Module 2 Athletics

Chapter 2

Track and Field Events

Athletics is a sport in which athletes compete in running, walking, jumping and throwing
events. Track events are consisting of running and walking races of various distances while Field
on the other side includes jumping and throwing events. Athletics is one of the most popular sports
in the world. About 200 nations belong to the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), the
governing body of athletics

Lesson 1
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. discuss the history of Athletics.
2. differentiate the Track from Field events.
3. explain the correct mechanics of athletic games.
4. identify the facilities and equipment’s used in athletic games.

History
Running, jumping and throwing have been sporting activities since the beginning of history.
These skills were used both in hunting and war. The ancient Greek, Persians, and Romans used
running as part of their military training. In addition, competitive human instincts led to contest to
determine who could run the fastest and jump or throw the farthest.
The only event of the first recorded Olympic Games (traditionally B.C.) was footrace of
approximately yard (185 meters). Soon jumping and javelin throwing were added. These events
developed naturally from hunting and war.
Improved training methods help today’s athletes performed well. Training weights give
athletes greater strength for throwing, jumping, and event running. New equipment has raised
performance levels. In the high jump, for example, the use of Fosbury Flop adds about 15
centimeters to most jump. The style was named after American high-jumper Dick Fosbury, who
introduced it in the late 1960’s.
Synthetic tracks, which have more spring, cut a runner’s time by as much as one second per lap.
The use of fiberglass vaulting poles instead of wooden ones helped increase the performance
levels of the athletes.
Current athletics champions reflect the international popularity of the sport. The biggest
names in men’s athletics in the 1980’s included hurdler Edwin Moses and sprinter Carl Lewis of the
United States, distance runners said Aouita of Morocco and Sebastian Coe of Great Britain, pole
vaulter Sergey Bubka of the Soviet Union, and Decathlon Athlete Daley Thompson of Great Britain.
In women’s event, sprinter Marita Koch and sprinter and long jumper Heike Drechsler of
east Germany, sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner and long jumper and heptathlon competitor Jackie
Joyner-Kersee of the United States were major figures in the 1980’s.

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 Likewise, Asia’s fastest Woman for almost a decade is the pride of the Philippines, Lydia D
Vega, one of the finest athletes after the sensational events of Mona Sulayman who had gained
laurels for the country in the Olympics.

THE TRACK

Outdoor running tracks are oval in shape and

usually are laid in stadium. IAAF rules specify that an
outdoor running track should measure no less than
400 meters around- and most modern outdoor tracks
are exactly that length. Older tracks consist of dirt or
cinder, but most new tracks are made of waterproof
synthetic material and can be used in rainy weather.
Outdoor tracks are divided into six or eight lanes. Runner must stay in their lanes for all
races up to 400 meters and until they pass the first curve of 800 meter races. IAAF rules states that
a lane should measure from 1.22 to 1.25 meters in width.
Indoor tracks have wooden or synthetic surface, and they usually have banked turns.
According to IAAF rules, the preferred measurement for an indoor track is 200 meters.

TRACK EVENTS

o Short Races/ Sprint - Stress maximum speed while running.

o Distances Races - Require more endurance while running.
o Hurdle and Steeplechase - Runners must go over barriers.
o Relays - Involve team of runners.

Running Races
On outdoor tracks cover distance from 100 meters to 10,000 meters. Indoor, races may
measure from 50 meters to 5,000 meters. Cross-country races and road races are run outside the
stadium. Cross-country competitors run over terrain such as hills and fields. Most road races award
prize money to the winners. The most common distance for road races is 10 kilometers.
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 ON YOUR MARK! SET! GO!

Video: Starting Run

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG4s7kGA7Rk

HURDLE

Races are events in which the competitors run over obstacles called hurdles. There are 10
hurdles spaced at equal intervals. Runners can knock over hurdles without penalty but contact with
a hurdle normally slows down the runner.

Two Types of Hurdles

Intermediate hurdles
- Races cover 400 meter or 440 yards in men’s and women’s competitions.
- 91 centimeters high for men
- 76 centimeters high for women
High hurdles
- Most outdoor high-hurdle races are 110 meter for men and 100 meters for women
- 107 centimeters high for men
- 84 centimeters high for women

Video: Learn to hurdle for beginners [Athletics for Beginners]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjuaIwS07c

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STEEPLECHASE

Usually of 3,00 meter over two kinds of obstacles, hurdles and water jumps. Runner must
clear 91- centimeters hurdles 28 times. These hurdles are studier than the ones used in hurdle
races, and runner may put a foot on top of them as they pass over them. Runners must cross
water jumps seven times. A water jumps consist of a hurdle and a water-filled pit 3.66 meters
square. The steeplechaser steps onto the hurdle and leaps across the water. The pit is 70
centimeters deep at the foot of the hurdle and slopes up to the track level. Most steeplechasers
come down in the water at the shallow end of the pit to soften their landing.

Video: Steeplechase
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nglJDtLQxYY

WALKING RACES

The front foot must touch the ground before the rear foot leaves the ground. While the foot is
touching the ground, the leg must be unbent for at least one moment. Walkers are entitled to one
warning for improper form before they are disqualified.
- Also called as race walking, may take pale in a track or a road.
- International men’s cover distance of 20,000 meters or 50,000 meters.
- For women’s 5,000 meters to 10,000 meters.

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Video: Walking Races
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Q52xFwMsE

RELAYS

Run by team of
four runners. The first
runner carries a baton
about 30 cm. long. After
the runner covers a
certain distance, called a
LEG, the athlete hands
the baton to the next
team runner. This
exchange must occur
within a zone 20 meters
long. If the runners do
not exchange the baton
within this zone, their
team is disqualified. In
these relays all these four members of a team run an equal distance. The most common relays are
run at distance of 400 meters or 1,600 meters
Video: Relay Race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbODS9fePDc

FIELD

Most field events take place in an area enclosed by the track. But in some meeting
One or more throwing events are held outside the stadium to protect other athletes and spectators
who crowds the field area or to avoid damaging the artificial tuft that covers many athletic fields.
The fields include runways for the jumping events. It also has circular areas of materials such as
concrete or asphalt for most of the throwing events.

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Lesson 2

Jumping events

Are long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault. In the long jump and triple jump, the
athletes jump as far forward they can. In the high jump and pole vault, competitors leap over a bar
as high as possible.

Long jump/Board jump

Video: Long jump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ15GW-sS5M

Triple Jump/Hop, Step and jump

Is completed in a single jump into a pit filled with sand.to begin the long jump, the
competitor sprints down a long runway and leaps from a take-off board. If the athlete steps past the
board before jumping, the jump is a foul. A jump’s length is measured from the edge of the take-off
board to the nearest mark the athlete makes in the sand. When there are many competitors, each
one is allowed three jumps, and a certain number of leaders qualify for three more. When the
fewer athletes compete, each one is allowed six jumps. If two jumpers leap the same distance, the
winner is the one with the next-best jump.
Consists of three continuous jumps the first two completed on the runway. On the first
jump, the athletes takes-off on one foot and lands on the same foot. At the end of the third jump,
the athlete’s lands on both feet in a pit of sand.

Video: Triple Jump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdrnCLj4lYI

High jumper

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 Run toward the bar from any angle within a large. Semicircular runway. The athletes may
use any style of jumping, but he or she must take off from one foot. In most popular modern style.
Called Fosbury flop, jumpers go over with their back to the bar and their head clearing first.

Video: High Jump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z47QGlaQ1NE

Pole Vault

Uses a long pole usually made of fiberglass. He begins his vault by sprinting down a
runway, carrying the pole with both hands. As he nears the vaulting pit, he rams the far end of the
pole into a wood or metal box embedded in the ground. The pole bend while he hangs with his
back to the ground and his feet up. A s the pole straightens, helping to thrust him into the air, he
pulls himself higher and turns his body to face the ground. Before he releases the pole, he gives a
final push with his arm to add to his height.

Video: Pole Vault

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHSAZ09tMUg

Lesson 3

Throwing events

Require athletes to propel objects as far as they can. Competitors in the discus, hammer,
shot put all throw from inside a circle. In the discus and hammer events, athletes throw from an
enclosure, called cage, to protect spectators form wild throw. In the javelin event, the athlete runs
down a runway marked on the field and throws the javelin before reaching a foul line. In each
event, the throw object must land within a marked area. If two competitors throw the same
distance, the tie is decided by the next best throw.

Discus

- A saucer-shaped object usually made of wood with a metal rim.

- Men’s discus measures about 22 cm in diameter and weight at least 2 kilograms.
- Women’s discuss measures about 18cm in diameter and weight at least 1 kilogram.
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 - The athlete grips the discus with one hand, spins around about 1½ times (540
degrees),and release it with a sidearm motion to make it sail through the air.

Video: Discuss throw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKVkrFBcs8M

Hammer

- Consist of a steel wire with a metal ball attached to one end and a handle fastened to the
other end.
- It weighs 7.26 kilograms and measures about 120 cm long.
- Using both hands, the thrower grasps the handle and spins around three or four times
before releasing it.

Video: Hammer Throw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CstXdSnuxyI&frags=pl%2Cwn

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Javelin Throw

- A spear made of
metal or wood.
- Men’s javelin measures from 2.6 to 2.7 meters and weighs at least 800 grams.
- Women’s javelin measures from 2.2 to 2.3 meters long and weighs at least 600 grams.
- The thrower holds the javelin by the cord grip near the center, runs with it, and releases it
with an overhand throw while running.

Types of grip
The Finnish Hold The American Hold The “V” Hold

Video: Javelin throw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_5bR8GyL0

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Shot put

- Using a metal ball.

- The men’s shot measures about 12cm in diameter and weighs at least 7.26 kilograms.
- The women’s shot measures about 10 cm in diameter and weight at least 4 kilograms.
- The competitors put (push) the shot rather than throw it.
- The shot must be held against the neck to prevent any throwing motion. The athlete begins
with a strong shove from one leg and finished with a powerful push of the arm.

Video: Shot Put

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xvqIaB7Afc

Basic rules and Regulations

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. discuss the basic rules and regulations of athletic games.
2. explain the important rules and regulations of Athletic games.
3. play the athletics accordance with the rules and regulations

BASIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

Every game has its own rules and regulations that should be followed by the athletes. The
games can improve one’s consciousness and understanding of what to do and how to play.
Through the rules and regulations, it helps to prevent some misunderstanding and conflicts. Also it
provides the proper way on how to give judgements and to have a fair game. The official, coach
and athletes should have a knowledge and understanding on the event that they played.

 False start
- It is a false start if a competitor, fails after a reasonable time to comply with the common
“set” start before the pistol is fired.
- A pistol shot after a false start recalls the competitors.
- The competitors responsible must be warned.

 Obstruction
- A competitor who jostles, runs across or obstructs another competitor is liable to
disqualification.

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- After a disqualification, the referee may order the race to be re-run or in case of a heat,
permit any affected competitor to compete in the next round.

 Relay events
- 4x100m relay races are run entirely in lanes.
- In the races up to 4x200, members of a team other than the first runner may commence
running not more than 10m outside the take-over zone.
- In the 4x200m races the first 2 stages as well as that part of the third leg up to the exit from
the first bend will be run entirely in lanes. In the 4x400m races the first lap as well as the
part of the second lap up to the exit from the first bend will be run entirely in lanes.
- All competitors may break from their lanes immediately after have passed the exit from the
first bend.
- The position of the teams at the start shall be retained at each take-over zone. After lanes
have ceased to be used, runners can move to an inner position on the track as incoming
team members arrive, provided this can be done without fouling.
- In the event where the first part of the race is run in lanes, the competitors, after completing
this part, are free to take up any position on the track.
- After handing over the baton, competitors should remain in their lanes until the course is
clear to avoid obstruction to other competitors.
 Steeplechase
- The Olympic steeplechase is a men’s event run over 3,000m.
- It comprises 28 hurdle jumps and seven water jumps.
- Competitors may jump, vaults or stand on the hurdles
- The hurdles numbered 3 and 4 are positioned after the competitors have passed by on the
first lap.
- A steeplechase will be disqualified if he steps to either side of the jump, fails to go over or
through water, and/or his foot or led below the horizontal plane of the top hurdles.
 Hurdle events
- A hurdler will be disqualified if he trails a foot or leg below the plane of the top of the bar of
the hurdle at the instance of clearance.
- If the competitor jumps any hurdles not in his own lane.
- If he deliberately knocks down any hurdle with his hands or feet.
 Field Events
- Competitors compete in the order drawn by lot.
- Unless competing in a simultaneous track event, a competitor missing his turn in a field
event is not permitted to take trial.
- A competitor who unreasonably delays a trial is liable to have that trial disallowed and
recorded as fault.
- After as second delay in a competition, he shall be debarred from further trials.
 Long jump
- A jump is counted a failure if the competitor takes off from two feet.
- If he touches the ground or landing area beyond the plane of uprights with-out first clearing
the bar (whether or not he makes a jump), knocks the bar off the supports.
 Pole vault
- A competitor fails if he touches the ground, including the landing area beyond the vertical
plane through the upper part of the stop-board with any parts of his body or with the pole,
without first clearing the bar.
- If he knocks the bar off the supports.
- If he, after leaving the ground, places his lower hand, moves the upper one, or moves the
upper hand higher on the pole. It is not counted a failure if a competitor’s pole breaks.

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