SECTION VI - INDOOR COMPETITIONS
This section contains:
RULE 210 - Applicability of Outdoor Rules to Indoor Competitions
RULE 211 - The Indoor Stadium
RULE 212 - The Straight Track
RULE 213 - The Oval Track and Lanes
RULE 214 - Start and Finish on the Oval Track
RULE 215 - Clothing, Shoes and Number Bibs
RULE 216 - Hurdle Races
RULE 217 - Relay Races
RULE 218 - High Jump
RULE 219 - Pole Vault
RULE 220 - Horizontal Jumps
RULE 221 - Putting the Shot
RULE 222 - Combined Events Competitions
RULE 210 - Applicability of Outdoor Rules to Indoor Competitions
With the exceptions stated in the following Rules of this Section VI, the Rules of Sections I to V of Division IV for outdoor competitions are also applicable to Indoor Competitions.
RULE 211 - The Indoor Stadium
1. The stadium shall be completely enclosed and covered. Lighting, heating and ventilation shall be provided to give satisfactory conditions for competition.
2. The arena should include an oval track; a straight track for sprints and hurdles; runways and landing areas for jumping events. In addition, a circle and landing sector for shot put should be provided, whether permanently or temporarily.
3. All the tracks, runways or take-off surface areas shall be covered with a synthetic material or have a wooden surface. The former should preferably be able to accept 6mm spikes in running shoes.
Alternative thicknesses may be provided by the stadium management who will notify athletes of the permissible length of spikes. (See Rule 143.4).
4. As far as technically possible, each runway shall have a uniform resilience throughout. This shall be checked, for the take-off area for the jumps, before each competition. (See Rules 218.2 & 3, 219.3, 220.2).
RULE 212 - The Straight Track
1. The maximum lateral inclination of the track shall not exceed 1:100 and the inclination in the running direction shall not exceed 1:250 at any point and 1:1000 overall.
Lanes
2. The track should have a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 lanes separated and bounded on both sides by white lines 5cm wide. The lanes shall all have the same width with a minimum of 1.22m and a maximum of 1.25m including the lane line on the right.
The Start and Finish
3. There should be a clearance of at least 3m behind the start line free of any obstruction. There shall be a clearance of at least 10m beyond the finishing line free of any obstruction with adequate provision beyond for an athlete to come to a halt without injury.
Note: It is strongly recommended that the minimum clearance beyond the finishing line should be 15m.
RULE 213 - The Oval Track and Lanes
1. The nominal length should preferably be 200m. It shall consist of two parallel horizontal straights and two bends, which may be banked, whose radii should be equal.
The inside of the track shall be bordered either with a kerb of suitable material, approximately 5cm in height and width, or with a white line 5cm wide. The outside edge of this kerb or line forms the inside of lane 1. The inside edge of the line or kerb shall be horizontal throughout the length of the track with a maximum slope
of 1:1000.
Lanes
2. The track should have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 lanes.
The lanes should all have the same width with a minimum of 0.90m and a maximum of 1.10m including the lane line on the right. The lanes shall be separated by white lines 5cm wide.
3. The direction of running shall be left hand inside. The lanes shall be numbered with the left hand inside lane numbered 1.
Banking
4. If the bends are banked, it is recommended that the maximum angle should be not more than 18°. The angle of banking in all the lanes should be the same at any cross section of the track.
In order to ease the change from the flat straight to the banked bend, the change may be made with a smooth vertical transition which may be extended up to 5m into the straight.
Bends
5. For a 200m track, it is recommended that the inside radius of the bends should not be less that 11m and not more than 21m. Where possible the radius should be at least 13m. The radius of the bend need not be constant.
Marking of the Bend
6. Where the inside edge of the track is bordered with a white line, it shall be marked additionally with cones or flags. The cones shall be at least 20cm high. The flags shall be approximately 25cmx20cm in size, at least 45cm high and set at an angle of 120° to the track surface. The cones or flags shall be placed on the track so that the outward face of the cone or flagstaff coincides with the edge of the white line closest to the track. The cones or flags shall be placed at distances not exceeding 1.5m on the bends and 10m on the straights.
Note: For all indoor competitions directly under the IAAF, the use of an inside kerb is strongly recommended.
RULE 214 - Start and Finish on the Oval Track
1. Technical information on the construction and marking of a 200m banked indoor track are given in detail in the IAAF Track and Field Facilities Manual. The basic principles to be adopted are given hereunder.
Basic Requirements
2. The start and finish of a race shall be denoted by white lines 5cm wide, at right angles to the lane lines for straight parts of the track and along a radius line for curved parts of the track.
3. The requirements for the finish line are that, if at all possible there should be only one for all the different lengths of race, that it shall be on a straight part of the track and that as much of that straight as possible should be before the finish.
4. The essential requirement for all start lines, straight, staggered or curved, is that the distance for every athlete, when taking the shortest permitted route, shall be the same.
5. As far as possible, start lines (and take-over lines for relay races) should not be on the sharpest part of a bend nor the steepest part of the banking.
Conduct of the Races
6. For races of 400m or less, each athlete shall have a separate lane at the start. Races of up to, and including, 200m shall be run entirely in lanes. Races over 200m, and less than 800m shall start and continue
in lanes until the end of the second bend. In races of 800m, each athlete may be assigned a separate lane or a group start preferably using lane 1 and 3 may be used.
Races longer than 800m shall be run without lanes using an arced start line or group starts.
Note 1: In competitions other than those held under Rule 12.1(a), (b) and (c), the Members concerned may reach agreement not to use lanes for the 800m event.
Note 2: On tracks with less than six lanes a group start as in Rule 162.10 may be used to allow six competitors to compete.
The Start Line and the Finish Line for a Track of 200m nominal length
7. The start line in lane 1 should be on the principal straight. Its position shall be determined so that the most advanced staggered start line in the outside lane (400/800m races, see paragraph 9) should be in a position where the height of the banking at the outside lane should not be more than 80cm or one half of the maximum height of the banking at the peak of the bend (whichever is greater).
The finish line for all races on the oval track shall be an extension of the start line in lane 1, right across the track and at right angles to the lane lines.
Staggered Start Line for a 200m Race
8. The position of the start line in lane 1 and the position of the finish line having been established, the position of the start lines in the remaining lanes should be determined by measurement in each lane
back from the finish line. Measurement in each lane shall be carried out in exactly the same way as for lane 1 when measuring the length of the track (See Rule 160.2).
Having established the position of the start line where it intersects the measurement line 20cm outward from the inside of the lane, the line shall be extended right across the lane, at right angles to the lane lines if on a straight section of the track. If on a curved section of the track, along a radius line through the centre of the bend and if on one of the transition sections (See Rule 213.4) along a radius line through the theoretical centre of curvature at that point. The start line can then be marked 5cm wide, on the side of the measured position nearer the finish.
Staggered Start Lines for Races over 200m, up to and including 800m.
9. As the runners are permitted to leave their respective lanes on entering the straight after running one or two bends in lanes, the starting positions shall take two factors into consideration. Firstly, the normal echelon allowance similar to that for a 200m race (See paragraph 8 above). Secondly, an adjustment to the starting point in each lane to compensate for the athletes in outside lanes having farther to go than those in the inside lanes to reach the inside position at the end of the straight after the breakline.
These adjustments can be determined when marking out the breakline, where the athletes are allowed to leave their lanes.
Unfortunately, since starting lines are 5cm wide, it is impossible to mark two different starting lines unless the difference in position is in excess of approximately 7cm to allow a clear gap of 2cm between the start lines. Where this problem arises, the solution is to use the rearmost start line. The problem does not arise in lane 1 since, by definition, there is no adjustment for the breakline. It arises in the inner lanes (i.e. 2 and 3) but not in the outer lanes (i.e. 5 and 6) where the adjustment due to the breakline is greater than 7cm.
In those outer lanes where the separation is sufficient, a second starting line can be measured in front of the first one by the required "adjustment" determined from the breakline layout. The second starting line can then be marked out in the same way as that for the 200m race.
It is the position of this starting line in the outside lane which determines the position of all the starting lines and the finish line on the track. In order to avoid exposing the athlete starting in the outside lane to the very severe disadvantage of starting on a steeply banked track, all the starting lines and hence the finish line are moved sufficiently far back from the first bend so as to restrict the steepness of the banking to an acceptable level. It is, therefore, necessary first to fix the position of the 400m and 800m starting lines in the outside lane and then work back through all the other starting lines, finally arriving at the finishing line.
Note: To assist competitors identify the breakline small cones or prisms, 5cmx5cm and no more than 15cm high, of the same colour as the breakline, may be placed on the intersection of each lane lines and the breakline.
Qualification from Preliminary Heats
10. In indoor competitions, the following tables shall, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, be used to determine the number of rounds and the number of heats in each round to be held and the qualification procedure for each round of track events: 60m, 60mh
Draw for Lanes
11. For all events other than 800m, run wholly or partly in lanes around a bend, where there are successive rounds of a race, a draw for lanes will be made for:
a) the outer two lanes between the two highest ranked athletes or teams;
b) the next two lanes between the third and fourth ranked athletes or teams;
c) any remaining inner lanes between the other athletes or teams.
The ranking referred to shall be determined as follows:
i) for first round heats from the relevant list of valid performances achieved during the predetermined period.
ii) for subsequent round or final in accordance with the procedures identified in Rule 166.3(a).
12. For all other races the lane order shall be drawn by lot in accordance with Rule 166.4 & 8.
RULE 215 - Clothing, Shoes and Number Bibs
1. With the following exception, Rule 143 shall apply to clothing, shoes and number bibs indoors.
2. When a competition is conducted on a synthetic surface, that part of each spike which projects from the sole or the heel shall not exceed 6mm (or as required by the Organising Committee). These spikes shall have a maximum diameter of 4mm.
RULE 216 - Hurdle Races
1. Hurdle races shall be conducted over distances of 50m or 60m on the straight track.
2. Details of the construction, dimensions and surface of the hurdles are given in Rule 168 for hurdle races out of doors.
3. Layout of the hurdles for races: MEN WOMEN Length of race 50m/60m 50m/60m Height of hurdle 1.067m 0.840m Number of hurdles 4/5 4/5 Distances: Starting line to 1st hurdle 13.72m 13.00m Separation between hurdles 9.14m 8.50m Last hurdle to finishing line 8.86m/9.72m 11.50m/13.00m4. Races shall be conducted in accordance with Rule 168 for hurdle races out of doors.
RULE 217 - Relay Races
1. With the following exceptions, Rule 170 shall apply to Relay Races indoors:
Conduct of the Races
2. In the 4x200m relay race all the first stage and the first bend of the second stage shall be run in lanes. At the end of this bend, there shall be a 5cm wide line (breakline) distinctively marked across all the lanes at this point to indicate where each athlete can break from his lane. Rule 170.7 shall not apply.
3. In the 4x400m relay race, the first two bends shall be run in lanes. Thus the same breakline, scratch lines etc. will be used as for the individual 400m race.
4. In the 4x800m relay race, the first bend shall be run in lanes. Thus the same breakline, scratch lines etc. will be used as for the individual 800m race.
5. In races where runners are permitted to leave their respective lanes on entering the straight after running two or three bends in lanes, the layout for the echelon start is described in Rule 214.9.
Note: Owing to the narrow lanes, indoor relay races are much more liable to collisions and unintended obstruction than outdoor relay races. It is therefore, recommended that, when possible, a spare lane should be left between each team. Thus lanes 1,3 and 5 would be used and lanes 2,4 and 6 left unoccupied.
RULE 218 - High Jump
1. With the following exceptions, Rules 180, 181 & 182 shall apply to the High Jump indoors:
The Runway and Take-Off Area
2. The take-off area shall be level with a maximum overall slope (up or down) of 1:250. If portable mats are used, all references in the Rules to the level of the take-off area must be construed as referring
to the level of the top surface of the mat.
The foundation on which the surface of the take-off area is laid shall either be solid or, if of suspended construction (such as wooden boards mounted on joists), without any special sprung sections.
3. The runway, outside the take-off area, shall be level and unsprung in exactly the same way as the take-off area. However, the athlete may start his approach on the banking of the oval track provided that the last 5m of his run up is on the level runway.
RULE 219 - Pole Vault
1. With the following exceptions, Rules 180, 181 & 183 shall apply to the Pole Vault indoors:
The Runway
2. The runway shall have a width of 1.22-1.25m and should be clearly marked.
3. The foundation on which the surface of the runway is laid shall either be solid or, if of suspended construction (such as wooden boards mounted on joists) without any special sprung sections.
4. The athlete may start his approach on the banking of the oval track provided that the last 40m is on the level runway.
RULE 220 - Horizontal Jumps
1. With the following exceptions, Rules 180, 184, 185 & 186 shall apply to the Horizontal Jumps indoors:
The Runway
2. The foundation on which the surface of the runway is laid shall be either solid or, if of suspended construction (such as wooden boards mounted on joists) without any special sprung sections.
3. The athlete may start his approach on the banking of the oval track provided that the last 40m is on the level runway.
The Take-off Board for Long Jump
4. The take-off board should be not less than 3m from the nearer end of the landing area.
The Landing Area
5. The landing area shall have a width of 2.75m and a minimum length of 7m. It shall have a minimum depth of 30cm.
RULE 221 - Putting the Shot
1. With the following exceptions, Rules 180, 187 & 188 shall apply to the Shot Put indoors:
Shot Landing Sector
2. The landing sector shall consist of some suitable material on which the shot will make an imprint, but which will minimise any bounce.
3. The landing sector shall be surrounded at the far end and on the two sides, as close to the circle as may be necessary for safety of the other athletes and officials, by a stop barrier which should stop a shot whether in flight or bouncing from the landing surface.
4. In view of the limited space inside an indoor arena, the area enclosed by the stop barrier may not be large enough to include a full 40° sector [*]. The following conditions shall apply to any such restriction.
(i) The stop barrier at the far end shall be at least 50cm beyond the current world shot put record for men or women.
(ii) The sector lines on either side shall be symmetrical about the centre line of the 40° sector [*].
(iii) The sector lines at the sides where they do not form part of the 40° sector may either run radially from the centre of the shot put circle in the same way as the 40° sector lines [*], or may be parallel to each other and the centre line of the 40° sector [*]. Where the sector lines are parallel, the minimum separation of the two sector lines shall be 9m. [*The sector will be 34.92° from 1-1-2003]
Construction of the Shot
5. Depending on the type of landing area (see paragraph 2) the shot shall be either solid metal or metal cased or alternatively soft plastic or rubber cased with a suitable filling. Both types of shot may not be used in the same competition.
Solid Metal or Metal Cased Shot
6. These shall comply with Rule 188.4 & 5, for the shot put outdoors.
Plastic or Rubber Cased Shot
7. The shot shall have a soft plastic or rubber case with a suitable filling such that no damage shall be caused when landing on a normal sports hall floor. It shall be spherical in shape and its surface shall have no roughness and the finish shall be smooth.
RULE 222 - Combined Events Competitions
1. With the following exceptions, Rule 200 shall apply to Combined Events competitions indoors:
Men (Pentathlon)
2. The Pentathlon consists of five events, which shall be held on one day in the following order:
60m hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, 1000m
Men (Heptathlon)
3. The Heptathlon consists of seven events which shall be held over two consecutive days in the following order:
First day: 60m, long jump, shot put, high jump
Second day: 60m Hurdles, pole vault, 1000m
Women (Pentathlon)
4. The Pentathlon consists of five events and shall be held on one day in the following order:
60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, 800m.
Order of Competition
5. The order of competing may be drawn before each separate event.
In the 60m and 60m hurdle events, the competitors shall compete in groups as decided by the Technical Delegate, so that preferably four or more competitors, but never less than three, are in each group.