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Field-Event Marshal

How to Run a Field-Event Station

You run one jump pit or throwing ring — long jump, shot put, or discus. It's a short rhythm you'll have down by the third athlete: watch the attempt, flag it fair or foul, mark it, measure it, call up the next person. The head event judge is right there for any close call.

Level
A little practice
Time
2-3 hours per event session
White flag
Fair attempt
Red flag
Foul
Measure to
Nearest lesser 1/4 inch
Your station
One pit or ring

Quick start

  1. 1

    Set up and keep it clear

    Rake the long-jump pit smooth or sweep the ring, and make sure athletes and watchers stay well back from the landing area and the throwing arc. Safety first, always.

  2. 2

    Watch the whole attempt

    Eyes on the scratch board and the landing. You're judging foul-or-fair and where they landed — you can't catch either after the fact.

  3. 3

    Flag it: white or red

    Raise the white flag for a fair trial, the red flag for a foul. When you're unsure, ask the head event judge before you signal.

  4. 4

    Mark, then measure

    Spike the nearest edge of the mark, hold the tape's zero there, pull straight to the scratch line, and read the distance.

  5. 5

    Call the next athlete

    Confirm the distance with your recorder, rake the pit clean, and call up the next person by name or hip number.

Watch first

Watch: how to officiate the long jump and measure a markShort clips show the mark-tape-scratch-line rhythm in real time.

A field-event station looks intimidating from the stands, but it's really one short loop you repeat for every athlete. You're not scoring the meet or comparing performances — you're handling one pit or one ring, deciding fair-or-foul on each attempt, and getting an accurate measurement. The head event judge sets the rotation and settles any close call, so you're never the last word on your own.

  1. 1

    Reset the station

    Rake the long-jump pit flat or clear the throwing sector so the new mark will be obvious.

  2. 2

    Call up the athlete

    Read the next name or hip number, and give them their attempt once the area is clear.

  3. 3

    Judge the attempt

    Watch the scratch board and the landing. Fouls: touching the ground past the take-off board, leaving the throwing ring from the front, or landing outside the sector lines.

  4. 4

    Signal fair or foul

    White flag up for a fair trial, red flag up for a foul. A foul attempt still counts as one of the athlete's trials.

  5. 5

    Mark and measure

    Spike the nearest edge of the mark, hold the tape's zero at it, pull straight back to the scratch line, and read down to the nearest lesser quarter-inch.

  6. 6

    Record and repeat

    Call the distance to your recorder, confirm it, then reset and call the next athlete.

Fair signal
White flag raised
Foul signal
Red flag raised
Common fouls
Over the take-off board, out the front of the ring, landing outside the sector
Measurement
Nearest edge of mark to scratch line, rounded down to 1/4 inch
Between attempts
Rake the pit / clear the sector
  • Flags (white and red) returned to the head judge
  • Tape measure, spikes/markers, and rake put back
  • Final marks handed to the recorder or head event judge
  • Landing area and throwing sector left clean and safe
  • Any incidents or close calls reported to the head event judge

More resources

NFHS Track & Field (official rules and event resources)

Governing body for U.S. high school track — official rules and event-setup guides.

Sources: NFHS Track and Field Rules; USATF Officials resources — field events