Rules for Running Track

Track is a popular sport for children and young adults. Events range from short sprints to distance running. Individual races and relays allow participants to compete in a variety of activities both alone and on a team. Track clubs around the country compete in meets throughout the year at both indoor and outdoor facilities.

  1. Fair Starts

    • At the beginning of a race, all athletes must stay behind starting line until the starter fires the gun. False start rules vary depending on the meet; however, many meets allow each athlete one false start. A false start occurs when an athlete begins the race before the firing of the starting gun. Disqualification of the athlete usually occurs upon the second false start in a single race. Some competitions will charge the first false start to the entire heat, and other meets will disqualify an athlete after one false start. Athletes should consult the individual meet rules prior to the event.

    Interference Regulations

    • Sprint races, 400 meters and under, start with the runners at a staggered start where runners on inside lanes begin the race farther back than runners on outer lanes. Lane 1, the innermost lane, begins the race the farthest back, while each lane to the right begins an incremental distance ahead. The stagger is due to the difference in the distance of each lane. Sprinters are required to stay in their own lanes for the duration of the race. A race judge may allow a runner to drift out of his own lane on a straightaway or into an outer lane on a curve without penalty as long as he does not impede another runner. The 800 meter run also starts on a stagger; however, runners are allowed to move to the inside lane after the first curve. For all races, runners may not interfere with another runner. Interference includes pushing, tripping, bumping, or otherwise impeding the path of another competitor. A race judge will determine if the interference action warrants a disqualification of the athlete.

    Hurdles

    • Hurdle rules are similar to most sprints. The athletes must stay in their assigned lanes and may not interfere with other runners. In addition, an athlete cannot run around a hurdle and cannot drag her trail leg around a hurdle at an elevation lower than the hurdle to avoid hitting it. Some meets will disqualify an athlete for intentionally knocking down the hurdles.

    Relay Baton Handoffs

    • Sprint relays have the same lane and interference rules as individual events. Runners in distance relays that do not have assigned lanes may move to the inside of the track for the baton handoff as long as they do not interfere with another runner. All baton handoffs must occur in the take-over zone, and the position of the baton determines if the handoff was within the zone. If the handoff occurs while the baton is within the take-over zone, regardless if the athlete’s body is fully in the zone, the handoff is legal. Athletes must hold the baton during the entire race and if they drop it, pick the baton up without impeding another runner, making their run shorter or allowing the handoff to occur outside the take-over zone.

    Proper Conduct

    • Unsportsmanlike conduct of any type will cause disqualification of the athlete. These offenses include being disrespectful to an official, using profane language, taunting, fighting or criticizing another athlete. Serious offenses may disqualify an athlete from future events as well.