Track and Field State Goal: 19A, 19B, 19C, 21A, 21B Outcome: The students will demonstrate, explain and identify basic strategies of track and field. Components: Identify the different running events, field events and relays.(9-10) Exhibit the rules of the running events, field events and relays.(9-10) Track and field has lineage back to some of the earliest contests. Although early games were based more in war than sport there was always running, jumping and throwing, the foundations of track and field. Track and field has also been a part of the modern Olympics since its inception (1896) although some events have changed over time. Track and Field athletic competitions started in the 1870 s in the United States. Women were allowed to compete in track and field in the Olympics in 1924. Starting Events: A starting gun or other device is used to start all running events. Field events see athletes compete in turns.
Events: Olympic: Running: o 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters. o 100 meter hurdles (women), 110 meter hurdles (men) and 400 meter hurdles. o 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. o 3000 meter steeplechase. o Marathon. o 10km race walk (women), 20km and 50km race walk (men). Field: o Long, triple and high jumps. o Shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throws. o Pole vault. Combination: o Heptathlon (women): 200 and 800 meters, 100 meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin. o Decathlon (men): 100, 400 and 1500 meters, 110 meter hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus, javelin and pole vault. College: Same as the Olympics. Does not host any race walk events or the Marathon. Illinois High School: Running: o 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 meters. o 100 meter intermediate hurdles (girls), 110 meter high hurdles (boys) and 300 meter low hurdles. o 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays. Field: o Long, triple and high jumps. o Shot put and discus. o Pole vault. Skills: High jump: Competitors attempt to jump over a horizontal bar placed at increasing heights. Three attempts per height. Bar must stay on the standard to clear the height. If the bar falls off the standard the attempt is a scratch. As the event has changed over the years the methods used for clearing the bar have also changed. Fosbury Flop: o Most popular method of jumping. o Named for the athlete who first used the technique. o Competitor travels over the bar face/belly up arching the back.
Long jump: Competitors attempt to leap as far as they can. Three attempts are allowed. The jump must be made from behind the front edge of the take-off board. If the jump is not it is a scratch. Measurement of the distance achieved is taken from the front edge of the take-off board to the nearest mark in the sand by the jumper. Shot put: Competitors attempt to hurl or put a heavy sphere ( shot ) as far as they can (the weight of the shot differs from men to women and from high school to college/olympics. Three attempts are allowed. The shot must land within the boundary (sector) lines. The competitor must stay within the ring. If the shot does not or the competitor does not it is a scratch. Measurement is taken from the middle of the ring to the nearest edge of where the shot landed. Spinning and gliding are common methods. Starting blocks: Apparatus used by athletes to enable quicker starts. Positions athletes in the best starting position. Made up of sliding pedals on a center frame to position each athlete according to their preferences. Used in all events where a quick start is essential (shorter sprints like the 100 meters up to the 400 meters). Hurdles: Competitors must jump over several objects (hurdles) in stride during a running race. The height of the hurdle may change from men to women and the distance of the event being run. A competitor may hit or knock over a hurdle. Any number of steps may be taken between hurdles (3 is optimal for the shorter hurdle events). Relay exchange (handoffs): The transition of a baton between athletes in a race with multiple competitors each sharing an equal part of the total distance. The baton must be handed off between athletes inside the exchange zone marked by colored arrows on the track surface. If the baton is exchanged outside the zone the team competing in the relay is disqualified for the event. If the baton is dropped: o According to meet rules. o Possible automatic disqualification. o Competitor may be able to pick the baton up as long as it does not advance the runner (closer lane) or give an advantage. o May not hinder other runners.
Scoring: Meets are scored on a point system. The team that has gained the most points after all the events have finished wins. The most points are given to the 1 st place competitor, less for 2 nd place, etc How many points awarded is dependent on the meet (sample: 10pts.-1 st, 8pts.-2 nd, 6pts.-3 rd, 4pts.-4 th, 2pts.-5 th, 1pt.-6 th ). Miscellaneous Terms and Rules: False start: The cadence for starting a race is: o Runners take your marks. o Set. o Gun or other devise sounds to begin. A competitor may not move once in the set position. If a competitor moves in the set position or leaves before the gun or other devise sounds they may be warned or disqualified. Finishing: A competitor s time stops when the first part of their body from shoulders to waist crosses the finish line. Some athletes will lean forward at the finish to get a better time. Lanes: Staying in lanes: o Some races require the competitors to remain in their lane the entire distance of the race (100, 200 and 400 meters). o Some races require the competitors to remain in their lanes/alleys for a specified distance before they may cut in (800 meters and sometimes the 1500 meter). A competitor must have a step lead on another competitor in order to cut in. Spikes: Track markings: Spikes are allowed in outdoor events (event rules may limit the length). Shot put and Discus will not use spikes but rather a smooth shoe designed for spinning and gliding. Colors (colors can differ, the colors noted are from the high school track): o Different colors correspond to different events. o The colors may be used to start a race, involve relay exchanges, cut-in lines or to help place hurdles. o In relay events the color of the starting line will correspond to the exchange zone color (except the 4x100 where a white starting line is used and yellow exchange arrows). Starting lines: o Alleys: Lane lines that stretch over two lanes. Athletes may move within those two lanes. o Waterfall: A curved line that starts at lane one and curves out away from the finish line.
Types of starts Relay triangles: o Used to denote exchange zones. o Yellow (4x100 meter and the last handoff of the 4x200 meter), red (4x200 meter) and blue (4x400 meter and 4x800 meter). o The blue exchange zone triangles that are straight across the track and not staggered are called a common exchange zone. Relay dots: o Used to denote the farthest point a runner may be away from the relay exchange zone in order to start their run. o The color dot will correspond to the exchange zone. Hurdle marks: o Small hashes that can be found on the lane lines. o Yellow (100 meter, women), red (300 meter) and blue (110 meter, men) are used. Cut-in line: o Used to let competitors know they may move from outer lanes to inner lanes. o Any event that starts in alleys and the 4x400 meter relay. o Green in color. Staggered: o Competitors are in their own lanes. o Because competitors in the outer lanes would have farther to run they are given a lead to make up the distance. o The lead given would be determined by the number of turns the runner would have to stay in their own lane during the race. Waterfall: o Competitors are spread out over all the lanes and may see multiple competitors per lane and on lane lines. o After the gun or other devise has sounded the start of the race athletes may immediately cut-in (A competitor must have a step lead on another competitor in order to cut). Created by: David Lichamer