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Introduction

World Athletics, the international governing body for athletics, has announced several rule changes that will take effect from November 1, 2023. These changes aim to improve the fairness and efficiency of competitions and clarify some existing rules.

Key Changes

  • Clarification on Take-offs in Horizontal Jumps: The rule on take-offs in horizontal jumps has been clarified to ensure that only the front part of the take-off foot/shoe is relevant. This means that breaks in the vertical plane caused by loose parts of the shoe or clothing will not be considered a failure.
  • Clarification on Touching the Circle in Circle Throws: The rule on touching the circle in circle throws has been clarified to allow for unintentional touches by the feet on the ground outside the top of the iron band in the back half of the circle during the first rotation. This change is in line with long-standing practice and interpretation.
  • New Lane Draws for 800m Events: New lane draws have been introduced for 800m events. These draws will be based on the same principles as the existing draws for other events.
  • Changes to Simultaneous Entries in Track and Field Events: The rules on simultaneous entries in track and field events have been changed to allow athletes to take trials in a different order from the start list. This change is intended to provide more flexibility for athletes and officials.
  • Changes to False Start Procedures: The procedures for dealing with false starts have been changed to allow athletes to compete under protest if they are unsure whether they have committed a false start. This change is intended to protect the rights of athletes.
  • Changes to Rule 20 of the Competition Rules: The wording of Rule 20 of the Competition Rules has been changed to standardise practice and to complement Note (ii) to Rule 20.4 of the Competition Rules. This change is intended to reduce the number of DNFs appearing in results.
  • Changes to Rule 4.3 of the Technical Rules: The wording of Rule 4.3 of the Technical Rules has been changed to clarify that athletes who miss a trial in a field event will be deemed to have passed once the period allowed for the trial has elapsed. This change is intended to clarify when an athlete should be recorded as a pass or a failure.

Additional Changes

In addition to the key changes listed above, there are several other minor changes to the rules. These changes include:

  • Changes to the wording of Rule 30.1.1 of the Technical Rules on take-offs in horizontal jumps.
  • Changes to the wording of Rule 32.14 of the Technical Rules on touches in circle throws.
  • Changes to the wording of Rule 25.12 of the Technical Rules on qualifying standards for field events.
  • Changes to the wording of Rule 25.17 of the Technical Rules on timing for competition trials.
  • Changes to the wording of Rule 32.2 of the Technical Rules on personal throwing implements.
  • Changes to the wording of Rule 39.8.5 of the Technical Rules on lane draws for Combined Events.

Conclusion

The World Athletics Rule Changes 2023 are designed to improve the fairness, efficiency, and clarity of competitions. The changes take effect from 1 November 2023, and athletes and officials should familiarize themselves with them in advance.

References

  1. World Athletics. (2023, November 1). WA Rule Changes 2023-Reduced Version for Gold Online Presentation.