Track Officials Workshop - Online Courses and Safety Guidelines

1. 2018/2019 Track Officials Workshop Tasmanian LittleAthletics Association Inc. ABN 18 754 156 567PO Box 812Moonah TAS 7009Tel 1300 888 713office@taslittleathletics.com.aulittleathletics.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 – 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

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

14. Track Events

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