What are the field event time limits?
Rule- USA
- NFHS
- High school
- Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
- NFHS rules
- Track and field
- 2027 season
- Officials
Under Rule 6-2-2, time limits are in minutes, based on the number of athletes left at the start of a round or bar height:
| Situation | High jump | Pole vault | Other field events |
|---|---|---|---|
| First attempt in the competition | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| More than 3 remaining | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 or 3 remaining | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1 remaining (the winner) | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Consecutive trials | 2 | 3 | 2 |
The same limits apply in combined events.
- Warn the athlete verbally or by signal when 15 seconds remain (6-2-2f).
- At a given bar height, everyone's time stays the same until the next height (Note 1).
- The consecutive-trial limit applies within a height and at a height change (Note 3, 2026). In the 2026 NFHS interpretation, a high jumper who clears a height and is the only athlete jumping when the bar goes up gets 2 minutes, not 1.
Added 21 Oct 2026