9th grader not allowed to pole vault
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:17 pm
My son is a 9th grader attending a Jr High in Washington state. He ran cross country for the high school team in the fall, which was allowed because cross country is not offered at the middle level. Unfortunately, the track and field program at his Jr High does not provide pole vaulting (I'm not sure they vault anywhere in the state at the middle level, but definitely not in our district). The position of the WIAA is that since the sport of "track and field" is offered at the middle level, he is ineligible to compete on the high school track team.
He has been training at ProVault NW since November and is making really good progress. I think he's on track to go over 12' this year (which, at least in his district, would make him a legitimate varsity vaulter as a freshman). But right now it looks like he's going to have to miss out on vaulting as part of a school team as a 9th grader. I think it would be much better for his athletic development to be on the high school team, but the WIAA seems to be a lot more concerned with following their handbook than with what's in the best interest of the student athletes. it's really a shame as our neighboring schools all have 9th grade in high school and thus 9th grade high school vaulters, but due to geography, my son won't have that opportunity.
So it looks like he will compete at the club level this year, and maybe turn out for the Jr High track team to do sprints and long jump (more as conditioning for PV than anything else).
I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience in this area, or knows of a case where someone has been able to convince the WIAA to let a Jr High 9th grader vault. I've been over the WIAA handbook eligibility requirements 100 times and I just don't see a workaround.
Thanks.
He has been training at ProVault NW since November and is making really good progress. I think he's on track to go over 12' this year (which, at least in his district, would make him a legitimate varsity vaulter as a freshman). But right now it looks like he's going to have to miss out on vaulting as part of a school team as a 9th grader. I think it would be much better for his athletic development to be on the high school team, but the WIAA seems to be a lot more concerned with following their handbook than with what's in the best interest of the student athletes. it's really a shame as our neighboring schools all have 9th grade in high school and thus 9th grade high school vaulters, but due to geography, my son won't have that opportunity.
So it looks like he will compete at the club level this year, and maybe turn out for the Jr High track team to do sprints and long jump (more as conditioning for PV than anything else).
I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience in this area, or knows of a case where someone has been able to convince the WIAA to let a Jr High 9th grader vault. I've been over the WIAA handbook eligibility requirements 100 times and I just don't see a workaround.
Thanks.