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Competition registration for all Highland Athletics takes place through the MASA (Mid-Atlantic Scottish Athletics) website located at: http://www.heavyevents.com starting in February.
ALL COMPETITORS MUST HAVE A COMPLETED HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE. If you have any questions surrounding Highland Athletics please contact Barrett Young at [email protected] or 240-273-8768. |
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The Highland Athletic contest features six events:
The Rugby Tournament - All Day
The IRB Playing Charter States:
“Rugby owes much of its appeal to the fact that it is played both to the letter and within the spirit of the Laws. The responsibility for ensuring this practice lies not with one individual—it involves coaches, captains, players and referees. It is through discipline, control and mutual respect that the spirit of the game flourishes and, in the context of a game as physically challenging as Rugby, these are the qualities which forge fellowship and sense of fair play so essential to the game’s ongoing success and survival. Rugby is valued as a sport for men and women, boys and girls. It builds teamwork, understanding, co-operation and respect for fellow athletes. It is because of, not despite, rugby’s intensely physical and athletic characteristics that such great camaraderie exists before and after matches.”
Click here to learn more about Rugby!!!!
“Rugby owes much of its appeal to the fact that it is played both to the letter and within the spirit of the Laws. The responsibility for ensuring this practice lies not with one individual—it involves coaches, captains, players and referees. It is through discipline, control and mutual respect that the spirit of the game flourishes and, in the context of a game as physically challenging as Rugby, these are the qualities which forge fellowship and sense of fair play so essential to the game’s ongoing success and survival. Rugby is valued as a sport for men and women, boys and girls. It builds teamwork, understanding, co-operation and respect for fellow athletes. It is because of, not despite, rugby’s intensely physical and athletic characteristics that such great camaraderie exists before and after matches.”
Click here to learn more about Rugby!!!!
Want to know more about the Highland Athletics?
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Open/Braemer Stone
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The Open/Braemar Stones are the ancient ancestors of modern-day shotputs. In the Heavy Events, the Open Stone weighs 16 lbs. (the same as a shotput) and is thrown with an approach much resembling modern shotput techniques. The box for the Open Stone is 7’ 6'' long and 4 ft. wide. The Braemar Stone is a heavier stone, generally weighing between 19-28 lbs. and, in the most ancient form of this event, the athlete must put the stone from a stationary position (no approach) behind a trig (a toe-board that cannot be crossed over or stepped on).
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Scottish Hammers
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Two Hammers are traditionally thrown in the Heavy Events, a 16-lb. hammer (same as the modern Olympics hammer in weight) and a 22-lb. hammer. These events are the ancient ancestors of the modern Olympics hammer throw. Unlike the modern form of the Olympics hammer, the Scottish Hammers have a rattan handle (closer to the original Blacksmith’s hammer that was thrown) and are thrown from a stationary position behind a trig that cannot be stepped on or over as in the previous two events. Athletes generally attach a 3-to 6-inch spike on the sole of a pair of boots for this event so that they can dig their feet into the ground to provide greater stability and exert more force on the hammer.
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Weights for Distance
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Two weights are generally thrown in this event, the 56-lb. weight and the 28-lb. weight. The overall length of these weights cannot exceed 18 inches and the athletes throw them from within a box that is 9 ft. long and 4 ft. wide. The weights are also thrown from behind a trig or toe-board that the athlete cannot step on or over.
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Weights for Height
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The Weight for Height, or Weight Over Bar as it is sometimes referred to is contested with either a 56-, 42-, or 28-lb. weight, depending on the age and gender of the competitor. In this event, the objective is to get the weight over a bar for height. Like the Sheaf, each competitor is given three chances at each height. If a competitor misses three consecutive times at any given height, they are eliminated from that bar height competition.
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Caber Toss
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The Caber Toss is the signature event of the Highland Games. A Caber (gaelic for “Tree”) is exactly that, the trunk of a tree which is generally 18 to 21 ft. in length and anywhere from 90 to 150 lbs. The objective of this event is for the athlete to “flip a 12 o’clock,” meaning that the athlete will “pick” the caber (by leaning down and popping the caber up into their hands), run with the caber and then attempt to flip it so that it lands perfectly straight in front of them or pointing to 12 o’clock on an imaginary clock face on the ground. Points are awarded from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock and even if the athlete does not flip the caber, they are awarded points for how far it goes over before it falls back in degrees.
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Sheaf Toss
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A modern American addition to the Traditional Events, the Sheaf Toss is only contested in the Eastern, Southern, and Mid-Western parts of the country. An event usually reserved for Farm Festivals in Scotland, the Sheaf Toss has found a home among the Traditional Heavy Events and, like the Caber Toss, is unique to the Heavy Events. In the Sheaf Toss, the athlete uses a 2- or 3-tined pitchfork to throw a 16- or 20-lb. bag over a bar. The athlete gets three chances at each height and is eliminated after missing all three chances at any given height.
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Want to know more about Rugby?
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Players and Positions:
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Players numbered 1 through 8 are forwards, typically the larger, stronger players who must win possession of the ball at all costs. They often answer to names like El Guapo, Tiny, and Bam Bam. Players numbered 9 to 15 are backs, the smaller, faster players. Their main role is to exploit possession of the ball. Each team will play each other once in a 30-minute game with a 5-minute halftime. Best Record Wins. |
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Start of the Game:
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Rugby begins with a kickoff to the opponent from midfield; provided the ball travels 10 meters, either team can recover. |
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Moving the Ball:
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Running; a player may run the ball forward until they are tackled. Passing; a player may pass to anyone granted they only pass laterally or backwards. Kicking; any player may kick the ball forward in an attempt to regain possession of the ball or gain better field territory.
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Scoring:
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Try; five points awarded to a team for touching the ball down in the opponent’s goal area. Conversion; following a try two points are awarded for a successful kick through the goal posts, taken from the angle where the ball was touched down. Penalty Kick; three points are awarded for a kick taken after a major violation, given the team is within range and elects to take the kick. Drop Goal; three points are awarded for successful dropkicks through the goalposts during regular game play.
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Restarting Play:
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A Line-out; If the ball goes out of bounds, play is restarted by a line out. Both teams form a line perpendicular to the touch line, then a player from the non-offending team throws the ball in the air straight down the line and both teams compete for the ball. Scrum; After a minor law violation both teams bind their forwards together and form a “tunnel” for the scrum half of the non-offending team to roll the ball into, then both teams attempt to push over the ball to gain control. The scrum half then retrieves the ball and puts it in play.
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