False-Starts in Athletics Are they truly fair? Kevin Brosnan, University of Limerick RSS Sports Section Webinar, 29 th March 2017
Who am I 1 @kevbros93 significantstats.org
Research Team
Research Team Dr. Norma Bargary
Research Team Dr. Norma Bargary Prof. Drew Harrison
Research Team Dr. Norma Bargary Prof. Drew Harrison Dr. Kevin Hayes
Outline Athletics Starting Process False Starts Rules Response Times What have we done? Rio 2016 - what could have been? What s left to do?
Starting Process 5 Starter issues the instruction On your marks.
Starting Process 5 Starter issues the instruction On your marks. When all Athletes are clearly settled, correctly positioned and still, the Starter will issue the command Set.
Starting Process 5 Starter issues the instruction On your marks. When all Athletes are clearly settled, correctly positioned and still, the Starter will issue the command Set. When the Athletes have all assumed their final starting position, and are steady, the gun will be fired.
False Starts 6 when an IAAF approved Start Information System is in use, the Starter shall wear headphones in order to clearly hear the acoustic signal emitted when the System indicates a possible false start (i.e. when the reaction time is less than 0.100 second after the gun).
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning Group Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning Group Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning Group Warning
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning Group Warning Automatic Disqualification
Rules 8 1998 2004 2010 2016 Individual Warning Group Warning Automatic Disqualification
Response Times 9 Time taken for a person or system to react to a given stimulus or event
Response Times 9 Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 3-6 ms Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 3-6 ms 10-15 ms Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 3-6 ms 10-15 ms 50 ms Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 3-6 ms 10-15 ms 50 ms 25 ms Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 3-6 ms 10-15 ms 50 ms 5-10 ms 25 ms Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
Response Times 9 3-6 ms 10-15 ms 93-106 ms 50 ms 5-10 ms 25 ms Time taken for an athlete to react to the starters pistol
The Data 10
The Data 10 2,310 1,007 1,303
The Data 10 2,310 8,559 1,007 1,303 6,922 1,637
European Championships 11
European Championships 11 Helsinki 2012 Zurich 2014 Barcelona 2010
European Championships 11 Helsinki 2012 Gotenberg 2013 Paris 2011 Turin 2009 Zurich 2014 Barcelona 2010
World Championships 12
World Championships Helsinki 2005 12 Moscow 2013 Berlin 2009 Edmonton 2001 Birmingham 2003 Daegu 2011 Osaka 2007
World Championships Berlin 2009 Sopot 2014 Helsinki 2005 12 Moscow 2013 Moscow 2006 Birmingham 2003 Edmonton 2001 Valencia 2008 Hungary 2004 Istanbul 2012 Doha 2010 Daegu 2011 Maebashi 1999 Osaka 2007
Events 13
Ruling Periods 14
Ruling Periods 14
Modelling 15
Modelling 15
Modelling 16 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 16 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 16 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 16 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 16 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 17 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 18 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Modelling 18 Very Fast Fast Slow Very Slow Response Time
Are Men & Women the same 19 Men Women
Are Men & Women the same 19
Are Men & Women the same 19 So men are faster than women
Are Men & Women the same 19 So men are faster than women actually we aren t it s a technology and biology issue!
Rule Changes for Men 20 1999-2003
Rule Changes for Men 20 1999-2003 2004-2009
Rule Changes for Men 20 1999-2003 2004-2009 2010-2014
Rule Changes for Men 20 Response Times are getting slower as the 1999-2003 rules change 2004-2009 2010-2014
Rule Changes for Men 20 Response Times are getting slower as the 1999-2003 2004-2009 rules change athletes are less inclined to anticipate 2010-2014 the starter s gun!
Rule Changes for Men 20 Response Times are getting slower as the 1999-2003 2004-2009 rules change athletes are less inclined to anticipate 2010-2014 the starter s gun! 115 ms
Rule Changes for Women 21 1999-2003
Rule Changes for Women 21 1999-2003 2004-2009
Rule Changes for Women 21 1999-2003 2004-2009 2010-2014
Rule Changes for Women 21 Response Times are getting slower as the rules 1999-2003 change (again) 2004-2009 2010-2014
Rule Changes for Women 21 Response Times are getting slower as the rules 1999-2003 change (again) 2004-2009 athletes are less inclined to anticipate 2010-2014 the starter s gun!
Rule Changes for Women 21 Response Times are getting slower as the rules 1999-2003 change (again) 2004-2009 athletes are less inclined to anticipate 2010-2014 the starter s gun! 119 ms
Race for the Medals 22 Men Women
Race for the Medals 22
Race for the Medals 22 Men Women
Race for the Medals 22 Men Women
Men Women Race for the Medals 22
Men Women Race for the Medals 22 So women s improvements for finals is much better than men so women are cheating more often
Men Women Race for the Medals 22 So women s improvements for finals is much better than men so women are cheating more often actually it s because men cheat regardless of the race!
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23 163 136 157 112 138 148 132 134
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23 163 136 157 112 138 148 132 134
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23 163 136 157 112 138 148 132 134
Rio 2016 - Womens 100m Final 23 Have Ivory Coast been denied a bronze medal? 163 136 157 112 138 148 132 134
Tori Bowie 24
Tori Bowie 24
What s left to do 25
What s left to do 25
What s left to do 25
What s left to do 25?
Usain Bolt, 200m 26
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 100m 27
Thanks for Listening!