Rising Stars Youth Champs
Competition Rules
The Rising Stars Youth Championships will be conducted in accordance with USATF Youth Competition Rules, with the following meet-specific policies in place to promote athlete safety, competitive fairness, and efficient meet flow.
Meet management reserves the right to interpret and enforce all rules in the best interest of the competition and overall schedule.
Starting Blocks
Starting blocks are not permitted for athletes ages 12 and under in any event, including the 55m and 200m. These athletes must use a standing or crouch start without blocks.
For athletes ages 13–14, starting blocks are optional.
Starting blocks are permitted for athletes ages 15–18 in sprint events. Use of blocks is optional and not required in either prelims or finals; athletes may choose to compete with or without blocks.
Meet management reserves the right to restrict block usage if necessary for safety or meet flow.
4x200m Relay
The 4x200m Relay will be conducted using a THREE-TURN stagger. Per USATF Rule 218.1, a 20m Exchange zone will be used for all relays.
4x400m Relay
The 4x400m Relay will be conducted using a TWO-TURN stagger. Per USATF Rule 218.1, a 20m Exchange zone will be used for all relays.
Field Events
Top 8 athletes within each division will advance to a final.
Heat Construction and Seeding
Heats may be seeded by time rather than strictly by age (particularly in the 800, 1500 and 3000).
Adjacent age groups may be combined for running purposes while remaining scored and awarded separately by age. This approach may be used to group athletes of similar ability levels and maintain efficient event flow.
Heat sizes will be capped appropriately based on age group, event, and facility constraints.
Event Limits
Athletes age 12 and under may compete in a maximum of three (3) events, including relays.
Athletes ages 13–18 may compete in a maximum of four (4) events, including relays.
Meet management reserves the right to remove athletes from excess events to maintain schedule integrity.
Protests
Protests concerning eligibility, rule interpretation, or meet procedures must be submitted to the Referee within 30 minutes of the posting of results.
All protests must be submitted in writing and accompanied by a $50 protest fee.
Judgment calls are not subject to protest. Decisions of the Jury of Appeals are final.
Starting Procedures
All sprint events (up to and including the 400m Dash) will be run in lanes. Alley starts will not be used.
Athletes age 14 and under will use no-block starts. Athletes ages 15–18 may use blocks where permitted.
200m/400m Dashes
All 200m/400m races will be conducted in lanes for all age groups. This policy is in place to ensure athlete safety, clean first turns, and consistent race flow.
The 400 meters will be seeded so that the fastest athletes are placed in the middle lanes (lanes 4–6) of the fastest sections to promote fair and competitive racing.
Lane usage will not be modified except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of meet management.
55m Dash/ Hurdles
Athletes will be assigned lanes and sections for the 55m Dash and 55m Hurdles PRELIMS based on top seeds coming into the competition. Preferred lanes are 4-5-3-6-2-7-1-8.
Top 8 athletes within each division will advance to a final.
Scratches and Check-In
Coaches and athletes are strongly encouraged to report scratches as early as possible.
Final heat assignments may not be published until the day prior to competition to account for scratches and no-shows.
Once heat sheets are finalized, empty lanes may remain and heats will not be reseeded on site except at the discretion of meet management.
Failure to check in by the designated deadline may result in being scratched from the event.
Equipment and Facility Rules
Only ¼-inch pyramid spikes or smaller are permitted.
All athletes must wear their assigned competition bib on the front of their uniform at all times during competition.
Lost bibs may be replaced for a fee.
Meet Management Authority
Meet management reserves the right to adjust heat sizes, combine or separate age groups, modify event order or timing, and make operational decisions necessary to ensure athlete safety and the timely completion of the meet.
