ATHLETICS

WHAT IS ATHLETICS
Athletics is a
competitive sport
both individually and
group practiced in
various countries of the
world. Athletics
consists of several
tests in which the
competitors show
different skills
physical and technical. The
athletics tests are
they can develop in
outdoor tracks or
covered whenever
they meet a series of technical requirements. The general objective of athletics
It is the struggle against time and distance.
To explain what athletics is, we will help ourselves with Greek etymology. The
"Athlos" means "struggle" and refers to a sport consisting of
various disciplines that are grouped. Some examples of the disciplines and
The events that athletics includes are throwing, race walking, and the events.
combined or jumping events.
Although athletics has many disciplines, it is one of the sports
less practiced worldwide. Although too many are not needed
means to practice it, athletics is a sport that requires a lot
effort and sacrifice.

ORIGIN OF ATHLETICS
Run, walk, jump and
throwing things are gestures
natural of the
human behavior
since the origins of the
humanity. There are
evidence of rivalry
during races or
launches even in
such early times
such as the Paleolithic or the
Neolithic. That is why the
athletics is considered
like the sport most
ancient of the planet.
Also in ancient Egypt, written evidence was found that indicated
reference to careers. Furthermore, in Crete they went further. Not only did they
they practiced races, but also organized competitions of
discus and javelin throw. In any case, and despite being aware
this information, the first competitions that were properly sports of the
The history of athletics began with the Greek Agones. These were contested from
from the 8th century BC, and athletics was a fundamental part of these competitions.
The origins of athletics take place in ancient Greece.
The creations of the Ancient Olympic Games overshadowed many
of these sporting events that were held in Greece. However,
they also had a great weight and influenced the development of athletics.
Thanks to the Greek sporting events, throws and the
jumps like track and field events.

HISTORY
The history of theathleticsit is long, since it is one of the disciplines
the oldest sports in the world, which involves different executions,
such as races, jumps, throws, and other combined events. Many of
they were practiced separately, for sporting or practical purposes, since the
the very beginnings of thehumanity.
The very name of this sport reveals a lot about its origin: the word
Greek athletes means 'one who competes for a prize', and comes from aethlos,
"fight" or "combat", alongside "athlon", the name given to the loot or
reward (generally amphorae) that was given to the fighters more
highlighted in some ancient games contest, and that used to be buried
with them.
The first reference to athletics as a sport dates back to 776 B.C., from a
list of competitors from ancient Greece. Back then it was limited to a
foot race of 197.27 meters long, known as stadium,
supposedly equivalent to 200 times the foot of the mythical hero Heracles
(Hercules).
Later, the double stadium (or dual) emerged, the middle-distance race.
(equestrian), and the long-distance race (or dolichos). Additionally, in the Olympic Games of
In Ancient Greece in the late 8th century B.C., the pentathlon emerged, the discipline
which combined running, jumping, throwing, and wrestling.
Roman culture also practiced athletics, in a manner similar to the
Greek and another more similar to its Etruscan heritage. Thus, they incorporated new
practices to this sport. For example, they added pole vaulting, the
hammer throw and cross country.
Many of them continued to be practiced during the Middle Ages, according to
to the particular forms of each European Christian kingdom, highlighting among
they England and Denmark. Some new disciplines had a component
extremely useful military, like archery, while others were bad
views, especially during Puritanism, as they tended to end in
fights and drunkenness.
Another of the oldest races in medieval Europe was the one held in
Rome in the mid-15th century, reproducing Greek athletes and making
competing athletes completely nude, just like in Ancient times.
In 1825, the first modern athletics meeting was held near the
English capital. By the end of the century, the English vision of sport as a
The social element was spreading across Europe.
Thus began the union of athletic societies in France, States
United, Belgium and Germany. In the latter, the first official championship took place.
 in 1891. This organized emergence of athletics in Europe was key to
revive the Olympic Games.
Although since the beginning of the 20th century the professional practice of this sport was
almost exclusively from Western Europe and the United States, starting in 1930
African American athletes, as well as other Europeans from the colonies,
they stood out in the competitions.
After World War II, the communist nations of the bloc
They actively participated in the competitions as a way of
reaffirm their presence and power. By 1970, they were incorporated
the Caribbean nations, as well as the African countries in 1980, as
the global reality, along with that of this sport, was becoming more and more
globalized.
ATHLETICSRULES
The truth is that it cannot be said that athletics has rules.
concrete. As we have explained in the section what is the
athletics, this sport is composed of events and disciplines very
different from each other. For that reason, each of the tests of
Athletics has its own rules and regulations.
Next, we will detail the different track and field events and their
respective rules.
MODALITIES AND EVENTS OF ATHLETICS (TRACK, OF
FIELD AND OTHERS
We can classify the different modalities of Athletics as:

Track Tests:

Speed Races
Middle Distance Races
Endurance Races
Obstacle Races
Relay Races
Field Tests:

Launches
Jumps

Others:

Combined Tests
Athletic March

RACES OF
SPEED
Exit 200 meters. They are
those where
covering short distances,
of 400 meters or less,
but at maximum speed.
They are short-lived races, but very explosive. You will recognize them.
quickly because the athlete starts crouched and with the feet placed on
platforms designed to enhance speed at the start. This
the platform is called starting.
They are also easy to recognize because each corridor is located in a
he drives in the lane and cannot leave it. In case of invading a lane
adjacent may be disqualified.
In the case of the 200 and 400 meters, the starting positions are not at the
same height, but staggered to compensate for the greater length of the
outer tracks of the runway.
In races where every tenth counts, in case someone...
forward at the starting signal will be automatically disqualified from the competition
and the output will repeat. This is referred to as 'null output'.
The most common speed tests are: 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters.
subways.

MIDDLE DISTANCE RACES

Middle-distance races range from 400 to 3,000 meters.
the most common distances are 800 meters, 1,500 meters, and 3,000 meters.
In these tests, starting is not used to take the output (see races of
speed if you don't know what it is), nor is there a lane assigned for each runner,
except in the 800 meter race or shorter distances. However, in this
800 test, after covering a distance, all runners can
abandon their respective lanes and use the part of the track they prefer,
usually the innermost one. There is also no concept of null output.
They are races where strategy is very important to be able to modulate the
speed according to the circumstances of each moment.

ENDURANCE OR LONG DISTANCE RACES

Endurance races are all those whose distance to be covered
exceeds 3,000 meters. In them, the correct management of energy prevails and
knowing how to control the timing. For example, a race start that is too fast
it can cause a drop in performance at the end of the test.
In this type of race, all athletes start at the same time, without a starting signal.
without assigned lane and without null output.
The shortest tests in this category, the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, are
are conducted inside the athletics track while the rest usually
to develop outdoors, on streets or smooth surface land (although they can
present differences in levels and ramps.
This category includes marathon trials (42 km and 195 m) and half.
marathon (21 Km and 097 m). Also cross-country.
that are contested over rural land, roads, etc. Neither the half marathon nor
no cross-country events are Olympic trials or part of the program
World Athletics Championships.

Obstacle Races
In these tests, in addition to running, the athlete must overcome a series of
obstacles placed on the track. There are two types of races of this kind:
hurdle races and obstacle races.
Hurdle Races
They compete in short distances, 100 meters (women), 110 meters (men)
and 400 meters (both). They fall within the sprint races and therefore
the output is executed in the same way as in these.
Regardless of the distance, there will be 10 hurdles on the track that the athlete
must be overcome by jumping. At longer distances, the hurdles are lower and the
The demolition of one or more does not imply any type of sanction. The demolition itself
it wastes time that must be recovered by speed in the race.
Obstacle Races
This test has a distance
unique of 3,000 meters. It is contested
inside the athletics track with 7
turns and a half to the same one. During
this time the runner must
jump a total of 28 hurdles and cross 7
sometimes the river with water.
Valla and Ría in a race of
obstacles. The barriers can be crossed
as you prefer as long as it's by
on top (jumping, supporting one foot
on top...) and cannot avoid the pond
at no time. Overcoming this obstacle on the side implies the
immediate disqualification.
It is a middle-distance race and that is why the start is executed the same.
way that in these.

RELAYS
Although relay races are actually speed races, we have
I prefer to separate them to explain them more thoroughly because they involve
its own characteristics.
There are 2 distinct relay race formats: 4×100 meters and 4×400.
subway.
In each of them, 4 athletes of the same sex compete per team. Each
the athlete covers the full distance of the event (100 or 400 meters) before
pass the baton to the next team member who will cover the same
distance. Until they have run the 4.
The witness is a cylindrical tube that must be carried at all times by the member.
that is running. Once it has completed its distance, it must be passed to the
next member within an established area for this purpose. If the
exchange occurs outside the limits of this area the equipment remains
Disqualified. In fact, disqualifications are very common for this
reason.
Since these are speed tests, the first team member uses
starting to take the exit, there is the concept of null exit (if not
do you know these two terms, check the section on speed careers). The
the 4×100 relay is run entirely on the same lane. In the 4×400, once
after completing the first lap, the athletes can move to the part of the
track they prefer. This can make things more chaotic and complicated.
witness exchanges.
In relay races, in addition to the speed of the runners, it is very
important a correct delivery technique to avoid wasting time or
risk disqualification for doing it illegally.

ATHLETIC MARCH
In this discipline, the distance of the
test must be done while walking in
instead of running. To determine that
the marching technique used by the
the athlete is correct, they are taken into account
two criteria: One of the feet must
always be in contact with him
floor (at first glance) and the leg of
advance must remain straight, without
bend the knee, from the moment that
that leans forward and rests on the ground
until it is back in the upright position.
Warning paddles in Race Walking. Above loss of contact. Below,
knee flexion.
To ensure that all of this is correct, along the route there are different
judges who can warn the athlete at any moment about their form of
marching is not appropriate. For this, they have yellow palettes where
It is indicated whether to correct the lack of contact with the ground or the bending of the
knee.
When one of these judges considers that the walker is committing a
punishable infraction, shows the corresponding yellow card. If 3 judges
of different nationalities show some of these palettes, then
a red card is shown and the runner is disqualified from the
test, having to abandon the route as soon as possible.
In the last 100 meters of the competition, or after entering the stadium if the
The test was carried out outside of this, the chief judge has the authority to
disqualify a walker directly regardless of the number
of warnings received so far. In this case, the athlete
has the right to finish the test, although your time will not be counted in the
results.
This rule is designed to prevent walkers who have not seen
paddlers can gain an advantage in the final meters, violating the rules of
the march.

Pit lane rule in Race Walking

Since 2013, the pit lane rule has been applied in lower categories with the
the goal of minimizing the number of disqualifications. Currently
It is also used in many absolute competitions.
In this case, after receiving the 3 warnings, the walker is disqualified.
disqualified, but must serve a sanction in an area designated for
this end (the pit lane). The penalties imposed are:
For tests up to 5,000 meters, 30 seconds.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 meters, 1 minute.
For 20 Km, 2 minutes.
And in 50 Km, 5 minutes
If the warning occurs close to the finish line and the walker does not
If you have the opportunity to pass through the pit lane, the penalty time is added to the time.
achieved.
In case the walker receives again after serving a penalty
warning or if he receives a 4th card before reaching the pit lane, then
the disqualification of the test occurs, needing to leave the course
Definitely. The rule of the final 100 meters is also maintained.

LAUNCHES
The launches are called 'Contests' and take place in the area
interior of the Athletics track. Due to this location some also
they are called "field tests" to differentiate them from the races that would be
track tests
The throws include 4 modalities: Discus, Shot Put (or Ball), Hammer and
Javelin. In all 4, the purpose is the same: to throw the object in question.
as far away as possible within the designated drop area according to the discipline. If the
an element thrown falls outside of that area is considered a null launch. In
in the case of the javelin, it is usual for it to stick into the ground, but if not
the launch is considered equally valid.
The pitcher positions himself inside a circle to execute the pitch.
except in the javelin where he will walk down an aisle. If he steps outside of it
before the thrown element touches the ground, it will be considered a throw
null and will not be taken into account. If it has touched the ground once, it steps on the part
The front of the circle is also considered a null throw.
In the 4 tests, the competition dynamics are the same:
1. Qualifiers. All athletes have the right to 3 throws to try
to reach a previously established minimum distance or, in the event of not
achieve it, try to mark the best possible distance.
Those who achieve the minimum distance automatically qualify for the final,
regardless of the attempt in which they have achieved it, and they can renounce to the
remaining launches if there are any left to carry out.
If fewer than 12 people reach the minimum distance, the best one is taken.
the distance of each thrower and the best advance to the final until completing 12
plazas.
2. Final, initial phase. The 12 athletes have 3 attempts to reach the
the longest possible distance. Once all the throws are made, you
The best one from each will be taken and the first 8 will move on to the improvement phase.
3. Final, improvement phase. The top 8 throwers have 3 throws.
extra to try to improve their distances. Start with the one who has the worst mark.
obtained and will continue in order until the first. This order is maintained in the 3
attempts regardless of whether any of them improves their mark. For
to determine the final position of the competition, the best of the
6 launches completed.

Jumps
Just like with the launches, jumps are considered
"contests" and not tests. They are also usually held in the interior area of the
athletic track.
Of the 4 disciplines, 2 of them consist of jumping a height and the others
2 a distance, that is, jumping vertically and horizontally respectively.

High Jump and Pole Vault (or High Jump and

Pole Vault
In both cases, the purpose of the competition
highlight a ribbon, passing over it, and
trying to do it with him placed at the
highest possible height.
Pole Vault. The big difference between
both tests are in the high jump
no element is used for
jumping while in pole vaulting
a flexible bar is used that allows
reach much greater heights. The
length and flexibility of this bar (the pole
the pole vault) varies from one to another and each
athlete will be able to use the one they consider most
suitable according to the height to be overcome.
The dynamics of both tests are the same:
1. Qualifiers. The qualifier starts in
a height lower than the minimum established
to achieve direct qualification to the
final.
Each jumper has 3 attempts to overcome it.
If he succeeds, he must wait for the bar to
move to the next height without jumping again
(even if there are attempts left).
If he/she does not succeed on the third attempt, he/she is disqualified. An invalid jump.
(knockdown of the bar or passing underneath) is called 'no jump' or
simply "null".
It is possible for an athlete to decide not to jump a certain height.
In that case, in the next one, you will have the same attempts that you had left in the
rejected height. For example, if he did not attempt to jump at all, in the next
Height will have 3 attempts. If he tried 2 times and rejected making the third.
jump, at the following height it will have only one attempt.
Once all the jumpers have exhausted their 3 attempts, the bar is raised to
the next height and the jumping round starts again with those who do not
have been eliminated.
As was the case in the launches, anyone who exceeds the minimum height passes.
automatically to the final. Those who do not will only access that phase if
the 12 positions are not filled.
To determine the ranking order, height is taken as a reference.
the one that has been disqualified each jumper, obtaining better position
those who have been disqualified at a higher altitude. Within each
height, the one who has surpassed it in the fewest number of falls is in a better position
attempts. And within the same number of attempts, whoever ranks better
the smallest number of nulls accumulated in the previous heights from the highest
lower to the highest.
2. Final. A starting height is established and the competition proceeds from there.
the same way as in the qualifiers, with 3 attempts per height remaining
disqualified the jumpers who do not manage to overcome it in any of them. The
the test ends when there is only one athlete left or when none of those
They manage to surpass the corresponding height.
In this last case, previous null jumps will be taken into account for
determine the classification order.

Long Jump (or Broad Jump) and Triple Jump

In these two tests the
the goal is to jump
horizontally reaching the
maximum possible distance. For
hello at the end of the jumping track
there is a sandbank
where athletes let themselves go
to fall and where it is measured
distance from the farthest part
delayed from the brand left
in it (regardless of the part
of the body with which it is
done) up to the jump line.
Beat and joint table
appeal.
This jump line is a table called 'beat table'. It can be
to step, but it cannot be exceeded with the foot at any moment. How much
the closer you take your push from her, the more likely you are to achieve a better length in the
jump, but with a higher risk of the jump being considered null for surpassing it.
To detect whether this limit has been exceeded or not, right below exists
A block of modeling clay that gets marked if the shoe touches it. It
denominated 'Appeal Board'.
The difference between the long jump and the triple jump is in the technique.
used.
In the long jump, the jumper takes acceleration along the runway.
intended for that purpose, steps on the take-off board to gain momentum and
"fly" as far as possible falling into the sand pit feet first
in front.
In the triple jump, the jumper also accelerates to the take-off board where
kick off to gain momentum, but then does not fly, instead it supports its feet
two more times, alternately, in long steps aimed at increasing that
thrust before starting the flight just like in the previous case.
The competition between both unfolds just like the throwing events.
Eliminations with 3 attempts to reach a minimum length and ranking
of those who have achieved it or up to 12 athletes by ranking of the best jump
obtained by each of them.
In the final, there are 3 more attempts. The best jump of each one is taken and the 8 best ones.
they gain access to "the improvement" with 3 more attempts. The order in these 3 jumps
 it will be from the athlete with the shortest jump to the athlete with the longest jump. For the
the final classification of the test takes into account the best of the 6 jumps
completed.

COMBINED EVENTS. HEPTATHLON AND DECATHLON

As their names indicate, the Heptathlon is made up of 7 events and the
Decathlon for 10. The first one is contested by women and the second by
men.
In each of the individual tests, there is a scale where each
time/length is converted into points. In the end, all are summed up.
scores and the one who obtains the highest wins.
Both disciplines are divided into two days with half of the tests being conducted each day.
one of them.
Events that make up the Heptathlon
First competition day:
100 meters hurdles
High Jump
Weight Throw
200 meters
Second day of competition:
Long Jump
Javelin Throw
800 meters
Events that make up the Decathlon
First day of competition:
100 meters
Long Jump
Shot Put
High Jump
400 meters
Second day of competition:
110 meters Hurdles
Album Release
Pole Vault
Javelin Throw
1,500 meters
The Athletic Track or Athletic Field
The athletics track is an oval formed by two parallel straight sections and
joined by two identical curves. This oval is divided into lanes (of
6 to 8) 1.22 meters wide and has a length of 400 meters, measuring the
internal lane.
It is covered with a synthetic material made of polyurethane that
called Tartán and seeks to cushion the athlete's bounce during the race.
It is usually reddish in color due to the resistance of this color to UVA rays.
For better traction on this surface, the use of
special running shoes for track. Their sole is equipped with
small spikes that are driven into the Tartán and thus prevent the
slips even in rainy conditions.
Throughout the entire track, there are a series of marks that indicate the different
start lines for each test, the finish line (unique for all the
tests), the positions of the hurdles, the relay exchange zones in the
relay races, etc.
Inside the oval, where a soccer field fits, there is a
grass area where the contests take place. For this, in this area, it
the launch and jump areas are strategically placed,
trying to interfere with each other as little as possible.
Below you have an image with the different markings of a track and field.

Athletics Track Brands. Image: IAAF