A Multi-Purpose Flag System.

AS A CERTIFIED MASTER USATF starter who has worked state meets, the NCAA national championships, and the Big Ten championships, I have often found myself groaning, "Flag, flag, who has the flag?" every time the flag at the relay exchange zones vanishes.

For the Relay Area

The flag is used to indicate the readiness of all the runners to start the race (yellow or white) or their lack of readiness to start the race (red).

The rule reads that the exchange judge and head finish judge must always have a red or white (or yellow) flag to indicate that a race is not in progress.

The problem with some of the judges is that they are using the smaller flag (36"') for other purposes, like practicing their fencing or 9-iron shot or as a pool-room cue stick instead of keeping it in clear view at all times. Each time the flag at a relay exchange zone is lost, time is wasted.

The horsing around can force the exchange judge to change his position at the exchange zone and create problems for the starter, who may wind up without a clue about the position of the flag.

Such problems are time killers and great irritants to meet director, coaches, starter, athletes, and spectators.

Most people believe that the time lost isn't significant. The fact is that it is very significant. The average down time between relay heats is about three or four minutes, even when the p.r. person is attempting to nudge the exchange officials along.

Assuming that the average meet has five heats in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relays and that only three minutes are wasted per heat, we have lost 30 minutes of meet operation time.

Taking this a step farther: Suppose there are 350 competitors in the meet and we waste 30 minutes for each of them--that equates to approximately 170 hours of the athletes' time--time that could certainly be used more effectively than waiting for a meet to conclude.

I would like to suggest a simple solution to the problem---he Pilkington Multi-Purpose Flag System (PMPFS). Although quite simple, it solves several problems for the starter and other officials, namely:

The flag is secured to the ground and remains in the same place throughout the relay section of the meet, allowing the starter to know exactly where to look for the signal from the exchange official.

It easily and comfortably becomes a constant flag signal from all the exchange zones.

A small clipboard installed on the main shaft holds a heat and lane card for each race, making it unnecessary for the exchange judge to go to the clerk's site to double-check lane assignments. Advantage: It saves time and eliminates the yelling between officials that gives meets a disorganized look.

By being permanently in place, the flag may be used by the meet clerk to direct the relay racers to their exchange zones.

The flag system can also be used to identify hurdle readiness. In the intermediate hurdles, the flag at the start of the 330-meter race can be used to identify starter readiness.

The flag for the second and third exchanges of the 4 x 100 relay can be used to indicate that the intermediate hurdles are set or reset (hurdle height).

The flag at the first exchange of the 4 x 110 relay may be used to identify the cut line for races run in lanes for one turn.

The Pilkington Multi-Purpose Flag System is composed of four units: (A)--an 8-foot main shaft of PVC plumbing pipe that may vary in width from one and a quarter to two inches. Optionally, one end may be sharpened to facilitate its placement in the soil adjacent to the track surface.

Another option is to place one end in a small circle of poured concrete to hold the shaft upright.

Inexpensive Christmas tree holders may also be used as stabilizers for the main shaft.

(B)--a half-inch hole is drilled through the main shaft 24 inches down from the top.

(C)--a 4 ft. shaft, also of PVC pipe with 12-inches square flags attached to each end. A yellow or white flag is attached to one end of the shaft and a red flag to the other.

These flags may be attached in several ways--glue, staples, or by sewing a tight loop along one edge of the flag, which may be firmly pulled over the ends of the flag shaft exactly 24 inches from an end.

(D)--a quarter-inch hole is drilled into the flag shaft exactly 24 inches from an end.

(E)--a quarter-inch attachment bolt long enough to hold the main shaft and flag shaft together at the site of the holes to secure the two shafts to each other. Washers are used on each end of the bolt.

(F)--heat and lane checker. A four x six clipboard is attached to the main shaft in a position that does not conflict with the movement of the flag shaft. This clipboard is "loaded" with a copy of all relay heats and lane assignments.

This attachment allows the official to rotate desired colored flag and easily raise it upward and mainstream it in position.

As a starter who thrives on doing my job as neatly and efficiently as possible, I bring my own multi-purpose flag system with me to the meets.

I also volunteer to help the coaches develop their own systems. May the question, "Where is the flag?", never be heard again!