Here’s a fun truth every pole vault coach learns fast: you can have the best runway, a fresh pit, and a rack full of poles… and without officials, there’s no meet. USA Track & Field says it plainly on its officials page: “Without officials, a meet cannot take place.”
So here’s some genuinely good news from the off-season. According to new data the NFHS released this summer, high school track and field officials are making a real comeback after the pandemic-era shortage. Let’s dig into the numbers, why they matter for vaulters, and how you (yes, you, the parent in the bleachers with the stopwatch) could become part of the solution.
The Numbers: A Real Rebound
In a July 29, 2026 NFHS Voice column, the National Federation of State High School Associations laid out where high school officiating stands. The short version: things are getting better, but the job isn’t done.
Here’s what the NFHS reported:
| Stat | What NFHS reported |
|---|---|
| Officials lost in 2020-21 | At least 50,000 left the profession (NFHS estimate) |
| States sharing data | 37 states over the past eight years |
| States now above pre-pandemic levels | 26 of those 37 |
| Overall registrations, 2025-26 vs. 2018-19 | Up 9% |
| Overall registrations, 2025-26 vs. prior year | Up 2% |
| Track & field and cross country officials | Up 23% over pre-pandemic levels |
That 23% jump for track and cross country is one of the standout numbers in the whole report. The NFHS lists it alongside girls lacrosse (up 32%) and wrestling (up 22%) as examples of the twelve sports now above their pre-pandemic registration levels.
The NFHS credits a team effort for the turnaround. It names partners like the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), the NIAAA, NIRSA and the NCAA, all working on recruiting, training and keeping officials.
Why “Still Not Done” Matters for Pole Vault
Before we pop the confetti, the NFHS adds two sobering stats from a 2023 NASO survey:
- The average age of a high school official is 56.7 years
- 79% of the more than 35,000 officials surveyed said they were taking on more assignments to help cover demand
That’s a lot of veteran officials carrying a heavy load. The NFHS says that keeping experienced officials around “may be even more critical” than recruiting new ones.
Think about what that means at a pole vault pit. Field events run on people who know the rules cold and can stay calm when a meet is running long. USATF even keeps a dedicated pole vault section in its field-discipline training resources, including a crossbar preparation video for vertical jumps officials. Vault officials are doing specialized work, and every experienced official who retires is hard to replace.
Here’s how coaches, athletes and parents can help keep good officials around:
- Be respectful at the pit. The NFHS says respectful behavior and good sportsmanship are part of keeping current officials and drawing in new ones.
- Say thank you. It’s free, and it goes further than you think.
- Know your rules. Officials have a tough job. A coach who knows the current rule book makes the whole meet go smoother. (Need a refresher? Check out our breakdown of the NFHS pole vault rule changes for 2026-2027.)
Who Writes the Rules Officials Enforce?
Ever wonder where high school track rules actually come from? They’re written by the NFHS Track and Field Rules Committee, and its makeup is pretty interesting.
According to the NFHS:
- Rules committees are made up of experts in the sport, nominated by state associations
- Each of the NFHS’s eight sections is represented
- Each committee also includes a member from the NFHS Coaches Association and one from the NFHS Officials Association
- Members serve four-year terms
The 2026-27 committee welcomed four new members this June. They included longtime coaches, state association administrators and a member who has coached and officiated track and field. The committee met June 15-17, 2026, in Indianapolis.
Why should a vaulter care? Because officials and coaches have a guaranteed seat at the table. The people enforcing the rules at your meet help shape them.
How to Become a Certified Track & Field Official
If you’ve ever thought, “I could do that,” here’s the path through USATF certification. USATF says it trains and certifies over 4,600 officials nationwide and “always has a need for” new ones.
Per USATF’s certification page, here’s what it takes:
- USATF membership. Memberships bought in November or December count for the whole next year (handy timing right now!)
- A certification application sent to your local Certification Chair
- An open-book rules review for your level and discipline
- Background screening. The fee is $22, and it’s repeated every two years
- SafeSport training. A core course once per Olympiad, plus a short refresher each year
- A certification fee, paid once per four-year Olympiad
- Agreeing to the Code of Ethics and Performance Guidelines
- Any association training your local group requires
- A current headshot for your officials ID badge
- Being age 18 or older
A few extra details worth knowing:
- Officials are certified by discipline. If vertical jumps are your thing, you can focus there.
- Certification lasts for the current Olympiad (a four-year cycle), then you recertify.
- Ages 14-17? USATF has a Junior Officials Program. Ask your Certification Chair. That’s a great fit for an injured vaulter or a retired athlete who still loves the sport.
High school meets are run under your state association, so if you want to officiate high school track specifically, check with your state association too.
Good Mentors Make Good Officials
The NFHS says mentorship is critical to keeping officials in the sport. In a piece on mentoring track and cross country officials, NFHS Director of Sports Julie Cochran described three roles a good mentor plays, based on advice from NFHS Director of Officials Dana Pappas:
| Mentor role | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Consultant | Teaches the rules, best practices, and how to make fast, accurate calls under pressure |
| Counselor | Offers support when criticism from athletes, coaches or fans gets heavy |
| Cheerleader | Celebrates wins, builds confidence, and keeps morale up after setbacks |
Sound familiar? That’s basically a description of great pole vault coaching too. Whether you’re mentoring a first-year official or a first-year vaulter, the same playbook works.
The Bottom Line
The officiating comeback is real. Track and field officials are up 23% over pre-pandemic levels, but the NFHS is clear that more officials are still needed. The more respect and support officials get at the pit, the more of them stick around. And that means more meets, more attempts and more PRs for vaulters everywhere.
So this season, thank the folks running the standards. And if you’ve got a soft spot for the vault and some Saturday mornings to spare, look into getting certified.
Getting your program ready for the season? Coach Dopp can help you dial in everything from runway gear to the right pole lineup. Browse poles from UST-ESSX, Gill Pacer, and FiberSport in our pole shop, check out the full TetonVault shop, or contact Coach Dopp with your questions.
