Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Track Event Starts (Technical Rule 15)
All races up to and including 400m (including hurdles at those distances) shall be started by the report of the starting pistol or approved device. Commands are: "On your marks" and "Set" (for races up to and including 400m). For 800m and above, the command is "On your marks" only, after which the pistol is fired when all athletes are stationary. Athletes must start from a stationary position with at least one hand and one foot in contact with the ground behind and not touching the start line. Feet must be in contact with the starting blocks.
5.2 False Start (Technical Rule 16)
A false start occurs when an athlete starts before the starting signal. The World Athletics False Start Detection System triggers if an athlete produces a reaction time of less than 0.100 seconds after the gun. One false start is allowed per race in aggregate; the athlete causing a false start is warned. Any athlete who causes a subsequent false start in the same race is disqualified. If a false start occurs before the gun, the Starter recalles the athletes without disqualifying anyone, and the false start is not charged (Technical Rule 16).
5.3 Lane Rules (Technical Rule 24)
In lane races, athletes must stay within their designated lane from start to finish. An athlete who runs outside their lane, or steps on or over a lane line in a curve, shall be disqualified unless no material advantage is gained and no other athlete is obstructed (Technical Rule 14). In non-lane races, once athletes break from lanes (at the break line), they may run freely. Obstruction and jostling that causes a fall or impedes progress is prohibited under Technical Rule 17.
5.4 Relay Rules (Technical Rule 24)
In relay races, the baton must be passed within the exchange zone, which is 20 m in length. For the 4×100m, there is an additional 10 m acceleration zone prior to each exchange zone. The baton must be carried in the hand throughout; if dropped, it may be recovered by the athlete who dropped it. The outgoing athlete must not leave the zone before receiving the baton. A team is disqualified if the baton is not exchanged within the zone, an athlete runs outside their lane (unless caused by another athlete), or interference occurs (Technical Rule 24).
5.5 Hurdle Events (Technical Rule 22)
Athletes must not run around, under, or deliberately knock over hurdles. An athlete is disqualified if they trail a foot or leg below the plane of the top of any hurdle, or if they deliberately knock a hurdle over with their hand or foot. Knocking a hurdle over accidentally (e.g., with the thigh or knee) does not result in disqualification, provided the foot or leg does not trail below the hurdle plane (Technical Rule 22).
5.6 Steeplechase Rules (Technical Rule 23)
In the 3000m Steeplechase, athletes shall clear 28 hurdles and 7 water jumps (5 laps of a 400m track for men; adapted for women). Athletes must go over, or through the water at, each water jump. Athletes may place a hand or foot on top of a barrier when clearing it; they may not pass under or between barriers.
5.7 High Jump (Technical Rule 27)
Athletes must take off on one foot. Each athlete is allowed three attempts at each height. An athlete is eliminated after three consecutive failures at the same height. Failure is recorded if: the bar falls after the attempt, the athlete dislodges the bar, or the athlete passes under the bar or touches the ground or landing area beyond the plane of the near edge of the uprights without first clearing the bar. The bar shall be raised by a minimum of 2 cm for each successive round (Technical Rule 27).
5.8 Pole Vault (Technical Rule 28)
The athlete may place the vaulting pole in the box at any angle. Once the vaulting pole has been placed in the box at the start of the attempt, the athlete may, while holding the pole, touch the ground beyond the stop board with the pole or a part of the body without it being counted as a failure, provided no advantage is gained. A failure is recorded if: the bar is knocked off, the athlete lets go of the pole in flight and then touches the bar before or during the fall, or the athlete deliberately moves the uprights inward (where not permitted). The athlete or the vaulting pole may touch the uprights during the vault without failure unless the crossbar is dislodged (Technical Rule 28).
5.9 Long Jump (Technical Rule 30)
The athlete takes off from behind or on the takeoff board. The jump is measured from the nearest mark in the landing area made by any part of the athlete's body to the takeoff line (extended), at right angles to the takeoff line. The athlete must not step on or over the takeoff board. Failure is recorded if the athlete takes off from outside the board area (beyond the takeoff line), falls backward into the landing area touching the sand closer to the board than the measured point, or leaves the landing area in a manner not conforming to Technical Rule 30 (must walk out forwards from the nearest point of take-off) (Technical Rule 30).
5.10 Triple Jump (Technical Rule 31)
The Triple Jump consists of a hop, a step, and a jump. The hop is made so that the athlete lands first on the same foot as the take-off foot; in the step, the athlete lands on the other foot; from there the jump is completed. An athlete who, while hopping, touches the ground with the non-hop foot commits a foul (Technical Rule 31).
5.11 Throwing Events – General Rules (Technical Rules 33, 34, 36 and 38)
The athlete must start an attempt from a stationary position within the circle or behind the scratch line. The athlete may touch the top of the stop board (Shot Put) but must not touch the top of the rim of the throwing circle or the ground outside. A valid throw is recorded only if the implement lands within the landing sector and the athlete leaves the circle correctly — from the rear half of the circle, after the implement has landed. Implements must land within the sector lines (not on them). In all throwing events, athletes are permitted to stop a throw, place the implement on the ground, and start again, provided no rule has been violated (Technical Rules 33, 34, 36 and 38).
5.12 Wind Readings (Technical Rules 17 and 30)
A wind reading is required and recorded for all individual sprint and hurdle events up to and including 200m, and for long jump and triple jump. The wind gauge is placed parallel to the track for running events; parallel to the runway for jumps. Only performances with a wind reading of +2.0 m/s or less (tailwind) are valid for record purposes (Technical Rules 17 and 30).