Official SAAA Game Rules

1. 1Each competitor shall be allowed three throws in each distance event.
2. 2The competitor may start and stop his/her throw and it will not count as an attempt provided the implement does not leave the competitor's hand and the competitor has committed no foul. If the competitor desires to set the implement down or step out of the trig area, they may do so only with the judge's permission.
3. 3In the stone putt and weight throw the measurement shall be taken from the nearest mark in the ground made by the stone or the weight, not the handle. In the stones and weight-for-distance events, the measurement is taken to the center, inside edge of the trig board. In the hammer throw the measurement shall be made to a point on the inside edge of the trig closest to the center of the competitor's stance, to the nearest mark in the ground made by the head of the hammer, not the handle.
4. 4Placing shall be determined by the best legal throw.
5. 5In the event of a tie, placing shall be determined by the next best throw(s).
6. 6In the event of a tie for first place, if the above method does not determine a winner, additional throws shall be made to try to break the tie. If, after a maximum of three additional throws, there is still no winner, the event shall be declared a tie.
7. 7Ties for places other than first not broken by the next best throw(s) shall be declared ties.
8. 8In the event of a tie, the points for the places shall be added together and divided evenly among the tied competitors.
9. 9At the conclusion of each event, the winner may be given three attempts to try and set new records. The competitor may use all, some, or none of these extra attempts. The best legal throw shall be recorded as a new record if the old one has been broken. Extra throws shall not be used in determining aggregate points with regard to a decathlon scoring system.

The Trig

The trig is to be made of wood. It shall measure 4 feet 6 inches long and 5½ to 6 inches high. Every effort shall be made to secure the trig to the ground so that it will not move during the event if a competitor steps against it.

All areas beyond the frontline (which includes all parts of the trig except the inside vertical face) and behind the backline are out of bounds. Contact with any of these areas by any part of the competitor's body during an attempt shall be a foul and count as an attempt whether the implement has been delivered or not.

Backlines

• Stone putt: backline set at 7 feet 6 inches from the trig.
• Weight throw: backline set at 9 feet from the trig.
• Hammer throw: no backline is used.

Sideline Configurations

In the stone putt and weight throw, two sideline configurations are permitted:

Box configuration: Sidelines are perpendicular to the trig and set even with its edges so that the distance between the sidelines is 4 feet 6 inches. The competitor must start with at least one foot completely within the sidelines and must finish with at least one foot completely within the sidelines. It is a foul if two consecutive foot falls contact the ground beyond the sidelines. It is a foul if any part of the competitor's body other than the feet contacts the ground beyond the sidelines.

Wing configuration: Wings extend out from each edge of the trig at a 45 degree angle. The sidelines then continue perpendicular to the trig all the way to the backline. The sidelines are parallel and not more than 6 feet 9 inches apart. All areas beyond the sidelines are out of bounds and contact with any of these areas by any part of the competitor's body during an attempt shall be a foul and count as an attempt whether the implement has been delivered or not. The wings may be either painted lines, or extensions of the trig board itself.

All measurements for weight-for-distance and stone events shall be taken from the point at the center of the inside edge of the trig board.

Hammer Throw — Foot Position

In the hammer throw no sidelines are used. The competitor must have at least one foot directly behind the trig board at all times, but both feet behind the plane of the trig board during the throw and after the release of the hammer.

Standards & Bar Configurations

Standards similar to those used in the pole vault should be used. Two configurations are allowed:

• Knockoff bar: The crossbar sits on pins that extend perpendicularly from the uprights and is not attached to them. If the implement goes over the bar, the attempt is good whether or not it hits the bar, provided the bar is not knocked off the pins.
• Fixed bar: The crossbar is physically attached to the uprights. If the implement goes over the bar, the attempt is good whether or not it hits the bar.

The distance between the uprights should not be less than 10 feet when possible.

Heights & Increments

1. 1The judge has full discretion to establish the starting height and all subsequent heights; however, all decisions concerning the height of the bar should be made in consultation with the competitors.
2. 2The starting height shall be divisible by 12 inches.
3. 3The bar should be raised in increments of 1 foot (2 feet for sheaf) until two or fewer competitors remain. After that, competitors may request any increment — for example, 6 inches in WOB or 1 foot in sheaf. For record attempts only, the bar may be set at any height divisible by 1 inch.
4. 4All measurements shall be made from the ground to the top of the crossbar at its lowest point.
5. 5The implement must go over the bar within the uprights.

Passes & Consecutive Failures

1. 1A competitor may commence at the starting height or at any subsequent height.
2. 2A competitor may "pass" an attempt at any height; however, a competitor who forgoes an attempt at a height thereby forfeits the right to attempt again at that height. Once a competitor begins attempting a height, he/she must complete the attempts at that height. (For example, a competitor may not fail an attempt at 13′ and then request a "pass" at 13′.)
3. 3Three consecutive failures, regardless of the height at which they occur, disqualifies the competitor from further attempts, except as necessary to break a tie for first place.
4. 4Where all competitors have failed except one, that competitor is entitled to continue until three consecutive misses.

Placing & Tie-Breaking

1. 1The winner shall be the competitor who tosses the weight or sheaf over the highest height. Placing is then determined by the next highest height and repeated until all places are filled.
2. 2In the event of a tie, the competitor with the lowest number of attempts at the height at which the tie occurs shall be awarded the higher place.
3. 3If the tie still remains, the procedure above is repeated at each successively lower height until all ties are broken or all previous heights have been considered.
4. 4If a tie for first still remains: the tied competitors shall have one more attempt at the current height. If no decision is reached, the bar shall be lowered (if all have failed) or raised (if two or more have cleared) by an amount determined by the judge. The competitors shall then make one attempt at each height until the tie is decided. In this process, a pass shall be considered a missed attempt. The competitors may elect to accept the tie provided all involved agree.
5. 5If the tie concerns any other place, the competitors shall be awarded the same place.
6. 6In the event of a tie, the points for the places shall be added together and then divided evenly among the tied competitors.
7. 7Any passes at heights lower than the final height successfully cleared by the competitor shall be considered as made attempts in the determination of final placing.

The competitor tosses a metal weight over a horizontal bar using one hand only. Any style may be used as long as it is deemed safe by the judge and/or Athletic Director. The Weight Over the Bar does not use a trig; all height event rules from Section III apply.

Implement Specifications

The weight shall be of metal and consist of a spherical or box weight with a triangle, ring, or "D" handle attached. The implement shall not measure more than 18 inches in overall length from the bottom of the weight to the top of the handle. The official weight of each implement is the total weight, including the handle.

• Men's Open: 56 lbs
• Men's Masters, Novice & Lightweight: 42 lbs
• Women's Open: 28 lbs
• Women's Masters & Lightweight: 21 lbs

The competitor uses a pitchfork to toss a burlap bag (sheaf) over a horizontal bar. Any style may be used as long as it is deemed safe by the judge. All height event rules from Section III apply, noting that the bar is raised in 2-foot increments (not 1 foot) until two or fewer competitors remain.

The Sheaf

The sheaf shall be a burlap bag filled with straw, hay, rope, or other similar material. It is recommended that two or three bags be put over each other so that the sheaf will last through the whole competition. The sheaf should be as compact as possible, and is generally constructed in a "pillow" or "cube" design.

The Pitchfork

The toss is to be made using a pitchfork with a minimum of 2 tines. Competitors may bring their own pitchforks, but it is understood that any competitor may use any pitchfork that will be used in the competition.

Implement Specifications

• Men's Open: 20 lbs
• Men's Masters, Lightweight & Novice: 16 lbs
• Women's Open: 10 lbs

Because of the nature of the implement, some variation in weight is allowed.

There is no standard size or weight for a caber. When possible, the caber chosen should be able to be turned by approximately half the class. A challenge caber should be of a length and weight beyond the power of all but the best competitors to turn. The caber is to be made of wood, although metal may be substituted when deemed necessary.

Both a back judge and a side judge must be used for the caber, except where a qualifying caber is used. Both back and side judges should be certified judges.

Starting an Attempt

The caber shall be placed upright by the stewards in balance, with the heavy end uppermost, ready for the competitor to make his/her attempt. As soon as the competitor receives the caber safely and the stewards stand clear, the attempt commences.

• If the competitor allows the caber to fall before lifting it off the ground, this shall count as an attempt.
• If the competitor drops the small end of the caber back to the ground after having picked it up, this also counts as an attempt.

Boundaries & Run

The judge may set boundaries if the ground in a certain area is not suitable. Safety should be a primary concern and the caber should always be at a safe distance from spectators and other competitors during the toss.

The competitor may take any length of run and may toss the caber from where they choose within the judge's boundaries. Where the ground is uneven, a mark should be made from near which, and not beyond which, the toss shall be made. Under no circumstances shall a fixed trig or stance be used.

Scoring — Clock Face Method

The caber must be judged on its landing position, not the position to which it may bounce or roll. The caber must pass through the vertical position in order to count as a turned caber. The vertical position is 90 degrees and it is up to the side judge to determine if the caber has passed through the vertical plane.

A perfect toss will pass through the vertical position and land with the small end pointing directly at 12 o'clock in an imaginary straight line extending from the competitor through the initial landing point and in line with the direction of the run.

A valid turn is when the small end of the caber passes through the vertical position and falls away from the competitor to land within the 180 degree radius, between 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock.

Direction of Run

The direction of run is determined by the path taken once the competitor is deemed by the judge to be in control of the caber. This must be a minimum of three steps. The competitor may run in one direction and then stop and change direction, as long as they maintain control of the caber.

If the caber lands in a 12 o'clock position but not in a direct line with the run, the judge must determine the competitor's original direction of run and establish where a true 12 o'clock toss would be, then give an appropriate judgment based on the amount of deviation from the line.

Invalid Toss

If the competitor does not turn the caber, it is the responsibility of the side judge to determine the angle at which the caber was tossed with respect to the 90 degree vertical. The side judge should be perpendicular to the competitor's line of approach in order to make an accurate call.

Attempts & Placing

1. 1Each competitor is allowed three attempts; the best of these shall count in the determination of placing.
2. 2The order of placing shall be determined by the nearest-to-12-o'clock toss. If the competitor did not turn the caber, placing shall be determined by the toss closest to the 90 degree vertical.
3. 3In the event of a tie, the place shall be determined by the next best attempt(s). If this does not produce a first place winner, one additional attempt shall be made. If a winner is not determined, the event shall be declared a tie. Ties for places other than first not broken by the next best attempts shall be declared a tie.

Caber Modification

If the caber has not been turned after one complete round, the judge may cut or substitute the caber. The caber shall be cut from the large end by an amount determined by the judge. This process can be repeated until the caber has been turned.

If the caber breaks during the competition, placing is determined by all completed rounds. If fewer than two full rounds have been completed and a caber of equal size and difficulty is available, all three rounds of the caber may be repeated. If a qualifying caber is used, any successful turn qualifies the competitor for the next caber.

The hammer shall be thrown in a standing style. Although some movement of the feet prior to the release is allowed, there shall be no approach and the competitor is not allowed to spin the body.

Starting Position

The competitor in the starting position, prior to the preliminary swing, is permitted to rest the head of the hammer on the ground on either side of the trig, or on the trig board itself. It shall not be considered a foul if the hammer touches the ground beyond the trig or the trig itself at the beginning of an attempt. After initiating the swings, it shall be a foul if any part of the hammer touches the ground beyond the trig or the trig itself.

Foot Position

No sidelines are used in the hammer throw. The competitor must have at least one foot directly behind the trig board at all times, and both feet behind the plane of the trig board during the throw and after the release of the hammer (i.e. one foot must remain within the confines of an imaginary box configuration).

Measurement

The measurement shall be made from a point on the inside edge of the trig closest to the center of the competitor's stance to the nearest mark in the ground made by the head of the hammer, not the handle.

Implement Specifications

The hammer shall be spherical and made of metal. The shaft shall be of wood, rattan, or plastic. The implement shall not measure more than 50 inches in overall length from the bottom of the weight to the top of the handle. The official weight of each implement is the total weight, including the handle.

• Men's Heavy Hammer: 22 lbs
• Men's Light Hammer: 16 lbs
• Women's Heavy Hammer: 16 lbs
• Women's Light Hammer: 12 lbs

The stone shall be of stone and as close to spherical as possible. The stone shall be putt from the shoulder with one hand only. At the time the competitor takes a stance to commence a putt, the stone shall touch or be in close proximity to the neck or chin, and the hand shall not be dropped below this position during the act of putting. The stone must not at any time be brought behind the line of the shoulders.

Implement Specifications

• Men's Open Stone: 16–18 lbs
• Women's Open Stone: 9–11 lbs

Because of the nature of the implement, considerable variation in weight is allowed. The event judge or Athletic Director may substitute a heavier or lighter stone at their discretion. If a lighter stone is used and an official record is in question, the record will not be valid.

The same rules apply as in the Open Stone Putt, with the following exceptions: no approach is allowed — the competitor must make a standing throw.

The competitor is allowed to reverse (switching the feet after releasing the stone). The competitor is also allowed to lift the "lead" foot (the foot closest to the trig board) so long as no forward motion (otherwise known as an "approach") of the body occurs.

Implement Specifications

• Men's Braemar Stone: 22–24 lbs
• Women's Braemar Stone: 13–16 lbs

Because of the nature of the implement, considerable variation in weight is allowed. The event judge or Athletic Director may substitute at their discretion.

The competitor may use either hand to throw the weight, but only one hand may be used.

The competitor may start and stop the throw provided that no part of the implement has made contact with the ground or the trig board during the aborted attempt. If the implement has made contact with the ground or the trig board after the attempt was initiated and prior to receiving permission from the judge, the attempt will be a foul.

All rules for distance measurement, placing, and tie-breaking follow the General Distance Event Rules (Section I).

Implement Specifications

The weight shall be made of metal and consist of a spherical or box weight with a chain and handle attached. The handle may be a ring, triangle, or "D" shape. The implement shall not measure more than 18 inches in overall length from the bottom of the weight to the top of the handle. The official weight of each implement is the total weight, including the handle.

• Men's Heavy Weight (56 lb): Open
• Men's Light Weight (28 lb): Open
• Men's Masters, Novice & Lightweight: may throw 42 lbs instead of 56 lbs
• Women's Heavy Weight (28 lb): Open
• Women's Light Weight (14 lb): Open
• Women's Masters & Lightweight: may throw 21 lbs

1. 1After each completed event, the competitor who threw first is placed last in the next event and everybody moves up one place. This is repeated after every event.
2. 2The one-point scoring system is recommended. A competitor receives points depending on their placing in each contested event: 1 point for first place, 2 points for second, and so on. The competitor with the fewest accumulated points after all events is the overall games winner. If there is a tie for first overall, the winner shall be the competitor with the most first places in the individual events. If this does not produce a winner, the competitors remain tied. Other scoring systems (e.g. decathlon scoring) may be used provided competitors are informed before the start of competition.
3. 3A competitor must make at least one attempt in every event in order to place in an overall competition.
4. 4In the interest of safety, the judge has the right to disqualify any competitor who, in the judge's opinion, does not have the ability to complete a throw without undue risk of injury to themselves, other competitors, or spectators. The judge also has the right to disqualify any competitor who displays poor sportsmanship or engages in inappropriate conduct.
5. 5Many games include local challenge events or use local rules as a matter of tradition. It is the responsibility of the Athletic Director to announce any local events or rules in writing well in advance of the games.
6. 6The field judge in conjunction with the Athletic Director may make on-the-spot rule variations to accommodate the participation of disabled athletes. All such changes should be made with safety as the preeminent concern.
7. 7The Athletic Director of a game may establish objective classes for that game, including but not limited to Masters, Lightweight, and Novice.
8. 8Lightweight: Men's Lightweight competitors weigh in at less than 200 pounds on the day of competition. Women's Lightweight competitors weigh in at less than 150 pounds on the day of competition.
9. 9The Athletic Director reserves the right to limit on-field (“walk-on”) registrations and to limit class sizes in order to ensure the safety of competitors and spectators.
10. 10In the event that a World Record is broken, it is recommended that a steel tape be used to accurately determine the distance or height. A second judge should witness the measurement and the implement should be measured and weighed using a certified postal scale. If the implement is not verified as legal, the record is not considered valid.

Implements

Metal implements shall be made of a metal not softer than brass, or of a shell of such metal filled with lead or other material. If a filling is used, it must be inserted in such a manner that it is immovable. Implements that do not conform to these requirements will be considered illegal for use or for record consideration.

No device of any kind (e.g. weightlifting straps) that in any way assists a competitor when making a throw shall be allowed. Only the following are accepted:

• The use of tape on the wrist, hand, and fingers is allowed; however, the taping together of two or more fingers is forbidden. Any use of tape to protect the hands and fingers should be cleared with the judge before the event starts.
• The use of gloves is allowed.
• In order to obtain a better grip, competitors may use a suitable substance on their hands (or gloves) only. In the stone putts, a suitable substance such as chalk may also be applied to the neck area.
• The use of toe spikes for the hammer throw is allowed.
• The use of weightlifting belts, knee sleeves, braces, and other supportive gear is allowed.

Time Limit

A time limit of two minutes shall be applied to each individual attempt in all events. The two-minute time limit begins when the judge announces the competitor's name. In the event that a competitor follows themselves in successive attempts, they shall be allowed three minutes.