Track and field has a much simpler set of rules than many team sports, many of which feature thick and complex rulebooks that can take a long time to learn. Track running has relatively few rules that are mostly the result of common sense, fairness and safety. In some cases, rules can differ depending on the location and the age of the runners. But the punishment for breaking the rules in track can often be steeper than in other sports, resulting in disqualification from the event.
False Starts
In any running event, false starts are the most obvious rule breakage, and one of the most costly to runners. Whether you are lining up for the 100-meter dash of the two-mile run, no runners are permitted to cross the starting line before the starter's gun or whistle goes off. The punishment for breaking this rule can vary depending on the governing authority---some groups disqualify after one false start in a race, while others allow one false start error and disqualify on the second false start. This rule is less commonly broken in longer races, but it frequently occurs in shorter races, where reaction time can determine who wins or loses a race.
Staying In Bounds
The lanes of a track constitute the boundaries for runners and may not be stepped outside of. Exactly how the boundaries for each individual runner are defined depends on the length of the race. At the start of all races other than very long ones---typically a 5,000-meter run or longer---all runners are assigned a specific lane in which they must remain. Stepping outside the lines defining that lane can result in disqualification. In longer runs of 800 meters or more, there comes a point in the first lap of the race where all runners are set free from their specific lane and are allowed to jockey for position at the inside of the track. In shorter races of 400 meters or less, runners must remain in their lane for the duration of the race. Even in longer races where all runners combine into one pack, no runner may step inside the line defining the innermost lane on the track. Doing so can result in disqualification.
Minimal Contact
In longer races where no runner is confined to a specific lane, it is not uncommon for runners to rub against one another and occasionally bump. This is generally allowed, since it is an unavoidable aspect of the race itself. However, runners are not allowed to use contact with another runner to influence the race, either in an effort to gain better positioning or to hamper another runner's ability to run his or her best race. Excessive contact can be determined at the discretion of judges and referees and may result in disqualification.
Member Comments