In general, most field events allow an athlete to take their attempt individually, under the same conditions as the other athletes. Each attempt is measured to determine who achieved the longest distance or maximum height.
- Horizontal jumps (long jump and triple jump) must be initiated from behind a line. In the case of throws, that line is an arc or inside a circle. Crossing the line while initiating the attempt will invalidate the attempt. It will be considered as a foul.
- All landings must occur inside the area called safe. For the jumps, it is a sand filled pit, for throws it is a defined sector.
- A throw landing on the line, on the edge of sector, is a foul.
- Assuming a proper attempt, officials will then measure the distance from the closest landing point back to the line.
- Whenever a record (or potential record) occurs, that measurement is taken (again) using a steel tape and observed by at least three officials (plus usually the meet referee).
- The leading 8 competitors in jumps (Long Jump and Triple Jump only) and throws will get three more attempts in addition to the 3 attempts they already have taken.
- In vertical jumps (High Jump and Pole Vault), set the bar at a particular height.
- The competitor must clear the bar without knocking it off the stands that are holding the bar (flat).
- Three failures in a row will end the competitor’s participation in the event.
- The competitor has the option to PASS their attempt.
- A pass could be used to save energy and avoid taking a jump. However, that would not improve their position in the standings.
- After all competitors have cleared, passed or failed their attempts at a height, the bar height will be raised.
- The height of the bar raised is predetermined before the competition. Though when one competitor remains, that competitor may choose their own selected height for the remaining attempts. A record is kept of each attempt by each competitor.
- After all competitors have taken their attempts, the one who jumps the highest height is the winner. The bar does not shift to a lower height except to break a tie for first place or a qualifying position. If those critical positions are still tied after applying the tiebreakers, all tied competitors will take a fourth jump at the last height.
- If they still miss, the bar will go down one increment where they will again jump. This process will continue until the tie is broken.
