Starting Procedure Developments Alan Bell Chief Starter UKA UKA Technical Committee Member

1. Starting Procedure Developments Alan Bell Chief Starter UKA UKA Technical Committee Member IAAF Starter Development Group

2. How did I end up in this position? • The IAAF introduced the ‘new rules’ on a trial basis in Jan. ’03. Subsequently, endorsed Jan 06 • I was appointed chief starter at World Indoor Champs. In March 03 • Given role in developing implementation and operation of the rules.

3. New false start rule January 2003 Now January 2006 Why? • Greater efficiency at starts • Timetabling of major meets • Pressure from broadcasters • Eradicate ‘gamesmanship’ • Overcome starting procedure inconsistencies around the world

4. Issues • Most athletes had little awareness of the procedures • Most nations had little opportunity use the technologies • Many nations had different domestic rules • There was little guidance on the operational procedures for the new rules

5. Track Layout

6. Key Areas for Development • Consistency in operating procedures • Raised awareness of officials, athletes and coaches • Development of trust in the technology • Experience over time

7. Consistency in operating procedures(1) • Starting team • Start co-ordinator (chief) • Two re-call starters • Track (Start) referee (neutral) • Operating technicians

8. Consistency in operating procedures (2) • Starter has total jurisdiction • Must take note of FSE • Start referee can only intervene if inconsistencies are evident Principle ‘If in doubt – stop the race’

9. Consistency in operating procedures (3) • Starter will operate as normal • Team approach to judgements • Confer before making a decision • Positioning of the team is crucial • Start referee remains detached

10. Raised awareness of officials, athletes and coaches • ‘run under protest’ is discretionary only when FSE evidence is flawed • Athletes can protest about a non recall on completion of race • Understand the coloured cards • Yellow for warning • Red for d/q • Green for no warning given (from Jan.06) • Delaying a start can accrue a yellow card • An athlete can be warned for standing up without permission

11. Development of trust in the technology (1) • FSE has to be IAAF licensed • Work on principles of pressure and reaction time • Margin set at .1 of second after the gun • Increased pressure or movement BEFORE and within that margin AFTER the gun is considered a false start • Printer indicates data for all athletes

12. Development of trust in the technology (2) • Starter’s judgement is about who caused the false start not who broke first. • FACT Most false starts are still detectable by the human eye and FSE merely confirms what the official had seen

13. Experience over time • Athletes are more consistent in their starting • Starting standards are more consistent at major meets (analysis of meets 2003/4/5) • Athletes who are poorer starters do deliberately false start • Increase in athletes standing up from the ‘on your marks’ position

14. Facts and Figures of Starts – World Outdoor Champs using FSE

15. Facts and Figures • Reaction times in Helsinki have settled – the majority occur between 0.13 and 0.15 seconds • Most False starts occur before the gun goes

16. The Future • The rules are here to stay at IAAF level • Nations will implement the procedures in domestic meets (to assist athletes) • Starting teams must operate in a structured way that is familiar across the world • International starters’ panel to support training and developing consistency

17. The Technology • All approved models use same principles • In the international arena athletes will experience different models, • Seiko – pressure based model • Swiss Timing (Omega) – time lapse model • In USA you will commonly use Finish Lynx

18. Seiko • Each athlete independently measured • No pre-determined pressure so fair for all athletes. System records pressure on foot-plates constantly but only “activated” from SET command • A false start can be detected from 0.5 seconds before the gun and 0.1 seconds after the gun

19. Track-side evidence to assist officials • Print out of times by lane with false start indicator • Pressure waveform graphs on colour monitor with zoom facility • Paper printout of the waveforms available in Timing Room

20. SEIKO Start Printouts • Lane 4 start motion before the gun was fired. • Pink line is SET and corresponds with Ready Time indicated at top right hand corner • Green Line is the legal 0.1second threshold • Red line shows start motion and corresponds to reaction time on the left side

21. Printout Example

22. Printout Example

23. Swiss Timing/Omega • Each athlete is independently measured • Movement is detected against a fixed pressure • System records pressure above fixed scale on foot-plates but only “activated” from SET command • A false start can be detected from 0.5 seconds before the gun and 0.1 seconds after the gun

24. Finish Lynx Model • Uses the same pressure/reaction model • Blocks are calibrated • Reaction time is set at .1 • Machine signals offence to official

25. The Way Forward? • Decision on when and where to use rule. • Train with the technology • Develop start team skills • Be competent with technology • Develop team procedures

26. ‘I hope that helped!’ Alan Bell UKA and USA ‘certified’ track official