I'm writing after having read an article called "Track group targets technology, qualifying among rules changes" in the July 3 issue of the NCAA News.

I continue to be flabbergasted at the rules promulgated by the track and field committee. Let me give you my spin on what they are doing by first pointing out a few things:

Track and field is not a major sport in the United States.

Low attendance, or none at all, is the rule in the United States.

Television coverage of track and field is notoriously poor in the United States.

Track and field meets are boring as presented in this country. (Ask any nonaffiliated citizen in the U.S.)

The rules of competition are usually unknown to the spectators at competitions. (Ask parents, friends and others who attend meets.)

Even knowledgeable viewers often have difficulty following the progress of competition and team scoring during head-to-head contests.

There is a continuing hue and cry from afficianados about the sad state of affairs of track and field in the U.S.

The image of track and field is so poor that youngsters often do not opt for team involvement in schools, regardless of what surveys may show.

Major competitions (invitationals) have dwindled to close to none because of poor/long presentations by meet directors.

By now I think you have the idea about the oldest sport. We are a minor sport and we are doing nothing to enhance, augment, reinvent, dramatize or vitalize what really is a tarnished image. Those of us involved in the sport know it as one of beauty and challenge. It is unfortunate that we will not take a page from the major sports and use it to our benefit. That would be too radical.

What we do instead is wallow and wish. We prohibit coaching and tactics at competitions. Imagine, if you will, a baseball manager or football or basketball coach -- professional or otherwise -- being prohibited from giving signals, making tactical moves, sending in replacements, etc. That would be unthinkable. But the fans in the seats get to think along with, or criticize, the man in charge at those sporting events. We, on the other hand, make rules of prohibition.

Our sport is unique, some say, and we can't tinker with change. We can't use new technology, such as videotaping, in competition. Viewing photos also is a no-no, as is wireless communication. In our uniqueness, wouldn't it be unique to use those methods, and many more, to revamp our image and product?

Coaches are teachers, and good teachers use a myriad of aids to assist in their success. The use of technology enhances teaching, improves the sport and develops an interest that spectators can appreciate. Why are we so reluctant to come to our own aid?

In the basic aspects of our sport, we place great value on legs to help determine accomplishment on the field. The paying customer, however, is voting with his feet -- he's not showing up. That might change if some positive changes were adopted.

Ed Zarowin is the track and field coach at Hunter.