1. Track Officials Workshop
2018/2019
Track Officials Workshop
Tasmanian Little Athletics Association Inc. ABN PO Box 812 Moonah TAS Tel littleathletics.com.au

2. 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.

3. Recommended
It is recommended you complete Play by the Rules online training –
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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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’

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

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