. This same procedure will be used for the distance medley relays.  You are in Group A if your alignment number is odd and you are in Group B is your alignment number is even.
17) This year we are treating the 800 like we did last year. We will use the alley starts for each heat of the 800. If you lane assignment has an A by it, you will be in Alley A(Lanes 1-5) and if you have a B, then you will be in Alley B(Lanes 6-10). Like the 1600 and 3200, you will remain in these alleys until you exit the curve at the 300 meter mark.
18) With the additional finish line system, we will run the 100's on the backside for the prelims. and the HH on the front side. This way we do not have to move hurdles for the prelims and finals. Wheelchair 100 meters will use the main stands side for their races. Be ready to race at the conclusion of the hurdles races.