A culmination of a year-long review of the rules book resulted in 57 rules-change proposals at the NCAA Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee meetings June 25-30 in Bonita Springs, Florida.

"This year's rules book review has been a year-long effort by the track and field rules subcommittee to make the rules book reflect current practices in our sport and to be as concise and user-friendly as possible," said Sue McGrath-Powell, rules subcommittee chair and head track and field coach at the University of Delaware. "For the first time in my memory, the rules changes were circulated among coaches for feedback in advance, so we were able to have input from the coaches and minimize the surprises."

Besides a thorough review of the rules this year, the rules subcommittee has established a list of rules issues to be examined further in the future, including the scoring system, honest effort and protest procedures.

"We covered many changes and topics in this year's book, but we were careful not to surprise the track and field community with significant issues at the last minute," said Bob Podkaminer, track and field secretary-rules editor. "We do not need to make knee-jerk reactions on any of these issues. We will be deliberate and transparent in our actions to make sure we continue to do what is best for the sport."

One of the most significant proposals is the addition of seven permanent lines on the pole vault runway. The recommendation will establish a standard pattern on each runway, allowing student-athletes to know what to expect at each facility.

"This is an easy addition for our facilities," McGrath-Powell said. "Tape or a can of spray paint will do the trick."

That and all other proposals made by the committee must be reviewed and approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) in August before being implemented in the 2006 rules book.

Another recommendation submitted to PROP concerns the use of electronic devices by coaches, student-athletes and officials that would be prohibited in the competition area unless approved by the games committee. The competition area will be defined by the games committee or meet administration and is normally the designated area of the stadium separate from the area used by spectators or an off-site area specifically designated for use by competitors in an event.

The rules subcommittee also agreed that referees will be empowered to reprimand or eject for misconduct violations during the meet. The referee already had the ability to warn or eject student-athletes, so the extension of the duty is just for coaches, other officials and spectators. The definition and penalty for misconduct, which previously was listed in the position statement in the front of the book, will be replicated at the beginning of Rule 4 for emphasis.

Misconduct is any act of dishonesty, unsportsmanlike conduct, unprofessional behavior or breach of law occurring at the locale of the competition or warm-up that discredits the event or intercollegiate athletics.

Subcommittee members also decided to clarify the uniform rule for relay teams. The intent is to have all relay members in an event look the same, but the committee was concerned that the language didn't properly convey the color requirements when body suits and top and bottom uniform components were combined on the relay team. A body suit is considered to include a top and bottom component. If two team members are wearing black bottom and orange top components and the other two team members choose to wear a body suit, the body suits must be black on the bottom and orange on the top (or made to look that way with additional garments).

In other action, the rules group updated the javelin rule to provide specific guidelines for judging and positioning of officials. There are specific and unique judging assignments to determine fouls on the runway, the landing mark within the sector, and the legality of the landing.

Also, in Rule 8 for cross country, meet administrators will be required to verify the order of the finish with an officially designated video or photograph when the timing system indicates a one-tenth or less differential.

The section on marking the cross country course will be updated to alleviate confusion. The course must be marked clearly by a white or colored line marked on the ground for the entire route. The use of directional signs or flags is recommended, not required.

A complete list of rules changes is available at www.ncaa.org by choosing the "cross country or indoor or outdoor track and field" links under the "sports" tab. Changes also will be sent to coaches.

In other rule recommendations, the subcommittee:

• Specified that the marks achieved or points scored with an implement that is deemed illegal during recertification for record purposes will be counted even though the record will not be recognized.

• Agreed that in meets with four or fewer teams, a minimum representation of two competitors from each institution must advance to the finals in field events, along with the top eight or nine performances.

• Added the order of events for the women's decathlon to the rules book for the first time to ensure that the internationally accepted format required for records is used.

• Added minimum and maximum head diameters for the weight to ensure the head will not be further reduced by manufacturers in the future.

• Recommended moving the case book, which is currently in the back of the rules book, online to provide for flexibility in updating the section more immediately without expanding the printed rules book.