How to Run a High Jump Competition

Running a high jump competition smoothly requires preparation, clear communication, and consistent bar management. Whether you're officiating at a high school invitational or a college meet, the process is the same at its core.

Before the Competition Starts

Set up your equipment

• Check the uprights, crossbar, and landing mat for damage
• Mark the crossbar height clearly on both uprights
• Have a measuring tape or certified bar height gauge ready
• Confirm the opening height with the head official or meet director

Enter your competitor list

Load all athletes into your competition management system — name, team, and bib number. If you're using RecordBoard, you can import from a CSV or add athletes manually.

Confirm scratches

Before the bar goes up, collect any scratches from coaches. Record them in your system so the flight sheet reflects the actual competitors.

---

Running the Competition

Calling the Bar

At each height, call the bar in a clear order — typically alphabetical or by bib number for the first few heights, then in reverse order of remaining attempts as the competition narrows.

Call each athlete's name and notify them they have 60 seconds (NFHS/USATF standard) once their attempt begins.

Recording Attempts

For each athlete at each height, record one of four outcomes:

• Make — athlete cleared the bar successfully
• Miss — bar was knocked down, attempt counts
• Foul — athlete touched the mat without attempting or committed another foul
• Pass — athlete elects to skip the height (only valid if they haven't failed three times)

In RecordBoard, each of these is a single tap.

Eliminations

An athlete is eliminated after three consecutive misses at any height or combination of heights.

When an athlete passes a height and then fails three times at a subsequent height, those failures count — the passes do not protect them from elimination.

Advancing the Bar

After all athletes have completed their attempts at a height:

1. Record any athletes who have been eliminated
2. Advance the bar to the next height
3. The height increment is usually specified in the meet protocol (e.g., 2 cm at each step)
4. Athletes who made the previous height may pass if they wish

---

Tiebreakers

When two or more athletes tie for a position, apply these rules (NFHS/USATF):

1. Fewest misses at the height where the tie was determined — fewer misses wins
2. Fewest total misses in the entire competition — fewer misses wins
3. Fewest total attempts in the entire competition — fewer attempts wins
4. If still tied: jump-off at the next height (with a miss each, bar goes down until one athlete clears)

In a jump-off, each tied athlete gets one attempt. If all miss, the bar drops 2 cm and repeats. If all make, the bar goes up 2 cm.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not recording passes correctly — a pass is not a miss but does count as an attempt toward tiebreaker resolution. Make sure your system distinguishes between them.

Forgetting the 60-second clock — when an athlete steps onto the track to attempt, the clock starts. A failure to complete the attempt in 60 seconds counts as a miss.

Incorrect bar placement — double-check the bar height after every raise. An uncertified height can invalidate results.

---

Using RecordBoard for High Jump

RecordBoard handles the entire high jump competition flow:

• Add competitors and their opening heights
• Record Make/Miss/Foul/Pass with one tap
• The system automatically tracks consecutive misses and flags eliminations
• Tiebreaker data is calculated in real time
• Live scoreboard updates instantly as attempts are recorded

Get started free →