Athletics Officials’ Guide

1 Athletics Officials GuideStarter& starter s AssistantGetting Started as aContentsOn your marks .. set .. go!page 3 The starting teampage 4 Basic dutiespage 5 The Starterpage 5 The starter s Assistantpage 6Of course!page 6 The starting processpage 7 The Startpage 7 Stand uppage 8 False Startpage 9 Recallspage 9 Safety considerationspage 10 Liaison with other Officialspage 11 Progressing through the levelspage 12A starter s checklistpage 13A starter s Assistant s checklistpage 15 Appendicespage 17A: Simple Duty Sheet for a team ofStarterspage 17B: Simple Duty Sheet for a team of starter s Assistantspage 18C: False Startspage 19UK and Home Country Officials contactspage 20 County Officials Secretaries(England)page 21 Officials Associationspage 223 Athletics Officials Guide : starter & starter s AssistantAthletics Officials Guide : starter & starter s Assistant2On your marks.

2 Set .. go!This document is based on one initially prepared by the late Keith Dearing in 1994,with the help of Phil Tomkins and other experienced Starters and starter s have adapted it to the latest rules of Athletics , and to offer some insight into theday to day running of an athletic meeting from the aspect of Starters and starter sAssistants. It is designed to aid any newcomers to the sport or those who wish to takeup a new challengeas to the duties involved in this area of Athletics . The roles of the starter and starter s Assistant (previously referred to as Marksman )are crucial to keeping track events running to time. Neither can work properlywithout the other and the co-operation between both sets of officials is essential forthe well-being of the athlete. An experienced starter s Assistant will ensure athletesare ready for the start and allow the starter to concentrate on ensuring all athleteshave a fair and even role of starter or starter s Assistant is quite challenging, you are working withathletes who are hyped up especially in sprint races.

3 You need to be firm butdiplomatic but overall an enjoyment of Athletics is are always changing and we can only advise new officials to keep up to datewith the new rules as and when they are introduced and suggest they join their localOfficials Association where help and advice is freely you would like to take an active part in this discipline then read on. Contact yourlocal County Officials Secretary (or Home Country equivalent - see pages 20-21) orOfficials Association (see page 22) who can point you in the right Piper, Jemma Bates, Alan MinchinSEAOA starter /Marksman Sub CommitteeReferences throughout this text are made to the UK: Athletics publication Rules for Competition. This rulebook is published every two years and is available from:UK Athletics Book Centre5 Church Road, Great Bookham, Surrey KT23 : 01372 disabled athletes the official International ParalympicCommittee (IPC) Athletics Rules and Regulationswithsupporting documents are available from: simplified version of rules for disabled athletes relatedto the UKA rules is included in the UKA rule is wise to read the relevant event rules before acompetition which includes events for disabled helpful reading matter includes.

4 IAAF Handbook, available from and Marksmanship, available form NeuffAthletic Equipment by the South of England Athletics Officials Association starter /Marksman Sub CommitteeFrom an original document by Keith Dearing April 2011 SOUTH OF ENGLANDATHLETICS OFFICIALSASSOCIATIONThe starting teamThis comprises bothStarters and starter s Assistants (previously referred to as Marksmen ).There are Timekeepers, Judges for both Track and Field events, Recorders,Announcers, Officials who help with marshalling the athletes to the right place at theright time and numerous other posts which come together during a match, but as faras Track races are concerned, there has to be a starter and, ideally, more than oneStarter s Assistant to assist the starter get the race under way in a fair manner to composition varies according to the level of the meeting and the number ofOfficials that are most club meetings there might be only one or two starter s Assistants and they willhave to decide who will be Chief.

5 If you are the only starter s Assistant try to get thelocal club to provide a parent or visiting official to help out. Even if they only ensurethe athletes are in the right place with the correct number it is a step forward. Theexperienced starter s Assistant can then ensure athletes are in the correct lanes andadvise the starter when ready. It is essential to have a starter and at least one starter s AssistantAt important meetings the following composition is ideal: A Chief starter and two other starter s Assistants Between them it is usual for the duties of starter , Start Recaller and BlockRecaller to be allocated in a shared convention. It may even be possible tohave twoStart Recallers if there is a fourth person or if the race does notinvolve Blocks. The duties would be allocated so that each starter has to attendto each duty at some time during the meeting.

6 A typical Duty Sheet appears in the Appendix A. A Chief starter s Assistant and two other starter s Assistants It is now usual at Area meetings and above for at least threeStarter s Assistantsto be appointed to support the Chief starter s Assistant this allows for one ofthem to move to the next event and commence the initial preparations. Between them it is usual for the various duties to be allocated in a shared convention, varying with the progress of the races so that each starter sAssistant has to attend to each duty at some time during the meeting. A typical Duty Sheet appears in the Appendix clothing of the starter and starter s Assistant is covered later but at this stage it isas well to note that the starter wears a distinctive red top and Officials Guide : starter & starter s AssistantAthletics Officials Guide : starter & starter s Assistant4 Basic dutiesOK, so you may be interested in helping to start a track race , why do we need a starter and a starter s Assistant what do they both do why are there so many of them at some meetings?

7 A good Starterwill have experience as a starter s Assistant, so it is sensible to have atry at this discipline in the beginning of course, experience as a competing athlete,especially in sprint races, helps in a practical does help but it is not so essential for a starter s Assistantto have experience as StarterThe starter has absolutecontrol over all matters relating to the start of a race. His orHer decision IS FINAL and cannot be overruled by any one Starterhas to ensure that all of the competitors have a good and fair start withno one slipping up because of something outside their control. This could beidentified as a faulty or unfair start, in reality a perfect start is possible but difficult toachieve. If a competitor does try to take some advantage at the start then they will beresponsible for a False Startand the Startermust warn or disqualify them inaccordance with the rules governing the starter plays thecrucial role in ensuring that the meeting progresses according tothe proper Starterneeds to have a sound basic appreciation of the relevant Rules, there arenot too many, and a great deal is common , the Startermust be alert, calm, confident, patient, impartial, decisive, clearspeaking, react quickly and needs to be able to see everything.

8 He should issue hiscommands in a distinctively clear, calm and authoritative but not bullying manner. Ofcourse, all these attributes and others are what the starter should seek but may notalways , the Startershould not panic, not be aggressive, not give any indication ofloss of control, not shout nor do anything that will have the effect of diluting the trustthat the athletes would normally place in the Starterhas special responsibilities in society for his guns, ammunition etc., theseinvolve the Police, Registration and costs are involved, particularly if something goeswrong, great careof equipment is essential its common sense. The starter mustknow how to handle, care for and properly maintain their guns, ammunition etc., andwhen necessary have their guns checked, overhauled etc., by a competent all the guns could be worth a lot of Startersneed to know how to allocate duties to a team of starters, the use ofRecallers and the use of fully automatic timing starter s AssistantThe starter s Assistantis complementary to the starter and essential for the smoothrunning of a meeting.

9 Ideally, there will be two or more to share the detailed aspectsof preparing athletes for their races. starter s Assistants need to work as a team and to consider themselves as a part ofthe whole starting team the more efficiently they do this, the easier it is to progressthrough a meeting without any hitches. starter s Assistantsneed to check and re-check by reference to the programme thateverything and everyone at the start is in the right place at the right time: Is the track clear? Are you (the starter s Assistant) at the correct start area? Are there adequate starting blocks? Have you got everything you should have/need? Are you in the right place for the particular race? Are the athletes ready? Track suits off, properly attired, shoes, correct numbers, pins, correctlanes/positions, correct heat Is the athletes clothing conforming with UKA Rules regarding advertising,sponsorship logos, etc?

10 Is the starter ready? (perhaps he/she is waiting for another official to be ready) starter s Assistantsneed to follow a predetermined sequence of duties all geared toensuring that the race starts on s Assistantsneed to move quickly and efficiently on to the next duty whichcould be at the other side of the track or different to that which they have s Assistantsneed to be well-organised, patient, firm, act in an authoritativeand helpful manner to secure the co-operation of the starter s Assistantsneed to know how to allocate duties to a team of starter course!There are formal rules to cover all this but sometimes Organisers of specialistmeetings, league matches, etc., introduce additional requirements which do notcontravene the formal rules but may enhance them for the purpose of the the layout of the track may require different approaches guns of acertain calibre may not be permitted for environmental or community rules relate to the participation of disabled athletes.