RLA's Competition Rules
SHOES ARE TO BE WORN FOR ALL COMPETITION EVENTS.
TRACK EVENTS
- Two false starts result in a disqualification.
- U9’s and older are permitted to wear spiked shoes.
- No spiked shoes (not even with spikes removed) are permitted in any race over 400 metres.
- A race is completed and a time is measured when the torso reaches the finishing line.
- Starting blocks are optional.
- An athlete must keep to allotted lanes from the beginning to the end of an event. Straying out of your lane in a laned event could result in disqualification.
- For 100m, 200m and 400m events the starter’s instructions will be: “On your marks” – athletes take their marks at the starting line. “Set” - when all athletes must be completely still on the starting line.
- When all athletes are “set” the starter will fire the starting pistol.
- For 800m, 1500m and 3000m races the instructions will be “On your marks” and when the athletes are steady the pistol will be fired.
SHOTPUT AND DISCUS
- The competitor must not leave the circle until the implement has landed, and then must leave in a controlled manner, from the rear half of the circle only.
- It shall be a foul throw if the competitor, after entering the circle and commencing to make a throw, touches with any part of their body, the top of the circle or the ground outside.
- The implement must land within the marked 40 degree sector lines (on the line is outside the sector).
- The measurement of each throw will be taken from the nearest mark made by the fall of the implement, to the inside of the circumference of the circle, along the line, from the mark to the centre of the circle.
SHOTPUT distances will always be recorded to the nearest centimetre (0.01m) below the distance measured, if the distance measured is not a whole centimetre.
SHOTPUT NOTE
The shotput shall be touching the underside of the chin, and the hand shall not be dropped below this position, during the action of putting.
The shot must not be brought from behind the line of the shoulder.
DISCUS distances will always be recorded to the nearest even centimetre (0.02m) below the distance measured; if the distance measured is not a whole centimetre.
LONG JUMP
- Start markers are to be placed along the side of the track, clear of the runway.
- A 500mm take-off area is provided for U6’s up to and including U12’s. A 200mm board is provided for U13’s, U14’s and U15’s. For the U6’s and U7’s events the 500mm take-off area is positioned 1/2 metre from the edge of the pit. For U8’s to U 12’s the 500mm take-off area shall be positioned 1 metre back from the edge of the pit. For the older age groups the 200mm board is positioned 1 metre back from the edge of the pit.
- The distance jumped is measured as the shortest distance from the nearest break in the landing area, made by any part of the body or limbs, to the imprint made on the 500mm take-off area, by the take off foot. For jumps made from the board, the measure is taken from the take-off line, or take-off line extended, to the break in the pit. The take-off line is the front of the board. Distance shall always be recorded to the nearest centimetre (0.0lm) below the distance measured, if the distance measured is not a whole centimetre. Where no contact is made with the 500mm take-off area (i.e. the athlete takes off behind the 500mm take-off area) the jump is recorded and measured from the front of the 500mm take-off area.
- Fouls are recorded when:
- a. The take-off foot extends past the front edge of the take-off board or square.
- b. The competitor leaves the pit by walking through the pit towards the take-off point.
TRIPLE JUMP
- This is a “hop - step - jump “movement into the pit.
- The hop shall be made so that the competitor shall first land upon the same foot as that from which they shall have taken off; in the step they shall have landed on the other foot, from which consequently the jump is performed. If the competitor while jumping touches the ground with the “sleeping” leg it shall not be considered a failure.
- For the triple jump, provision of three, take-off boards is required, at 5 metres, 7 metres and 9 metres back from the pit. Competitors may change their take-off board once only, once the competition has started.
HIGH JUMP
- A competitor is permitted to place markers to assist run up, provided they do not interfere with any other competitor’s run up line.
- A competitor must take off from one foot only.
- A nominal 90 seconds time period is allowed to complete each jump attempt. Balked attempts are not registered as jumps completed. An unreasonable delay in an attempt may be recorded as a failed attempt.
- A failed attempt is recorded when the competitor removes the bar during an attempted jump. (If the bar is dislodged by means other than the competitor the competitor is not penalised.)
- A competitor is disqualified when three consecutive failures are recorded.
