Mass. Track & Field Officials Association - Competing with the best.
Everything about MFTOA, right under your cursor. We provide top quality officiating for the sports of track and field, cross country and road racing. We work closely with colleges and high schools, as well as USA Track & Field New England, to organize, judge and score meets and races. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 18.

MTFOA updates

  • Arrangements for Senior Member Al Porter listed MTFOA Senior Member Albert "Al" M.P. Porter Jr. passed on Tuesday, Sept. 20 after a brief illness. He was 82.In addition to being a longtime official, Al was ...
    Posted Sep 23, 2016, 8:03 AM by Paul Williams
  • Throws official Lance Turley passes Lance Turley, primarily a throws official and a past member of MTFOA for several years when living in Nashua, passed on Thursday. According to USATF-NE director Steve Vaitones, h ...
    Posted Sep 23, 2016, 7:48 AM by Paul Williams
  • President's message: Backup sites for meetings sought Presidents Message: In light of what is happening at the Reggie Lewis Center, we are trying to be proactive and prepared, and look for potential sites for some of our ...
    Posted Sep 21, 2016, 7:26 AM by Paul Williams
  • Update: UMass-Boston agrees to manage RLC A Letter From The Mass State Track Coaches Association Update on RLTAC  MSTCA has a meeting early next week with RCC President to speak on the issues at hand. MSTCA ...
    Posted Sep 21, 2016, 7:22 AM by Paul Williams
  • Globe columnist Walker: RCC on the wrong track The Boston Globe columnist Adrian Walker unloads on Roxbury Community College and its administration with details from this week's Board of Trustees meeting. He writes:"Meetings of community college ...
    Posted Sep 16, 2016, 12:44 PM by Mass TFOA
Showing posts 1 - 5 of 25. View more »

Rules, changes & interpretations

  • Following are updates about new rules, changes and interpretations and case studies of rules organized by high school, NCAA, USATF and IAAF. For the current rulebook for each level, please see the Rules, changes & interpretations.
  • NCAA released rules changes, rationales NCAA has released Rules Changes for the coming year. They are posted below or can be access at http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2016DIMTF_Rules_Changes_20160727.pdf
    Posted Sep 5, 2016, 8:38 AM by Paul Williams
  • 2017 track and field rules changes and rationales released by NFHS   NFHS has released the 2017 track and field rules changes and rationales. The NFHS 2017 Rule changes are also available at http://nfhs.org/media/1017125/2017-major-rules-changes ...
    Posted Aug 11, 2016, 9:11 AM by Paul Williams
  • Track & field/cross country rules changes include assisting injured competitor Effective with the 2017 high school track and field season, a participant who assists an injured/ill competitor shall not be disqualified if an appropriate health-care professional is not ...
    Posted Jul 15, 2016, 6:02 AM by Paul Williams
Showing posts 1 - 3 of 20. View more »

Updates on concussions

  • While concussions and suspected head injuries occur only occasionally in track and field, they do happen. Although MIAA rules do not specifically indicate a role for officials, they should continue the best practice of ensuring that the event is stopped if an athlete is suspected of suffering a head injury and should facilitate the call for and access for medical personnel. For more information, updates on rules and resources, please see Concussions.

MIAA background checks

MIAA background checks required for 2016-2017
The MIAA is requiring background checks for all officials working high school meets in Mass., starting school year 2016-2017.  Please follow the directions here.  There are deadlines for each season so please read the instructions carefully.

Off to the races


What's the rule?

So you think you know the rules? Test yourself, thanks to the Professional Development Committee and official Mark Young.
The format is simple. Each week, a new situation is presented below and you can determine if the rule has been correctly applied. The ruling is published the following week. When you consider the situations, think about both college and high school rules.

Situation: Computerized chips/transponders are being used to determine times in a cross-country. Runner A dives across the line to barely edge out Runner B. When the official results are posted, Runner A had the second fastest time, but the judges had awarded her/him first place because his/her torso had crossed the finish line first. Was this the proper result? As always, answer for both NFHS and NCAA rules.

Ruling here for last week.