The following is a short summary of some of the more important rules for various competition events.

TRACK EVENTS

RUNNING

Always keep within your lane during races up to and including 400m.  Never look around to see where your opponents are, and always run “through” the finish line.

HURDLES

Specific rules

Athletes must stay in their lane

Athletes trailing their foot or leg alongside any hurdle or over a hurdle in an adjoining lane will be disqualified

Athletes who deliberately knock down a hurdle with a hand or foot will be disqualified

WALKING

Race Walking is a technical event.  Race walkers have to keep one foot in contact with the ground at all times and make sure that the supporting leg is straight at first contact with the ground until it is under the body.

JUMPING EVENTS

LONG JUMP / TRIPLE JUMP

Each athlete is allowed 3 jumps:

                U6 - U12 athletes use a metre square mat

                U13 - U17 athletes use a 200mm board – usually painted on the mat.

A foul is recorded if:

1.             Any part of the Athlete’s ‘take off toe’ protrudes over the front line or side edge of the board or mat.

2.             After completing a jump the Athlete leaves the pit in the direction of the “take off” mat.

3.             The Athlete does not land in the pit.

Measurement

All measurements are made to the nearest centimetre below.

U6-U12 the jump is measured from the break in the sand nearest the take off point to the nearest point of the imprint of the athlete’s take off foot.  If the athlete takes off from behind the mat, then the jump is measured from the break in the sand to the back edge of the mat.

U13-U17 the jump is measured from the break in the sand to the front edge of the board.

Additional information for Triple Jump

The triple jump consists of a hop, step and jump.  In the hop the athlete lands on the same foot as that he/she has taken off from; in the step the athlete will land on the other foot and subsequently the jump is performed.

The take-off mat is set at various distances (from the pit) for different athletes.

HIGH JUMP

U6-U8 athletes are only allowed to do scissor action.  U9-U17 is optional.

Each athlete is allowed 3 attempts at each height.

An athlete ceases jumping when 3 consecutive failures are recorded.  Each athlete is able to record at least one successful jump.

Athletes may commence jumping at any height.

Athletes may pass at any height, but can not pass after a baulk.

The height of the bar increases in 5cm increments until one athlete is left.  The last athlete may select the height the bar is to be raised (Minimum 2cm intervals).

A foul is recorded if (1) the athlete dislodges the bar, (2) the athlete jumps from two feet or (3) the athlete has two consecutive baulks.

If the horizontal bar is touched in the process of jumping, the jump is not passed until the official is satisfied that, it will not subsequently fall as a result of the jump.

THROWING EVENTS

All events are measured to the nearest centimetre below.

SHOT PUT & DISCUS

General rules for both events

Each athlete is allowed 3 throws.

The athlete may enter the circle from any direction but must leave from the rear half.

The shot and discus must land so that the point of impact is completely within the inner edges of the lines marking the sector.

A foul is recorded if any part of the body touches the ground outside the circle or the top of the ring or stop board.

Measurement is made from the inside edge of the stop board to the nearest point of the mark made by the shot.

Additional rules for Shot Put

The shot must be put from the shoulder with one hand only.  When the athlete takes a stance to begin the put, the shot (ball) must be touching or within the 25mm of the chin

The shot must not be taken behind the line of the shoulders.

JAVELIN

Each athlete is allowed 3 throws.

The Javelin:-
a.             must be held with the hand in contact with the grip.
b.             must be thrown over the shoulder or upper part of the throwing arm.
c.             must land point first
d.             must land inside the sector lines.

Weights

400g       U11 - U12 Boys & Girls, U13 Girls

600g       U13 Boys, U14 -U17 Boys & Girls