NFHS, CIAC cross country rules differ on use of heart monitors during races

Xavier coach Chris Stonier talks with an official after junior Quentin Koch, right, was disqualified during the CIAC Boys Cross Country State Open in Manchester, Conn., Thursday, November 5, 2026. (Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media) A day after Xavier junior Quentin Koch was disqualified from the CIAC boys cross country State Open for using a heart monitor, the state's governing body for high school sports defended the decision."The violation was brought to the tournament director by an official," the CIAC shared in a statement. "The rule is not new. It is highlighted in bold in the boys cross country rules packet. It is a coach's responsibility to ensure all runners know, understand, and comply with the rules."Koch crossed the finish line in second place. Xavier qualified for the New England championship meet by winning the team title, and Koch will be able to compete. He will also be permitted wear the device because the meet follows NFHS rules, which differ from the CIAC.When asked for further comment about the disqualification, the CIAC pointed toward a rule found on page six of the cross country information packet. The rule has been in place for the past several years. The packet states: "Any runner who uses an illegal aid other than a watch, such as a heart rate monitor, shall be disqualified."CIAC Open director Bill Baron, himself a former decorated cross country coach, said all schools receive a copy of the packet before the season."A protest form was submitted to me from the referee and a Jury of Appeals was assembled to discuss the issue," Baron wrote in an email Friday. He said the jury deliberated and based its decision primarily on the CIAC rule.He added, "Any new technology is discussed at the CIAC committee meetings before and after each season."Xavier coach Chris Stonier confirmed that Koch has worn the heart monitor all season, including during the Class MM championship meet on Saturday."Also, I would argue that every athlete that is currently wearing an electronic device habitually wears that device, including Quentin," Stonier said.Stonier appealed Koch's disqualification, citing a rule he believed supported his case, but a jury of appeals made up of cross country coaches denied the appeal.Xavier still won the boys State Open team championship. The New England championship meet, at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast, Maine, follows NFHS rules. The NFHS clarified the legality of wearable technology in 2019. NFHS rules allow wearable heart monitors as long as runners do not receive electronically transmitted data from a coach or other third party during the race."Electronic devices shall not be used to transmit information to a competitor during a race or trial," the rule states. "A competitor or coach observed, by an official, using wearable technology, and communicating or transmitting data, shall be reported to the Referee. The competitor shall be disqualified from the event. A coach shall be disqualified, from the meet, for unsporting conduct."Stonier said that Koch's heart monitor communicates information to a phone app, but that information cannot be accessed until the race has concluded.Although CIAC and NFHS rules differ on heart monitors, the NFHS says state associations are governed by boards and committees made up of people from member schools who focus on enforcing eligibility, playing and academic rules.Each CIAC sport has its own separate committees, which can consider rule change proposals. The use of electronic devices in high school sports has become more common in recent years, with baseball and softball both now allowing one-way communication devices.The NFHS Baseball Rules Committee approved the use of a one-way communication device between a coach in the dugout and a team's catcher for the purposes of calling pitches in 2023. It was implemented in Connecticut during the 2024 season.The NFHS Softball Rules Committee approved use of the device this past summer. It will be implemented starting in 2027.The NFHS has permitted soccer players to use wearable technology as part of their shoes or under their uniforms, but not on their arms. These are performance tracking systems such as GPS pods or tracking sensors. Coaches and players are still not permitted to utilize technology to communicate during the game.For the start of the 2026 season, the NFHS added a clarification to its girls lacrosse rules that no on-field player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during a game.The NFHS' 2026-27 points of emphasis for volleyball also state that no player shall wear audio or video devices during games. Teams may use electronic devices during a match if they are outside restricted areas designated by the host and the first referee determines they do not interfere with the contest.Basketball rules allow the use of electronic devices during games, but their use must be limited to recording and tracking stats, reviewing plays or similar contest-related functions.Sign up for the Connecticut Briefing from CT Insider. Get the biggest headlines of the day from our network of journalists around the state.This article originally published at NFHS, CIAC cross country rules differ on use of heart monitors during races.