TRACK CHANGES … The OHSAA decided at their January Board of Directors to transition from the traditional starter pistol for track events to an electronic system. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
An OHSAA decision made at the January Board of Directors meeting to transition to electronic starting instead of a starting pistol over the next two years has been met with less than enthusiastic feedback from area coaches and others in the track community.
The change has been reported to become mandatory for regional and state tournaments beginning in 2025.
According to a press release, the OHSAA will set aside grant money for member schools and timing companies to upgrade to electronic starting systems.
The move to electronic starting was the result of a shortage of starter shells among other reasons. More information will be sent to member schools and timing companies.
Delta Athletic Director Walt Steele said it was great that the state would set aside grant money for the timing systems, however, he still has reservations.
“I would have to see it in action before making a judgement on it. It will be interesting to see the effect it has on athletes who are used to the starting pistol then must make that audible change to the digital start. The number of false starts will tell a lot.”
“I will definitely have to do some research on this to make an appropriate decision, but I will have to look at going to events that only have electronic starting because that is what they will have in regional and state. It will have an impact 100%.”
Delta Panther track coach KJ Abair echoed those statements. “I think I would have to experience how the system worked before passing judgment and it’s a transition for an athlete to having a gun start then switch to an electronic signal especially when you have worked so hard to get to the regionals or state.”
Evergreen coach Alex Lutheran says he has had an experience with an electronic system, and it was less than positive.
“The only experience I’ve had with those starting systems was at an indoor meet in Defiance. Number one the sound is a low pitched-like ‘boop’. It’s not a crisp sound that our kids are used to.”
“You want (a start) to be a crisp loud sound and they need to work on the sound if that is the case. Whatever tone that was being used (at that meet) was not, I don’t think very good for the start of a race.”
“If they are handing out money to upgrade the systems that will help the transition but it’s going to take some time for the kids to get used to.”
Fayette’s Bryan Stambaugh had some of the same mindset as Lutheran. “I know we were exposed to an electronic start in a meet and with the wind it wasn’t heard very well.”
“If that is the way we are going to go then we need to have something that is able to be heard and consistent.”
The referendum from the OHSAA Board of Directors will be voted on by member schools in May.
