5-Alive - USA Track & Field

5-Alive for the Vertical Jumps Jim McGloin

USATF Rule #180.7b, page 92 says...rotating flights may be used until there are 12 or fewer competitors remaining in competition after the conclusion of jumping at any height. In rotating flights, four or five competitors, as determined by the Games Committee, constitute a flight. As the competitor clears the bar, passes a turn or is eliminated, the next competitor in order is moved up so that the number of competitors in the active flight remains approximately consistent.

NCAA Rule #6.4, Article 3, page 86 When there are large fields in the high jump or pole vault, it is advisable to establish continuing flights of 5 competitors. Once an athlete has cleared or missed 3 attempts at a height another athlete shall be added, moving down the order of competition until all athletes have completed attempts at each height. Therefore, jumps attempted by athletes would not be separated by more than 4 attempts from other athletes at any height.

Testimonial: I was officiating at a USATF National Championship meet and the Referee brought me the event sheets and … He or she said “You have 13 jumpers…” Or “You have 15 jumpers” Or even “You have 18 jumpers…” “But I want you to go straight through the order, don’t do 5-alive” “Because… Vertical Jump Officials don’t know how to do 5-alive correctly!”

I’ve heard this very same thing at each of the last 2 Indoor and Outdoor Championships from Referees, NTOs/ATOs, and Lynx people. At first I was offended, why would they say this and then I realized that there may be some officials who don’t know how to do 5-alive correctly and it places a stigma on all of us.

I was at an NCAA Championship meet where there was a great deal of discussion on the proper way to do 5-alive. It seems some officials in parts of the country are using a rotating flight system that is not 5-alive. Some officials who know the correct procedure for doing 5-alive are trying to keep track of it in their heads and are slipping into 4-alive and 6-alive, or worse, by mistake.

Does anyone know the history and development of the system?

What Are the Advantages?

If an athlete misses he or she will get subsequent jumps every 5th jump or after 4 other competitors. The athlete stays warm and focused. In large fields it could be in excess of 30 minutes between attempts. This results in jumpers using more of their allotted time thus extending the competition. Also , it is very difficult for athletes to warm-up over and over again at 30 or 40 minute intervals.

Are there disadvantages?

Jumpers at the beginning of the order will not get to see their competitors complete a height until long after they’re done at the same height. It’s difficult for a jumper to know whom they are following as that varies on each round.

It has been my experience (primarily in the HJ) that the athletes and officials prefer to go straight through the order. Coaches and Games Committees seem to prefer the 5-alive system at every opportunity.

What are some of the ways we are misinterpreting 5-alive?

There’s the

5-only system where 5 athletes, only, jump until all 5 have either made the height, passed the height or been eliminated. Then the next 5, only, would jump and so on.

Then there’s the

5-active system in which any jumper of the first 5 who misses becomes the next active jumper before others are called into the five person jumping order.

What are some variations of correctly conducting 5-Alive??

1. Number each jumper starting with #1 and continuing with consecutive numbers until finished. 2. Keep a separate sheet of your active 5 jumpers and keep crossing off and adding.

3. Use peel and stick numbers next to the active 5 jumpers that are moved as jumpers complete a height. 4. Use corrugated cardboard instead of a clipboard and stick numbered or color coded push pins next to the active jumper’s names.

5.

Don’t start numbering until someone misses and therefore needs further attempts. This can give you a much better idea of how to plan your “endgame” towards the bottom of your order.

5-Alive Principals For Dummies

1. Indicate 5 jumpers in order 2. Move indicators as jumpers: ● Make ● Are Eliminated ● Pass remainder of Height 3. Believe your indicators!!!

Practical Exercise:

Jim McGloin

5-Alive Principals For Dummies

1. Indicate 5 jumpers in order 2. Move indicators as jumpers: ● Make ● Are Eliminated ● Pass remainder of Height 3. Believe your indicators!!!