Implement Inspection 101...• Girls (HS): 1.0 kg • Women (19-49): 1.0 kg • Construction: • Wood, plastic, composite or metal body • Rubber discus is ONLY allowed in HS competition

Implement Inspection 101

Rev. B, JAN 2015

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� Why this presentation?

� Why are legal implements important?

� Overview of implement specs

� Examples of impounded implements

Agenda:

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• Not all meets will have an Implement Inspector

• Where an Inspector is not present, the Throws Judge

must perform the inspection function

• This presentation:

• Covers implement inspection in the field

• Does not go into measurement details• Provides examples of what to look for

Why this presentation?

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• The Throws Official must be cognizant of which size of implement is thrown by which age group

• See “Implement Weight vs. Age Charts” file in the training CD for a complete listing of Masters and Youth age groups, and the weight of implements they throw

• See the stand-alone Throws clinic slides in the training CD for a complete listing of all implements, and which competitor groups use them

• These slides list the most common implement sizes as a reference, but the above references must be consulted

for more detail

Some general notes:

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• Implements are specified in weight, dimensions &construction

• Exceedance of specifications may unfairly enhance

the flight or handling characteristics of an implement

• An illegal (advantageous) implement is:

• Unfair to other competitors (for obvious reasons)

• Unfair to the competitor (it will be discovered and impounded at

post-regular season meets, when performance means the most)

Why are legal implements important?

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• Minimum required weight*• Boys (HS): 12 lb• Men (19-49): 7.260 kg• Girls (HS): 4 kg• Women (19-49): 4 kg

• Construction: • Metal not softer than brass (outdoor shot)

• Typical materials are cast iron, brass, steel, stainless steel

• Inner movement is acceptable (e.g., lead pellets)• Shape must be spherical• Surface must be smooth• The weight is frequently stamped or molded into the shot• Plastic shell filled with lead pellets (indoor shot)• Plastic shell must be unalterable in shape (indoor shot)

Shot overview

* See “Implement Weight vs. Age Charts” file for other sizes of shots.

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• What to look for:• An 8 lb shot (not legal) masquerading as a 4 kg shot

• Look for a stamped or molded number on the shot

• Compare a known 4 kg against a questionable shot by

holding one in each hand & comparing their weights

• If in doubt, impound it

Shot overview (con’t)

8 lb shots4 kg shot

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• What to look for:• Nicked, gouged or rough surface

• Any roughness or discontinuity of the surface, which could

enhance the thrower’s grip of the shot, is illegal

• This includes deliberate grinding of “finger holds” in the

surface of the shot.


These images are extreme examples of gouged surfaces. A shot with a

fine, sandpaper-like surface should also be disqualified.

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• What to look for:• Other types of finger holds

• A poor casting that leaves a ridge

• A flat spot


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• What to look for:• Mold marks that are too large

• A small mold mark in a cast shot is generally ok.

• Anything larger than a dime should be impounded.


The following mold marks are too large and serve as finger holds:

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• What to look for:

• Cracks in indoor shot casings

• Cracks usually start radiating out from the fill hole.

• Some cracks are in the process of growing; others are

already big enough to leak out the lead pellets

• A cracked indoor shot casing is beyond end-of-life and

should be permanently impounded

• Protruding fill hole plug


Cracks in shot casings are not repairable. They will

eventually open wide enough to leak out all the lead pellets.

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• Soft indoor shot shell

• Plastic shells generally are acceptable

• Rubber shells generally deform and fail the rule


NCAA Rule 10-7-1: The shot must be spherical and unalterable in shape, and the

surface must be smooth so that an advantage is not gained by grip.

USATF Rule 221.5: The indoor shot must not allow that indentations in the surface be

created to improve a grip.

These shots are not legal for NCAA or USATF use:

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• Minimum weight*• Boys (HS): 1.6 kg• Men (19-49): 2.0 kg• Girls (HS): 1.0 kg• Women (19-49): 1.0 kg

• Construction:• Wood, plastic, composite or metal body

• Rubber discus is ONLY allowed in HS competition

• Metal rim; must be smooth• Body must have no indentations, breakage or sharp edges• Cross-section must be symmetrical• All parts must be flush with each other

Discus overview

* See “Implement Weight vs. Age Charts” file for other sizes of discuses.

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• Rubber discus in non-high school competition

Discus overview (con’t)

Impound all rubber discuses for non-HS competition

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• Rough, nicked, gouged, cracked or non-smooth rim, which could

enhance the thrower’s grip of the discus


These images are extreme

examples of gouged or nicked

surfaces. A discus with a fine,

sandpaper-like surface should

also be disqualified.

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• Side plates or center plates that are not assembled flush


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• Cracked or broken side plates

• Stripped or loose fasteners which might cause the discus to

come apart


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• Cracked or broken rim


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Javelin overview• Minimum weight*

• Boys (HS): 800 g• Men (19-49): 800 g• Girls (HS): 600 g• Women (19-49): 600 g

• Construction:• Metal or other suitable shaft

• Smooth & circular; no grooves, ridges or roughness

• Metal head• Terminates in a sharp point

• Some HS associations require rubber tips

• Grip cord• Non-slip surface is OK, but no notches or indentations

• Can not be loose or taped

• The entire javelin must be a fixed, integrated whole• No internal movement is allowed

• Must balance somewhere within the length of the grip cord

* See “Implement Weight vs. Age Charts” file for other sizes of javelins.

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Javelin overview (con’t)


• Grip cord unraveling

• Tape applied to grip cord

Covering the grip cord with tape, either partially or completely, is not legal.

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• Internal movement can be heard or detected

• Rubber tip damaged or missing (where rubber tips are required):

Impound any javelin with a missing

or damaged rubber tip(in those jurisdictions where rubber tips are required)

This javelin has a regular (pointed)

metal head, with a rubber tip that has

been forced on. This is not legal.

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• Does not balance on grip cord

This javelin

balances on

its grip cord

= Legal

This javelin

does not

balance on

its grip cord

= Illegal

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Mini Javelin overview

• Minimum weight• 300 g• applies to boys & girls for USATF Youth and Junior Olympics competition (11-12 Division & under)

• Construction:• Plastic shaft, grip and fins• 4 fins are required• Rubber head• The entire javelin must be a fixed, integrated whole

• No internal movement is allowed

• Must balance somewhere within the length of the grip

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Mini Javelin overview (con’t)


• Alternate plastic javelins that do not comply with the specifications

The above example has three fins and several of its dimensions do not

comply with the specs. Although it is made by the same company as

the mini javelin, it is not a suitable substitute.

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• Minimum required weight*• Boys (HS): 12 lb• Men (19-49): 7.260 kg• Girls (HS): 4 kg• Women (19-49): 4 kg

• Construction: • Metal head, not softer than brass


• No inner movement is allowed in the head• Shape of head must be spherical• The wire can be bent, but not kinked• The handle must be symmetrical, without any moving parts• The swivel lug must not be cracked or otherwise damaged

Hammer overview

* See “Implement Weight vs. Age Charts” file for other sizes of hammers.

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• What to look for:• Cracked or severely dented head

Hammer overview (con’t)

A cracked head can be leaking

fill material. Small dimples or

dents are ok, large ones are

not.

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• What to look for:• Inner movement can be heard or detected in the head• Notable erosion of the head, particularly on the bottom:


This hammer was

severely underweight

due to excess erosion

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• What to look for:• Cracked or damaged swivel lug


Hammers with damaged lugs must be impounded

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• What to look for:• A kink that can be seen or felt on the wire• Broken wire• Small weights taped to the wire


A kinked wire should be impounded (curled wire is OK)

Small, added weights are easily removed during competition and suggest the hammer is underweight. Impound the hammer.

The break in this wire was initially concealed by athletic tape.

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• What to look for:• Dented, non-symmetrical handle• Damaged grip or brace• A handle with a loose joint between the grip and brace


Loose joint

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• Minimum required weight*• Boys (HS): 25 lb • Men (19-49): 35 lb• Girls (HS): 20 lb• Women (19-49): 20 lb

• Construction: • Metal head, not softer than brass (outdoors)


• Shape of head must be spherical

• Triangular handle

• Hammer handles not allowed in NCAA & USATF competition

• See rule books for handle dimension requirements

• Handle-to-head connection varies by rule book

Weight overview

* See “Implement Weight vs. Age Charts” file for other sizes of weights.

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• What to look for:• Eroded head which could be underweight

Weight overview (con’t)

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• What to look for:• Missing parts


A missing plug

from this weight

disqualifies the

implement

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• What to look for:• Harness fasteners which are loose


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• What to look for:• Damaged or broken handle, harness or links• Non-spherical head


The break in this handle was

covered by athletic tape

This indoor head has a

permanent flat spot, which

unfairly extends its CG

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• What to look for:• Indoor weights with coins or washers taped to the head


These coins were added by an athlete

to ensure the implement weighed in

properly. However, they came loose &

flew out during a throw. Impound the

implement.

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• Cracks in indoor weight shells

• Cracks usually start radiating out from the fill hole.

• Some cracks are in the process of growing; others are already

big enough to leak out the lead pellets

• A cracked indoor weight shell is beyond end-of-life and should be

permanently impounded

• Protruding fill hole plug

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• What to look for:• Hammer handle (must be triangular metal-rod)• More than 2 chain links for outdoor weights


These are European-style

throwing weights; not legal

under USATF or NCAA rules

due to the hammer handle

(but OK under WMA rules)Scottish Highlands weight; not

legal for any T&F event

3 chain links –

not legal for NCAA

or USATF

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• 2007 KingCo 3A/4A league meet: 3x 8 lb shots

• 2007 SeaKing 3A/4A district meet: 1x 8 lb shot


• 2008 SeaKing 2B/3A/4A district meet: 2x 8 lb shots

• 2009 UW indoor season: 1x 8 lb shot (women), 1x 15 lb shot (men)

• 2010 UW indoor season: 2x 8 lb shots

• 2010 MPSF (collegiate) indoor championships: 1x 8 lb shot


• 2010 2A/3A/4A State meet: 1x 8 lb shot

Examples of implements impounded during

past meets in the PNW

There are countless stories about illegal implements that are brought to track

meets. Among the worst examples are the improperly-sized implements,

such as the attempted use of an 8 lb shot when the 4 kg shot is required.

This is a compilation of such examples by one inspector:

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Examples of implements impounded (cont)

• 2011 UW indoor season: 1x 3 kg shot (women)

• 2011 MPSF (collegiate) indoor championships: 1x 15 lb shot (men)

• 2011 PLU Invitational: 1x 8 lb shot

• 2011 Birger Solberg (Sehome HS) Invitational: 3x 8 lb shots

• 2011 Bellevue HS Invitational: 1x 8 lb shot, 1x 3 kg shot

• 2011 KingCo 3A/4A league meet: 1x 8 lb shot

• 2011 2A/3A SPSL sub-district meet: 3x 8 lb shots

• 2011 SeaKing 2B/3A district meet: 2x 8 lb shots

• 2011 2A/3A/4A HS State meet: 2x 8 lb shots

• 2011 2A/3A/4A HS State meet: one severely underweight boys shot (11.4 lb)

• 2012 Kent-Meridian HS Invitational: 7x 8 lb shots

• 2012 NWC Conference meet (@ PLU): 1x 3 kg shot (women)


• 2012 2A/3A SPSL sub-district meet: 4x 8 lb shots



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Note: This is a count of only incorrect shot sizes; does not include

all other types of impounds.

Examples of implements impounded (cont)



• 2013 South Puget Sound Track Festival (Youth meet): 2x 8 lb shots

• 2013 PNTF Junior Olympics: 1x 8 lb shot

• 2014 Bedlington Invitational (Lynden HS): 1x 8 lb shot

• 2014 KingCo 3A/4A league meet: 2x 8 lb shots (both brand new)


Implement Inspection 101...• Girls (HS): 1.0 kg • Women (19-49): 1.0 kg • Construction: • Wood, plastic, composite or metal body • Rubber discus is ONLY allowed in HS competition

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