Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track &

Field Bylaws

SPORT CHAIR: Jeremy Bloom, West University Institute of Technology AD SPORT LIAISON: David Bireline, Christian University COMMISSIONER: Michael J. Schell LAST UPDATED: April 14, 2021

I. Playing Rules/Resources – OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

A. The NAIA and the use NCAA rules (with approved NAIA modifications/exceptions) in the sport of track and field. The current NCAA Track & Field rules can be found on-line at NCAA Cross Country/Track & Field Rules.

B. Complete information (including the Coaches’ Manual) on NAIA Men’s Track & Field can be found in the Coaches’ Corner section of the NAIA website. 1. NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Corner 2. NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Manual

NAIA NATIONAL OFFICE CONTACTS Track & Field Sport & Championship Manager: Courtney Fegter 816.595.8156

Track & Field Athletics Communication Manager: Katie Green 816.595.8104

NAIA TRACK & FIELD COACHES ASSOCIATION President: Mike Collins, Lewis-Clark State College 1st Vice President: Dan Tomlin, St. Ambrose University 2nd Vice President: Doug Edgar, Tech Secretary: Jeff Magley, William Jessup University Past President: Mike Holman, Marian University Indoor NAC Liaison: Michael Schell, Commissioner, River States Conference Outdoor NAC Liaison: Devin Smith, Athletics Director, Concordia University - Nebraska

II. General Information A. Personnel 1. Sport Chair – Jeremy Bloom, Tech 2. Sport Liaison – David Bireline, Ohio Christian University

B. Participating Teams/Outdoor Track & Field

Men Women

1. 1. Alice Lloyd College 2. 2. Asbury University 3. Brescia (Ky.) University 3. Brescia (Ky.) University 4. 4. Carlow University 5. East 5. 6. Indiana University Kokomo 6. Indiana University Kokomo 7. 7. Midway University 8. Ohio Christian University 8. Ohio Christian University 9. 9. Point Park University 10. 10. University of Rio Grande 11. West Virginia Tech 11. West Virginia Tech

* - Does not declare for NAIA postseason participation, but may participate in the RSC post season meet upon request and payment of sport and entry fees. (Administrative Council Winter 2018)

III. Regular Season Competition A. There are no minimum number of athletes/participants required to constitute a team. B. There is no regular-season schedule in Track & Field in the River States Conference. All teams that sponsor Outdoor Track & Field must compete in the conference championship meet. (Administrative Council Spring 2019) C. All results (scores/times) must be reported in accordance with NAIA and conference guidelines. See Section V. for more information. D. The conference will subscribe to the Direct Athletics/TFFRS performance listing for both genders.

IV. Conference Postseason Competition/Championship Meet A. The conference championship is currently a two-day event held on the final Thursday & Friday in April. 1. The track will be officially opened Thursday morning at a time to be determined by the host institution. 2. Events will begin in the afternoon with start times to be determined by the host institution. 3. The track will be closed on Wednesday for set up. 4. There will be no practice on Wednesday by any institution to accommodate missed class time. (Administrative Council Fall 2018) B. The Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet will be hosted on a two- year alternating cycle by member schools based on facility availability. Below is the current and future hosting schedule: (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

1. 2021 – Indiana University East 2. 2022-2025 – University of Rio Grande

C. The following events will be contested at the conference meet:

Running Events Field Events 100 m High Jump 200 m Long Jump 400 m Triple Jump 800 m Shot put 1500 m Discus 5,000 m Javelin 10,000 m Hammer Throw 100 / 110 hurdles (Women / Men) Pole Vault 400 m hurdles 3000 m Steeplechase 5000 m Race Walk 4 x 100 m relay 4 x 400 m relay 4 x 800 m relay

D. Institutions/teams may enter four (4) entrants in individual events and all four may score points. Institutions are limited to one relay entry per event. E. Unless modified prior to the start of the event, points will be awarded in the top eight places in the following manner: 1. First place – 10 points 2. Second place – 8 points 3. Third place – 6 points 4. Fourth place – 5 points 5. Fifth place – 4 points 6. Sixth place – 3 points 7. Seventh place – 2 points 8. Eighth place – 1 point (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

F. The conference will use NCAA Rules (with any NAIA event modifications) in developing the order of events/schedule, determining advancement/qualification numbers into event finals from preliminary heats, and the number of athletes scored in each event.

1. Both genders of the Race Walk will be contested concurrently with results published and scored separately by gender. (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

2. Due to the time limit of facility and to ensure equity of competition for the events to follow the Race Walk would be limited in time to 67% of the NAIA B standard. (Administrative Council Fall 2019)

G. Events requiring multiple heats/flights will be seeded based on performances achieved during that competition season. If no performances have been achieved in an event during that season; then the athlete may be entered with no time/distance, but must be placed in the slowest heat. Final placing will be determined after all heats/flights are completed with the fastest time earning first place, second-fastest time earning second place (and so on) regardless of the heat the time/mark was achieved in.

G. The following timelines/deadlines will be in place for entering athletes in the River States Conference Championship Meet:

1. All athletes must be entered into Direct Athletics by 5 PM EST three (3) days prior to the meet. (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

2. Heat sheets must be disclosed/released two (2) days prior to the meet.

3. The host institution is responsible for collecting/distributing this information.

H. Conference Championship Meet Entry Fee – Effective 2020-21 there is no longer an entry fee. Sport fees have been adjusted to incorporate these funds. Teams entering twelve (12) or fewer total participants per gender will be credited back funds based on the entered number of participants. The sport fees will cover the administrative costs (officials’ fees, timing/scoring, etc.) of hosting the event and may be adjusted annually based on the total number of teams declared with Council of President’s approval. (Administrative Council Fall 2020)

I. The Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship Meet must be electronically timed using a Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) system. (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

J. The set standard for vertical jumps at RSC Championship Meet:

1. HJ: 1.7m for Men, and 1.4m for Women, 2. PV: 3.05m for me, and 2.45m for women. 3. PV will use 15 cm progression 4. HJ will use 5cm progression up to 1.65m for women and 2.00m, then progress by 3 cm.

K. Two (2) Coaches Boxes on the infield on opposite sides along the straightaways, as well as designated coaches’ box for ALL field events.

L. The 5-person Championship Games Committee will consist of the following individuals:

1. Meet manager/Director. 2. Indoor Track & Field Sport Chair or at-large coach 3. Outdoor Track & Field Sport Chair or at-large coach 4. Commissioner

5. Athletic Director Sport Liaison (Administrative Council Fall 2019) 6. M. The Jury of Appeals (selected by the Games Committee prior to the meet) will include three participating head coaches and two participating head coaches as designated alternates. The host team coach cannot be a member of this jury. (Administrative Council Fall 2019)

P. A $50 fee is payable to the River States Conference must be submitted at the time an official protest form is filed. The Commissioner or their designate will hold funds and handle the financial portion of this process. The fee will be refunded if the appeal is upheld. (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

V. Statistical Reports

A. All results must be reported to the conference website through the SIDHelp Admin portal ASAP after each competition and no later than 24 hours after the event. Scores must be reported by Sunday at 7 p.m. ET for the purposes of weekly conference athlete of the week honors/nominations. B. All Athlete of the Week nominations must be made at the NAIA SIDHelp Admin portal by Monday at 12 p.m. ET. Voting for Athlete of the Week takes place between 12-3 p.m. (Eastern time). C. Failure to report results to the conference website within 24 hours may result in the following sanctions: 1. First Miss – Email Reminder 2. Second Miss – Probation letter from conference commissioner 3. Third Miss – Student-athlete ineligible for postseason awards 4. Fourth Miss – Team ineligible for postseason competition. D. The conference SID will be responsible for releasing Athlete of the Week awards and any weekly reports. E. Each school is responsible for posting its team schedule and rosters to the conference website through the SID Help admin portal by Sept. 1 of the season.

VII. Conference Awards A. The conference provides the following awards in the sport of Men’s Track & Field. Awards will be ordered and distributed by the conference commissioner. It is the responsibility of the sport chair to coordinate the awards selection process with the commissioner, the sport liaison and the conference SID. Below is a listing of each award and the selection process: 1. Individual/relay event Conference Champions will be event winners and winning relay participants. These champions will receive 1st-place medals. 2. All-Conference Team. The top three finishers in each of the individual events will earn All-Conference honors and will receive medals. The top three relay teams will be named All-Conference and also earn medals. 3. Outstanding Male & Female Track Athlete. Determined by a vote of coaches at the end of the meet using scoring as the leading criteria. (Administrative Council Winter 2018) 4. Outstanding Male & Female Field Athlete. Determined by a vote of coaches at the end of the meet using scoring as the leading criteria. (Administrative Council Winter 2018) 5. Male & Female Newcomer of the Year Award. This award will be awarded to a first-year athlete/performer in each gender and will be voted on by the coaches at the end of the meet. (Administrative Council Spring 2019)

6. Male & Female Coach of the Year will be selected by a vote of the coaches at the conclusion of the final event. (Administrative Council Spring 2019) 7. Trophies will be awarded to the Championship and Runner-up teams based upon meet scoring. 8. Conference Scholar-Athlete Team Award: Each team will have a Scholar- Athlete Team using the criteria as listed in the River States Constitution Article XV. This will be facilitated each season by the Commissioner and the Conference Office based on the semester and season (Fall, Winter & Spring) that the championship for that sport occurs. Announcement of this team is also governed by this Policy. (Administrative Council Winter 2018) 9. Champion of Character Award. Each team will select an individual to receive this award. The recipient will best model the NAIA’s five Champions of Character core values and will also be eligible to receive the annual Bill Melton Champion of Character Award. One Melton Award winner (male or female) will be nominated to receive the NAIA’s national award (Dr. Leroy Walker Character Award).