Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Heat Composition
Under Rule 291, paragraph 8.e), the number of Skaters per race at ISU Events, the Olympic Winter Games and the Winter Youth Olympic Games is fixed by a published table:
- 500 m: 5 Skaters in Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Final.
- 1000 m: 5 Skaters in Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Final.
- 1500 m: 7 Skaters in the Semi-Finals and the Final (1500 m does not run a Quarter-Final field at this size).
Different numbers of Skaters per race may be used for International Competitions held under Rule 283, or when the Quarter-Finals or Semi-Finals form the first round of the competition (Rule 291, paragraph 8.f).
4.2 Officials
Rule 286 defines the officiating panel. The Referee is the chief executive officer and decides all points of dispute and infringements of the rules that can result in sanctions; the Referee's decisions are final (Rule 286, paragraph 4). Up to four Assistant Referees may be appointed, with at least two assigned to the Video Replay System (Rule 286, paragraph 1.a). The Starter controls the starting procedure and gives the verbal start commands (Rule 286, paragraph 13). The Competition Coordinator is responsible for all administrative matters under Rules 292 and 293, including the make-up of races for each Qualifying Round (Rule 286, paragraph 14). The Heat Box Steward checks Skaters' equipment and readiness in the heat box (Rule 286, paragraph 15). A Photo Finish Judge, Lap Scorer, and Lap Recorder record order of finish and lap counts (Rule 286, paragraphs 16, 19 & 20). A minimum of two Track Stewards work at each end of the track (Rule 286, paragraph 22).
4.3 Advancement and Seeding
At ISU Events, the Olympic Winter Games and the Winter Youth Olympic Games, progression on each distance from the first round to the Finals is by elimination (Rule 291, paragraph 4). Race winners qualify to move forward, and additional finish places qualify according to the published Qualification table for the distance (Rule 291, paragraph 8.g). Skaters who were impeded, or who received a Yellow or Red Card, while in a qualifying position at the moment of the infringement are advanced to the next round by the Referee; in Semi-Finals, Skaters in a qualifying position for Final B are advanced there instead (Rule 291, paragraph 8.g). If the scheduled number of Skaters in the next round is not filled by direct qualifiers and advanced Skaters, the fastest remaining Skaters in the next finishing positions may be added (Rule 291, paragraph 8.g). Seeding for the first Qualifying Round of each distance at ISU Events uses the current World Ranking List (Rule 293, paragraph 3.b).