A Scientific Approach

Starter Position & FAT

Slide Show designed by the Illinois Track & Cross Country

Officials Association

1893 First State Track MeetUniversity of Illinois

1906 Olympics (Athens)Start of the 100 Yard Dash

May 10, 1930

Southern Pacific AAU Meet

Finish of the 100 yard dash.

Frank Wycoff finishing with a world record time in the 100 yard dash… 9 2/5 seconds… at the Southern Pacific AAU meet. (Not recognized by the International Union because he used starting blocks.) Matched the time without using blocks one month later at Stagg Field in Chicago. World record recognized.

Then a few technological advances later…

Does fully automatic timing now guarantee fair

timing?

Nope(And it’s mostly due to the Starter!)

Factors in AthleteReaction Times

(D) The time for sound to cross the distance between the starter and the competitor.

(A) The time for the auditory signal to be recognized by the competitor and a reaction sent to the muscles.

(G) Time shaved off when a competitor anticipates (guesses) the start.

Reaction Time = (D) + (A) – (G)

G

Guessing.

The one false start disqualification in high school and the starter intentionally varying the interval between “set” and the gun both serve to discourage guessing.

Unfortunately some still choose to play the guessing game.

Reaction Time = (D) + (A) – (0.000s)

While (G) is totally unpredictable, ideally it should be zero for any competitor reacting to the gun and not guessing.

A

Auditory signal.

Auditory Signal A study released in 2008 by the University of Alberta in Edmonton indicates the loudness of a sound has an effect on reaction time.

People hearing a 120 decibel signal reacted on average 0.018 seconds sooner than those hearing an 80 decibel signal.

So, what about (A), eh?

Frei Universitat Berlin determined in 1998 that nearly all weapons used to start races in track generate a 160 decibel sound 1 meter from the gun.

Even at 150 feet, starter’s gun is six times louder than the strongest sound tested in the Canadian study.

Do other factors make a difference, even in a “normal” starting line environment?

Maybe…

Questions.

…it matters where youare in a crowd.

Spanish startle reflex experiments done prior to the Barcelona Olympics showed (A) values as small as 0.030 seconds.

Probably not relevant since competitors expect the gun.

Questions.

The IAAF uses 0.100 second reaction time as measured in starting block pressure-plates to identify false starts.

Questions.

(A) is flexible but on average is 0.120 second due to inconsistent recognition of gun versus background noise.

Questions.

Reaction Time = (D) + (0.120s) – (0.000s)

D

Distance to starter.

D1D2

ΔD

ΔD = 0.019 secondAll loud gun starts are unavoidably unfair, both within and between heats.

Questions.

The average speed for sound is 1,125 feet/second.

(D) = distance to starter / 1,125 feet/second

Silent Gun Start World Championships

ΔD = 0.000 sec

Questions.

Loud Gun Start IHSA Championships

(really loud gun)

Questions.

STAGGERED LANE STARTS (CON’T)◦ STARTER WITH TWO ASSISTANTS

◦ THE STARTER WILL TAKE A POSITION ON THE INFIELD MIDWAY BETWEEN THE INSIDE RUNNER AND THE OUTSIDE RUNNER.

◦ THE ASSISTANTS WILL BE IN A POSITION OPPOSITE THE STARTER IN OR NEAR THE OUTSIDE LANE AND WITHIN THE STARTERS LINE OF VISION.

◦ FOR RACES WITH 1-2 TURN STAGGERS, THE FIRST ASSISTANT WILL WATCH THE INSIDE THREE LANES, THE SECOND ASSISTANT WILL WATCH THE MIDDLE THREE LANES, AND THE STARTER WILL WATCH THE OUTSIDE

Questions.

Current Position (Figure 5): “(The starter will) take a position, 8-20 feet from the starting line, on the inside

of the track. Make sure you have a line of vision that includes the entire starting line…. The second assistant will signal the first assistant (when) ready and then the first assistant will signal the starter to give the set command.”

“The first assistant should be in a position on the opposite side of the track from the starter… (and) should be in a position on the line…. The first assistant will be responsible for the outside lanes (5-8).”

“The second assistant should be on the infield positioned on the line, opposite the first assistant. The second assistant will be responsible for the inside lanes.”

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Advised Position (Figure 7): “The starter takes a position, 12 meters from the starting line, on the inside of

the track. The starter will be responsible for Lanes 4-9. The second assistant will signal the first assistant when ready and then the first assistant will signal the starter to give the set command.”

“The second assistant should be in a position on the opposite side of the track from the starter. The second assistant will be responsible for Lanes 1-6.”

“The first assistant should be positioned on the line outside the track. The first assistant will be responsible for the viewing all lanes from behind.”

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Rationale for Modification: Moving the starter farther down the track reduces the FAT difference for the field from 0.026 seconds to 0.013 seconds. All competitors cannot fit into the starter’s central vision. Assistant starter 2 is moved outside and the two officials split the field. Assistant starter 1 is away from the track and in line with the back of the field to see early motion/slippage for all lanes. Assistant starter 1 is also located in the starter’s central vision.

Figure 8 Figure 9

Figure 7

Figure 7

Questions.

Lane 9112 feet from starter.D = 0.10 seconds

Lane 340 feet from starter.D = 0.03 seconds

Starter PositionOn goal line across from Lane 3 competitor, approximately 30 feet from track.

IHSA State Finals2008 – Boys Class A4x100 Relay

Questions.

IHSA State Finals2008 – Boys Class A4x100 Relay

Place Team Official FinishTime

ΔD Adjusted FinishTime

AdjustedPlace

1st Lane 5 42.91 0.02 42.89 1st

2nd Lane 6 43.43 0.04 43.39 2nd

3rd Lane 4 43.72 0.01 43.71 4th

4th Lane 7 43.73 0.05 43.68 3rd

5th Lane 9 43.96 0.07 43.89 5th

6th Lane 1 44.04 0.02 44.02 7th

7th Lane 3 44.07 0.00 44.07 8th

8th Lane 8 44.08 0.06 44.02 6th

DNF Lane 2 0.01

Questions.

If we adjust the starter’s position, where’s the best place?

?

Questions.

Starter PositionSomewhere along the extended Lane 5 starting line.

Goal: To minimize ΔD.

Questions.

(D) values with Starter on Lane 5 starting line extended.

Questions.

(D) values with starter along Lane 5 extended.

ΔD

Questions.

Plotting the maximum ΔD for each starter position.

Questions.

Starter Position87 feet from the track, along extended Lane 5 starting line.

These larger D’s generate slower FAT marks across the field but serve to minimize ΔD.

Questions.

IHSA State Finals MODIFIED2008 – Boys Class A STARTER4x100 Relay POSITION

AdjustedPlace

Team Adjusted FinishTime

ΔD Finish Time Modified

ModifiedPlace

1st Lane 5 42.89 0.00 42.89 1st

2nd Lane 6 43.39 +0.01 43.40 2nd

3rd Lane 7 43.68 +0.01 43.69 3rd

4th Lane 4 43.71 0.00 43.71 4th

5th Lane 9 43.89 +0.02 43.91 5th

6th Lane 8 44.02 +0.01 44.03 6th

7th Lane 1 44.02 +0.01 44.03 7th

8th Lane 3 44.07 +0.00 44.07 8th

DNF Lane 2 +0.01

Questions.

Is the impact of starter position on FAT results worth worrying about?

Yes, especially in some events.

Questions.

IHSA Boys Qualifying Heats IHSA Girls Qualifying Heats 2003 – 2008 State Meets 2003 – 2008 State Meets

Event Avg. Time to1st Non

-Qualifier(seconds)

Range in “D”from Starter

(seconds)

EntriesPotentially

Affected

Event Avg. Time to1st Non

-Qualifier(seconds)

Range in“D” from

Starter (seconds)

EntriesPotentially

Affected

4x800 0.36 0.03 3 4x800 1.13 0.03 4

4x100 0.07 0.06 20 4x100 0.08 0.06 16

3200 NQ 0.03 - 3200 NQ 0.03 -

110Hurdles

0.07 0.02 12 100Hurdles

0.06 0.02 17

100 0.01 0.02 37 100 0.03 0.02 26

800 0.18 0.03 9 800 0.29 0.03 6

4x200 0.14 0.06 11 4x200 0.27 0.06 7

400 0.07 0.06 22 400 0.23 0.06 10

300Hurdles

0.11 0.03 8 300Hurdles

0.22 0.03 11

1600 0.37 0.03 3 1600 0.80 0.03 2

200 0.03 0.03 23 200 0.06 0.03 18

4x400 0.24 0.05 6 4x400 0.62 0.05 5

Nearly 300 entries in the past six years may have had their fates determined by where the starter stood for their event.

Questions.

We don’t let this happen…

Questions.

…but based on current practice,

- we give the equivalent of a 19-inch advantage to a 50 second quarter miler in Lane 3 over one with equal talent in Lane 9.

- a 100 meter sprinter closest to the starter has the opportunity to move forward nearly a foot before the most distant competitor even has the chance to react to the gun.

- a half-miler in a center alley has a heel on the starting line advantage over middle distance runners in alleys at the edges of the track.

Questions.

Similar care needs to be taken in positioning recall starters.

It all has to do withwhat you can see!

Questions.

It is the macula that is used to read, drive, and recognize faces.

Questions.

We want starters positioned so that all of their assigned competitors are in the central vision.

Central Vision 30o wide

Peripheral VisionPeripheral Vision

Questions.

At arm’s length, two hands held side by side have an angular size of about 30 degrees (central vision range).

Questions.

Positioning Assistant Starters1st Priority - Officials make calls on violations in their central vision field.

2nd Priority - The optimal view of a competitor’s start is an unobstructed profile or frontal oblique view.

3rd Priority - If a profile view is not practical, a straight on frontal view of a competitor is preferable to any view from

behind.

4th Priority - No panning of central vision is necessary for any official to observe their assigned competitors.

Questions.

STAGGERED LANE STARTS (CON’T)◦ STARTER WITH TWO ASSISTANTS

◦ THE STARTER WILL TAKE A POSITION ON THE INFIELD MIDWAY BETWEEN THE INSIDE RUNNER AND THE OUTSIDE RUNNER.

◦ THE ASSISTANTS WILL BE IN A POSITION OPPOSITE THE STARTER IN OR NEAR THE OUTSIDE LANE AND WITHIN THE STARTERS LINE OF VISION.

◦ FOR RACES WITH 1-2 TURN STAGGERS, THE FIRST ASSISTANT WILL WATCH THE INSIDE THREE LANES, THE SECOND ASSISTANT WILL WATCH THE MIDDLE THREE LANES, AND THE STARTER WILL WATCH THE OUTSIDE THREE LANES FOR FAIR STARTS, RECALL, AND BLOCK

Questions.

Questions.

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R1

Wrong - Two Turn StaggerPresent Positioning

Questions.

Correct - Two Turn StaggerModified Positioning

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Questions.

Fans expect fair competition.

Questions.

So far as it is possible within the limitations of loud gun starts, we as track and field officials should strive to provide it!

Questions.