Rule-change ideas solicited for USATF annual meeting

The listserve of the USATF National Officials Committee reminds us of a looming deadline: Sept. 4 is the last chance to propose changes to USATF rules. Every other year is a rule-change year. (It alternates with bylaws-change years.) Proposals will be considered at the December 2008 USATF annual meeting (aka convention) in Reno, Nevada. (The officials committee says Aug. 20 is the deadline for proposals, but this USATF page says Sept. 4 is when the window closes. Just in case anyone says you’re late.) “Amendments may be submitted only by a member of USATF,” the page says. But you don’t have to have a highfalutin title either. Think about how your event is conducted. What would make it more efficient, safer or more fair to masters?

(Click here for the current rules.)
Here is what you need to know about suggesting a rules change:

Do You have suggestions for USATF Rule Changes for 2009?
If you want to suggest any rule changes for USATF, you need to get them to George Kleeman at george_kleeman@comcast.net before August 20th so they can be submitted for review by the Rules Committee. This is a rule change year so get your requests in early. They should be in the following format when you submit them:
Item – submitted by: your name, your association
Amend or modify Rule —– Quote the existing rule with additions underlined and in bold, and deleted material crossed out and in ((double parentheses)).
Rationale: Give the reason for the suggested change Italics for rationale.
Please submit in the proper format. You can send a word file or put it in the body of your email.
For example:
Item – Submitted by George Kleeman, Rules Committee
Modify Rule 180.14 by changing “will” to “must” in the last sentence in Ties.
Rationale: To make it clear as in the vertical jumps, that ties will be broken. This is a change from IAAF language which does use will