Starting Procedure Starting Procedure DevelopmentsDevelopments

Alan BellAlan BellChief Starter UKAChief Starter UKA

UKA Technical Committee MemberUKA Technical Committee MemberIAAF Starter Development GroupIAAF Starter Development Group

How did I end up in this position?How did I end up in this position?

The IAAF introduced the ‘new rules’ The IAAF introduced the ‘new rules’ on a trial basis in Jan. ’03. on a trial basis in Jan. ’03. Subsequently, endorsed Jan 06Subsequently, endorsed Jan 06I was appointed chief starter at World I was appointed chief starter at World Indoor Champs. In March 03Indoor Champs. In March 03Given role in developing Given role in developing implementation and operation of the implementation and operation of the rules.rules.

New false start rule January 2003New false start rule January 2003Now January 2006Now January 2006

WhyWhy??

Greater efficiency at startsGreater efficiency at starts Timetabling of major meetsTimetabling of major meets Pressure from broadcastersPressure from broadcasters Eradicate ‘gamesmanship’Eradicate ‘gamesmanship’ Overcome starting procedure Overcome starting procedure

inconsistencies around the worldinconsistencies around the world

IssuesIssuesMost athletes had little awareness of Most athletes had little awareness of the proceduresthe proceduresMost nations had little opportunity Most nations had little opportunity use the technologiesuse the technologiesMany nations had different domestic Many nations had different domestic rulesrulesThere was little guidance on the There was little guidance on the operational procedures for the new operational procedures for the new rulesrules

Track LayoutTrack Layout

Key Areas for DevelopmentKey Areas for DevelopmentConsistency in operating Consistency in operating proceduresproceduresRaised awareness of officials, Raised awareness of officials, athletes and coachesathletes and coachesDevelopment of trust in the Development of trust in the technologytechnologyExperience over timeExperience over time

Consistency in operating Consistency in operating procedures(1)procedures(1)

Starting teamStarting team1.1. Start co-ordinator (chief)Start co-ordinator (chief)2.2. Two re-call startersTwo re-call starters3.3. Track (Start) referee (neutral)Track (Start) referee (neutral)4.4. Operating techniciansOperating technicians

Consistency in operating Consistency in operating procedures (2)procedures (2)

Starter has total jurisdictionStarter has total jurisdictionMust take note of FSEMust take note of FSEStart referee can only intervene Start referee can only intervene if inconsistencies are evidentif inconsistencies are evident

PrinciplePrinciple‘‘If in doubt – stop the race’If in doubt – stop the race’

Consistency in operating Consistency in operating procedures (3)procedures (3)

Starter will operate as normalStarter will operate as normalTeam approach to judgementsTeam approach to judgementsConfer before making a decisionConfer before making a decisionPositioning of the team is crucialPositioning of the team is crucialStart referee remains detachedStart referee remains detached

Raised awareness of officials, athletes and Raised awareness of officials, athletes and coachescoaches

‘‘run under protest’ is discretionary only run under protest’ is discretionary only when FSE evidence is flawedwhen FSE evidence is flawedAthletes can protest about a non recall on Athletes can protest about a non recall on completion of racecompletion of raceUnderstand the coloured cardsUnderstand the coloured cards

1.1. Yellow for warningYellow for warning2.2. Red for d/qRed for d/q3.3. Green for no warning given (from Jan.06)Green for no warning given (from Jan.06)

Delaying a start can accrue a yellow cardDelaying a start can accrue a yellow cardAn athlete can be warned for standing up An athlete can be warned for standing up without permissionwithout permission

Development of trust in the technology Development of trust in the technology (1)(1)

FSE has to be IAAF licensedFSE has to be IAAF licensedWork on principles of pressure and Work on principles of pressure and reaction timereaction timeMargin set at .1 of second after the gunMargin set at .1 of second after the gunIncreased pressure or movement Increased pressure or movement BEFOREBEFORE and within that margin and within that margin AFTERAFTER the gun is considered a false startthe gun is considered a false startPrinter indicates data for all athletesPrinter indicates data for all athletes

Development of trust in the technology Development of trust in the technology (2)(2)

Starter’s judgement is about who Starter’s judgement is about who caused the false start not who broke caused the false start not who broke first.first.FACTFACT Most false starts are still Most false starts are still detectable by the human eye and FSE detectable by the human eye and FSE merely confirms what the official had merely confirms what the official had seenseen

Experience over timeExperience over time

Athletes are more consistent in their Athletes are more consistent in their startingstartingStarting standards are more Starting standards are more consistent at major meets (analysis of consistent at major meets (analysis of meets 2003/4/5) meets 2003/4/5)Athletes who are poorer starters do Athletes who are poorer starters do deliberately false startdeliberately false startIncrease in athletes standing up from Increase in athletes standing up from the ‘on your marks’ positionthe ‘on your marks’ position

Facts and Figures of Starts – World Facts and Figures of Starts – World Outdoor Champs using FSEOutdoor Champs using FSE

EventsEvents 1st1st 2nd2nd 3rd3rd 44thth

HelsinkiHelsinki 145145 87%87% 12%12% 1%1% 00Paris Paris 148148 79%79% 17%17% 4%4% 00EdmontoEdmontonn

144144 79%79% 17%17% 2%2% 3%3%

SevilleSeville 167167 74%74% 19%19% 5%5% 2%2%AthensAthens 168168 78%78% 15%15% 6%6% 1%1%GoteborgGoteborg 150150 79%79% 15%15% 5%5% 1%1%

Facts and FiguresFacts and FiguresReaction Times. Men's 100m at WCH Events

05

101520253035404550

0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19plus

Reaction Time Range

No.

of S

tarts

200520032001199919971995

Reaction times in Helsinki have settled – the majority occur between 0.13 and 0.15 seconds•Most False starts occur before the gun goes

The FutureThe Future

The rules are here to stay at IAAF The rules are here to stay at IAAF levellevelNations will implement the Nations will implement the procedures in domestic meets (to procedures in domestic meets (to assist athletes)assist athletes)Starting teams must operate in a Starting teams must operate in a structured way that is familiar across structured way that is familiar across the worldthe worldInternational starters’ panel to International starters’ panel to support training and developing support training and developing consistencyconsistency

The TechnologyThe TechnologyAll approved models use same All approved models use same principlesprinciplesIn the international arena athletes In the international arena athletes will experience different models,will experience different models,

1.1. Seiko – pressure based modelSeiko – pressure based model2.2. Swiss Timing (Omega) – time lapse Swiss Timing (Omega) – time lapse

modelmodelIn USA you will commonly use Finish In USA you will commonly use Finish LynxLynx

Seiko Seiko

Each athlete independently Each athlete independently measuredmeasuredNo pre-determined pressure so fair No pre-determined pressure so fair for all athletes. System records for all athletes. System records pressure on foot-plates constantly pressure on foot-plates constantly but only “activated” from SET but only “activated” from SET commandcommandA false start can be detected from A false start can be detected from 0.5 seconds before the gun and 0.1 0.5 seconds before the gun and 0.1 seconds after the gunseconds after the gun

Track-side evidence to assist officialsTrack-side evidence to assist officials– Print out of times by lane with false Print out of times by lane with false

start indicatorstart indicator– Pressure waveform graphs on Pressure waveform graphs on

colour monitor with zoom facilitycolour monitor with zoom facilityPaper printout of the waveforms Paper printout of the waveforms available in Timing Roomavailable in Timing Room

SEIKO Start SEIKO Start PrintoutsPrintouts

Lane 4 start motion Lane 4 start motion before the gun was before the gun was fired.fired.Pink line is SET and Pink line is SET and corresponds with corresponds with Ready Time Ready Time indicated at top indicated at top right hand cornerright hand cornerGreen Line is the Green Line is the legal 0.1second legal 0.1second thresholdthresholdRed line shows start Red line shows start motion and motion and corresponds to corresponds to reaction time on the reaction time on the left sideleft side

Printout ExamplePrintout Example

Printout ExamplePrintout Example

Swiss Timing/Omega Swiss Timing/Omega

Each athlete is independently Each athlete is independently measuredmeasured

Movement is detected against a Movement is detected against a fixed pressurefixed pressure

System records pressure above System records pressure above fixed scale on foot-plates but only fixed scale on foot-plates but only “activated” from SET command“activated” from SET command

A false start can be detected from A false start can be detected from 0.5 seconds before the gun and 0.1 0.5 seconds before the gun and 0.1 seconds after the gunseconds after the gun

Finish Lynx ModelFinish Lynx Model

Uses the same pressure/reaction Uses the same pressure/reaction modelmodelBlocks are calibratedBlocks are calibratedReaction time is set at .1Reaction time is set at .1Machine signals offence to Machine signals offence to officialofficial

The Way Forward?The Way Forward?

Decision on when and where to Decision on when and where to use rule.use rule.Train with the technologyTrain with the technologyDevelop start team skillsDevelop start team skillsBe competent with technologyBe competent with technologyDevelop team proceduresDevelop team procedures

‘‘I hope that helped!’I hope that helped!’

Alan BellAlan BellUKA and USA ‘certified’ track UKA and USA ‘certified’ track

officialofficial