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Summary of Rules

WHO CAN COMPETE
Any child between the ages of 5 and 16 years who is a registered athlete may compete.

1. All athletes must have their Age Group tag firmly attached to the front of their top in a clearly visible position.

2. Misbehaviour of athletes will not be tolerated.

3. For safety reasons, only designated officials and competitors will be permitted on the arena.

4. Any general complaint regarding officials, program, etc. will only be heard if made in writing and forwarded to the Centre Secretary no later than seven (7) days after the competition concerned.

5. Footwear must be worn at all times. Spikes may be used by Under 16 athletes in all events except Shot put, Discus, Race Walking & Cross country, and by U12 to U14 Athletes in:

(a) The following Track events: 70m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 60mH, 80mH, 90mH and 300mH.
(b) The following Field Events: Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump and Javelin.
(c) All relay events except for Under 12 athletes competing in the U9 – U12 Mixed Aged Medley.

Maximum length of spikes shall not exceed 7mm. If using spikes, athletes must comply with the following rules:
(a) Spikes shall not be worn outside the relevant competition area.
(b) Spikes must not be put on until athletes have been allocated their heats.
(c) After their event, athletes must return to the designated change area immediately after receiving their ticket where spikes must be removed.
(d) Spikes must be carried in a spike bag at all times when not being worn.
(e) Events will not be held up while athletes are changing shoes.
(f) Wearing of spiked shoes without spikes is not permitted in any circumstances.
Any athlete failing to comply with these rules may be denied permission to wear them for the remainder of the season.

6. Athletes in the U9 - 16 Age Groups are eligible and encouraged to nominate themselves to represent the Centre in events such as the State Relay Championship. In some instances it may be necessary for a selection process to take place, as nomination
does not automatically guarantee
inclusion in a team.

Please Note: Athletes who are selected (in team events) may be excluded from nominating for future representation if they do not fulfil the Centre's requirements for training and participation. For relay training, children are required to attend at least once a week.

7. Rules for special athletics meetings will be notified.

WALKING EVENTS
In Race Walking events, unbroken contact with the ground must be maintained. At each step, the advancing foot of the walker must make contact with the ground before the rear foot leaves the ground. During the period in each step in which the foot is on the ground the leg must be straight (not bent at the knee) for at least one moment, and in particular the supporting leg must be straightened in the vertical position.


HIGH JUMP
1. The competitor must take off from one foot only.

2. Knocking the bar from the supports, or breaking the plane between the uprights and below the bar with any part of the body without clearing the bar shall count as a failure.

3. Competitors may commence jumping at any height above the minimum height and may jump at their own discretion at the minimum or any subsequent height.

4. Three consecutive failures disqualify the competitor from further jumping.

5. Three "baulks" at any one attempt shall constitute a failure.

TRIPLE JUMP
1. The triple jump is an action in 3 parts:
a. The "hop" is made so that the competitor shall first land on the same foot as that which was placed on the mat during takeoff.
b. The "step" is completed by landing on the other foot.
c. The "jump" is made by landing in the pit.
2. If a competitor on the "step" leg lands in the pit, they may elect to have another trial after requesting that the mat be moved back from the pit. Please note that the mat can only be moved in increments of one (1) metre.

3. In all other aspects the rules of the long jump apply.

4. Athletes may request the mat to be set on the metre mark of their choice but this will be moved in the interests of the athlete's safety, at the jurisdiction of the officials on the venue.

LONG JUMP
1. A mat, normally carpet covered with damp sand, shall be used. The trial is measured from the nearest break in the sand pit made by any part of the competitor to the toe end of the foot imprint on the mat. The beginning of the tape is taken to the break in the sand and the distance measured to the tip of the footprint on the mat.

2. The U12-15 athletes take off from behind a defined line on a board. The board is placed 15cm from the edge of the sand pit.
Take-off Area Dimensions: U6 - 8: 1.22 X 1.0 metre
U9 - 11: 1.22 X 0.5 metre
U12 - 15: 1.22 X 0.2 metre

3. The length of the run-up is unlimited. However, the Officials will give athletes in the U6 to U9 Age Groups a recommended run up length.

4. If the competitor places any part of the take-off foot over the edge of the mat closest to the pit, the trial shall be declared a "no-jump".

5. If a competitor takes off before reaching the mat, a valid jump is recorded and shall be measured to the edge of the mat furthest from the pit.

6. If a competitor, when approaching the take-off mat, does not complete the jump and goes beyond the line of the back edge of the mat, the trial shall be declared a “no jump”.

DISCUS
1. When the discus is "thrown", the trial is measured from the inside edge of the circle to the closest mark made by the

discus along an imaginary line drawn through the centre of the circle.

2. In order for a trial to be valid the discus must land within the prescribed 40 degree sector.

3. No part of the competitor (this does not include shoelaces) may be grounded outside the circle before the discus has landed. The competitor must leave from the rear half of the circle in a standing position.

4. It is recommended that a competitor, after delivery, adopt a position in that part of the circle where they become stationary before leaving the circle from the rear half.

JAVELIN
1. The javelin must be held at the grip. It should be thrown over the shoulder or upper part of the throwing arm. It must never be slung or hurled.

2. At no time during the throw, until the javelin is in the air, may the competitor turn completely around, so that their back is toward the throwing arc.

3. To be valid the tip of the javelin must fall within the inner edges of the landing sector.

4. The measurement of each throw is made from where the tip of the metal head first strikes the ground to the inside edge of the arc along a line from the point of landing to the centre of the circle of which the arc is part.

SHOT PUT
1. Measurement of each trial is made from the inside of the plinth to the closest mark made by the shot, along an imaginary line through the centre of the circle.

2. No part of the competitor (this does not include shoelaces) may touch the circle or the ground outside the circle after commencing to make the put.

3. A competitor must put the shot from the shoulder with one hand only. At the time of commencing the put, the shot must be in close proximity of the jaw and the hand must not be dropped below this position during the action of putting. The shot must not be brought from behind the line of the shoulders.

4. In order for the trial to be valid, the above rules must be obeyed and in addition the shot must land within the prescribed 40 degree sector. A competitor must leave from the rear half of the circle for the trial to be valid.

RULES OF STARTING

LANED EVENTS
1. On the command "ON YOUR MARKS" competitors step up to the starting line.
2. On the "SET" command competitors will place their feet in the normal starting position (reasonable time will be allowed for competitors to become steady). The starter will not fire the gun until all competitors are steady.

UNLANED EVENTS
The above rules apply with the exception of the "SET" command being omitted. Competitors will be given reasonable time to become steady after the "ON YOUR MARKS" command.

GENERAL
A move from the starting position after steadying and before the gun is fired shall constitute a FALSE START or BREAK. A second offence by a competitor will cause that competitor to be disqualified.

CROUCH START
A crouch start should be used for U12 - 16 Age Groups for all events up to and including 400m. The Centre will provide blocks.

RUNNING IN LANES, STEEPLE CHASE & HURDLES
1. In laned events competitors must keep in their designated lane. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.
2. In unlaned events, interference (jostling, cutting off other competitors) may result in disqualification.
3. In steeple chasing and hurdling events, competitors shall attempt to clear the hurdles or obstacles.
4. Accidental interference, which may arise as a result of a competitor falling or crashing over a hurdle, cannot be protested.