Hurdle and Sprint Rules
Start: Starting blocks are used for all hurdle, relay and sprint events. The starting blocks consist of two adjustable footplates attached to a rigid frame. Olympic hurdle and sprint races commence with the firing of the Starter's gun. The starting commands are "On your marks" and "Set." Once all athletes are in the set position, the Starter's gun is fired, officially starting the race. For the 100m, women's 100m hurdles and men's 110m hurdles, all competitors are lined up side-by-side. For the 200m, 400m and 400m hurdles, which involve curves, runners are staggered for the start.
False Starts: If a sprinter commences his or her starting motion from the set position before the Starter's gun is fired, it is deemed a false start. The first false start of a race results in an automatic disqualification to the offending runner.
Lanes: For all Olympic sprint and hurdle events, runners must remain within their pre-assigned lanes, which measure 1.22 meters (4 feet) wide, from start to finish. The lanes are numbered 1 through 8, starting with the inside lane. Any athlete who runs outside the assigned lane is subject to disqualification. If the athlete is forced to run outside of his or her lane by another person, and no material advantage is gained, there will be no disqualification. Also, a runner who strays from his or her lane in the straightaway, or crosses the outer line of his or her lane on the bend, and gains no advantage by it, will not be disqualified as long as no other runner is obstructed.
The finish: The first athlete whose torso (as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the closest edge of the finish line is the winner.
Negotiating hurdles: Any competitor who trails a foot or leg below the horizontal plane of the top of any hurdle at the instant of clearance will be disqualified.
Middle Distance Rules
Start: With all individual races 800m and longer, there are no starting blocks; runners begin in an upright position, their hands prohibited from touching the ground. The starting command for these races is "On your marks." Once all athletes are at the mark, the Starter's gun is fired, officially starting the race. An 800m race comprises eight runners, each in his or her own lane for the staggered start; in the 1500m and steeplechase, which have up to 12 runners, a group start is used.
Lanes: In the 800m, all runners must stay within their assigned lanes through the first turn, after which they break for position to the inside lane. In the 1500m and steeplechase, there are no lane assignments and runners jockey for position from the start.
Negotiating barriers: In the steeplechase, any competitor who steps to the side of a jump or trails his foot or leg along side any barrier will be disqualified. Athletes may go over the barriers in any way, as long as no part of the foot or leg falls below the horizontal plane of the top bar at the instance of clearance.
Distance Rules
Start: In Olympic distance events, there are no starting blocks; runners begin in an upright position, their hands prohibited from touching the ground. The starting command for these races is "On your marks." Once all athletes are at the mark, the Starter's gun is fired, officially starting the race. Distance races begin with mass starts. When there are more than 12 competitors in a race, they can be split into two staggered groups for the start: one with roughly 65 percent of the runners on the regular start line, another with the other runners on a separate start line across the track's outer half. The latter group runs on the outer half until clearing the first bend.
Lanes: In Olympic distance races, there are no lane assignments so runners can break for position from the start.
Race Walking Rules
Definition: Race walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes constant contact with the ground. The advancing leg shall be straightened from the moment of the first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position.
Judges: There are six to nine judges for each Olympic race-walk event. Athletes are given warnings by the judges when they violate the definition of race walking by exhibiting a visible loss of contact or a bent knee. Warnings from three different judges results in disqualification. Competitors must retire from the race if ordered to do so by a member of the official medical staff. A competitor may leave the course with the permission of a race judge, as long as it doesn't result in the shortening of the race distance.
Jumping Rules
High Jump: Athletes must take off from one foot. A failed attempt occurs when the crossbar does not remain on the supports after the jump because it was touched by the athlete.
Pole Vault: Athletes are allowed to place a substance on their hands or the pole to obtain a better grip, but are not permitted to use tape on their hands or fingers except to cover an open wound. Athletes may use their own poles during competition. The poles may be made of any material and can be of any length and diameter. If the pole is broken during the attempt, it isn't considered a failure and the vaulter gets another attempt.
A failed attempt occurs when:
- The bar does not remain on the pegs after the vault because it was touched by the athlete.
- The athlete moves his lower hand above the upper one or moves the upper hand higher on the pole once he has left the ground.
- The athlete steadies or replaces the bar during the vault.
Long Jump: All jumps are measured from the take-off line to the nearest break in the landing area made by any part of the body.
A failed attempt occurs when:
- The athlete touches the ground beyond the take-off line upon executing the jump; the take-off line is the edge of the take-off board (roughly 8 inches wide) closest to the landing pit.
- The athlete takes off from outside either end of the take-off board.
- In the course of landing, he touches the ground outside the landing area closer to the take-off line than the nearest break made in the sand.
Triple Jump: The triple jump consists of a hop, a step and a jump, in that order. The hop is made so that the athlete lands on the same foot from which he or she has taken off. In the step, the athlete lands on the other foot from which the jump is performed. It is not considered a failure if, while jumping, the athlete touches the ground with the non-jumping or "sleeping" leg. Failed attempts occur as described in "Long Jump" above.
Throwing Rules
Implements: All implements used in Olympic competition must meet the exact specifications set forth by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). No modification to any implement is allowed during competition. No device used to assist an athlete when making an attempt is allowed. This includes the taping of fingers together. The use of tape on the hands is only permitted to cover an open cut or wound. Use of gloves is not permitted except in the hammer throw event.
The Throws: The shot, discus and hammer are all thrown from the throwing circle. The javelin is thrown from a runway. If the athlete steps out of the throwing circle or runway during the act of throwing, the throw is considered a failed attempt. A valid throw must fall completely within the marked landing area. The athlete must not leave the circle or runway until the implement has touched the ground.
Combined Events Rules
For the most part, the IAAF rules that govern the individual track and field events apply to the corresponding events in the decathlon and heptathlon.
Exceptions:
- In the long jump and throwing events (shot put, discus, javelin), competitors are allowed three attempts only.
- In track events, a false start is assigned only to the athlete who committed it, and disqualification only occurs when the same athlete false starts twice.
