Sports

Track & field athletes can now wear jewelry during competition

High school track and field athletes will no longer be prohibited from wearing jewelry during competitions starting in the 2015 season, the National Federation of State High School Associations announced Monday. 

The NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee recommended the change during its June meeting in Indianapolis and it was subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The wearing of jewelry ordinarily presents little risk of injury to either the competitor or opponents,” Becky Oakes, the NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee, said in a press release. “Elimination of the rule allows officials to focus on meet administration directly related to actual competition. Coaches continue to have the obligation to see the competitors are properly equipped.”

Another rule change in baseball will allow for video monitoring or replay equipment for coaching purposes during games. Previously, video equipment was permitted but it could not be used during games for coaching purposes.

“With advancements in technology, it was extremely difficult for officials to determine if teams were using video replay during games,” Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee, said in a release. “The committee determined it was the right time to permit teams to use these technological aids if they so choose.”

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