Track Officials Workshop 2018/2019   Track Officials Workshop Tasmanian Little Athletics Association Inc. ABN 18 754 156 567 PO Box 812 Moonah TAS 7009 Tel 1300 888 713 office@taslittleathletics.com.au littleathletics.com.au

Important Up Front Stuff!! Link to Online Officials Course This is the website to access the online official courses that are mandatory. These exams are free and you will need to register or log in and complete the following exams for track. Track, Starting and Walks At the end of each course you will be issued a certificate of completion. Please forward these to your education officer of your club.

Recommended It is recommended you complete Play by the Rules online training – www.playbytherules.net.au This is free online training and give a copy of your certificate to your education officer Resources for officials are available from the TLAA website - including: Guidelines for Officials Rules for Competition Codes of Behaviour

Safety In the wrong hands or wrong conditions, all events can be dangerous All officials have a responsibility to ensure site is safe – not slippery, no broken glass, no needles, sharp objects, sand on runway etc Remember that access and egress must be safe Observe all throwing area rules and ensure signage is up Throwing implements must be carried correctly Competitors and officials must wear enclosed footwear

First Aid Wellbeing of an athlete is paramount Pause competition and make area safe Contact announcer and arrange for first aid to attend

Spectators Not allowed in the competition area Must abide by the Code of Behaviour Can render a competitor liable to disqualification if: Offering advice from within the area Shouting instructions

Coaching Generally All coaches must have a current Working with Vulnerable People Card To be undertaken from areas marked by cones or similar Communication must be in a quiet and discrete fashion Yelling out across arena even for track events is not preferred For calling of split times or similar, move to back straight Do not interfere with conduct of event(s) Coaching outside these guidelines may render athlete liable to disqualification

Who can coach Centres with less than 150 members - 2 Centre Coaches Centres with 150 to 250 members – 3 Centre Coaches Centres with more than 250 members – 4 Centre Coaches Centres with Clubs may choose 1 coach per club provided all Clubs suitably represented Coaches requires ITC Course or Athletics Australia Level 1 or any higher level Personal coaches must have be a AA Level 2 coach

Footwear & Spikes Appropriate footwear is compulsory Football boots and cleats not allowed U11 & U12 may wear spikes in events run entirely in lanes as well as long, triple jump, High Jump and Javelin U13 and above – all track events as well as long, triple and high jumps as well as javelin In high and long, the sole shall have a max thickness of 13mm and in high jump the heel shall have a max thickness of 19mm Not an issue for all other events

Spike Specifics Blanks are counted as spikes Can only be worn during an event, not to and from Starting blocks on synthetic tracks must be used 7mm maximum for synthetic - track 9mm maximum for jumps and javelin 12mm maximum for grass

Assistance to Athletes Officials not permitted to coach This does not extend to factual feedback about a trial such as where an athlete landed Musical devices, mobile phones or similar devices in competition area is not allowed

Unacceptable Behaviour Discuss issue with athlete If this does not work, elevate to Track Referee or Arena Manager Disqualification may occur – this is not a Chief Official’s call though At State meetings, Chief Officials possess authority to send off any athlete for undesirable behaviour Arena Manager must be notified whose decision is final

Track Events Discipline Age Groups 60 Metre Hurdles Under 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ,12 80 Metre Hurdles Under 13, 14G 90 Metre Hurdles Under 14B, 15G 100 Metre Hurdles Under 15B 200 Metre Hurdles Under 13 and 14 300 Meter Hurdles Under 15 70 Metres Under 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 100 Metres 150 Metres Under 6, 7 200 Metres

Track Events Discipline Age Groups 400 Metres (lane start) Under 8 - 15 800 Metres (lane start) Under 9 - 15 1500 Metres Under 11 – 15 700 Metre Race Walk Under 9 1100 Metre Race Walk Under 10, 11 1500 Metre Race Walk Under 12 - 15

Race Rules Track takes precedence over field Competitors shall stay in the lanes Jostling, running across or impeding competitors leads to liability for disqualification Referee can order someone seriously affected to compete in a final or even re-hold the race (if just and reasonable to do so) In all races run in lanes, competitors must remain within allocated lane from start to finish U6-U11 may be DQ’d if material advantage gained U12-U15 shall be DQ’d

Race Rules A competitor shall not be DQ’d if they: Are pushed or forced by another person to run outside his/her lane or inside kerb; or Run outside his/her lane our outside outline line of his/her lane on a bend providing no material advantage gained and no other competitor obstructed Note earlier track events and lane requirements For pack starts - up to 14 athletes (400m) and 16 athletes (800m) - use a curved line Walks not run in lanes A competitor, after voluntarily leaving track, shall not be allowed to continue the race Second false start by same person will incur DQ

Starting Blocks Only permitted to be used by Under 11 to Under 15 athletes Encourage competitors to use these in events run in lanes Blocks must be used if spikes are worn Supplied by Centre/Little Aths Tasmania

Lane Draws Randomly drawn If more lanes available then athletes, avoid using inside lanes Finals lane draw: Athletes ranked pursuant to heat finishes – fastest heat winner, second fastest heat winner and so on Random draw of priority lanes occur amongst top four ranked athletes Random draw of non priority lanes occur amongst remaining athletes Priority lanes are 4, 5, 6, 7 on a nine lane track

4 x 100m Relay Race Take over zone – 30m for each change (no acceleration zone) Within takeover zone only position of baton is decisive Baton passing commences when it is first touched by receiving runner and complete when in hand of receiving runner Adhesive tape check marks OK within own lane Baton must be carried by hand throughout race If dropped, the athlete who dropped it must recover it May leave their lane to do so but cannot impede others Competitors remain in lanes after baton passed until course clear Running out of lane leading to wilful impedance of others may result in disqualification No competitor may run two sections Spikes not allowed in composite relays if U11 or younger participating

Hurdles Hurdle heights, lead ins, distances between and lead outs as well as number of hurdles all vary for different age groups Refer to Rules for Competition/Cheat Sheet Check details on hurdle trailer and/or with Track Referee and/or Arena Manager All hurdles must be collapsible by 2020 All races should be run in lanes Disqualifications: Deliberately knocking down hurdles Trailing foot or leg below horizontal plane of the top of any hurdle at the instance of clearance

Race Walking Progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs Advancing leg shall be straightened ie not bent at the knee from the moment of first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position The advancing foot must make contact with the ground before the rear foot leaves the ground ‘Trainee judges/officials’ should consider working with an experienced judge

Race Walking - Judging Chief judge plus minimum four and maximum six walks judges Positioned equally around the course, at Chief Judges discretion, with responsibility for approx 20 metres either side Cautions issued to competitors in danger of failing to comply with the rules Judge can only caution a competitor once for each offence during an event No bearing on disqualification Warnings for disqualification if competitor actually breaking rules Judge may only give one warning during an event irrespective of the infringement Don’t warn unless infringement is clear – benefit of the doubt to the athlete Three or more warnings will lead to disqualification Only the Chief judge can disqualify and must inform

Race Walking – Chief Judges Place judges into positions and provide necessary directions Provide appropriate documentation Advise recorders and messengers of duties Check with each judge on event completion regarding last minute warnings Re-check judging master sheets Advise applicable personnel regarding disqualifications Advise competitor about disqualification

Place Judges Determine finish order Place athletes by lane First position judge has priority of nomination Higher place judge then has priority Chief judge addresses ‘situations’

Starter Choose a starting position that is well away from athletes, preferably infield, and to see athletes in the narrowest possible angle of vision Has entire control of competitors once called to marks Starter’s decision is final – be physically and mentally alert Can recall the athletes in the event of an unfair start Signal white flag in readiness for start Must get all clear from Track Referee/Finish Line before calling athletes forward Instruct athletes to stand 3 metres behind starting line

Starting Commands – up to 400m On Your Marks Allow time to settle When movement ceased, raise gun and give Set order When steady and perfectly still, fire the gun – the pause allows for ensuring that movement has ceased and allows for athletes to reach peak concentration Vary set time slightly to prevent anticipation Set time should be in range of two seconds or slightly over Too rapid leads to false starts Too long leads to loss of concentration

Check Starter Assists the Starter Be in a position to see along starting line for any hand infringements Check that fingers, hands or feet are not on the starting line or in front of it Check that contact is maintained with the blocks/ground by both fleet Assist with informing athlete(s) of a false start

Race Marshall Assemble competitors into respective races Place them into correct lanes or stations Remain in control of competitors until the heat comes under starter’s orders Responsible for baton readiness

Track Referee Order re-runs excluding DQ’d athletes Include in the final, competitors affected by an act in heat, if a lane is available In conjunction with Arena Manager, change place of competition or delay races if it is considered dangerous Determine race positions when Chief Judge unable to reach a decision DQ athletes for rule breaches – see next slide Confirm readiness of start and finish line officials Cannot overrule starter once competitors called to marks Cannot change event placing due to any perceived interference

Track Referee & DQ’s Can DQ an athlete who jostles or obstructs another athlete so as to impede their progress Will DQ an U12-U15 age group athlete who does not keep within their allocated lane from start to finish May DQ and U6-U11 age group athlete who does not keep within their allocated lane if material advantage gained A competitor shall not be DQ’d: if they are forced by another person to run outside their lane or on or inside the kerb Run outside their lane in the straight or outside the outline of their lane on a bend unless material advantage gained or other competitor obstructed

Track Umpires Assist track referee Don’t have authority to make a final decision Responsible for detecting deliberate impedance or interference during an event ie: Vigorous arm action Moving in and out of lanes to prevent others from overtaking An athlete running on a lane line or out of lane Raise white flag if all clear of orange if not Often used in relay takeover zones

Questions?? Important Note – Officials seeking Walks credentials are encouraged to undertake further training with an experienced walks referee during a meet