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• HOW IT WORKS •

• RACE WALKING •

Produced in the interests of a clearer understanding by the wider community

of the adjudication process in race walking events.

Raymond Smith January

2006 Former Member IAAF Walking Committee.Olympic Games - Judge 1980 &1988Commonwealth Games - Judge 1982/86/90Race Walking World Cup - Judge 1979/85/87/89/91World Junior Championships - Judge 1982World Indoor Championships - Judge 1987 World Championships - Judge 1987Goodwill Games - Judge 2001

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

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This presentation gives the basic information necessary for the average audience to understand

the front of house activities.

Back stage activities are important and detailed.If you are desirous of advancing into the

race walking discipline as an official, coach, walk judge or competitor you will need to study at length the

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETICS FEDERATIONS Rules and Procedures. IAAF Rule 230 - Race Walking

Walking, as a competitive sport, is a race between two or more people, or against time.

Most races are held at distances ranging from 1,500 to 50,000 meters.

One and two hour races are also held on the track with each competitor's distance measured.

Competitive walkers employ a method of walking which is sometimes referred to as "heel-and-toe."

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

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In simple terms

THE FOOT of advancing leg should contact ground before the foot of the trailing leg

loses contact with the ground.

THE LEG must be straight [not bent at the knee] when the foot of advancing leg first touches the ground and remain straight until it reaches mid

stride at the vertical upright position

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC FEDERATIONSINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC FEDERATIONS DEFINES RACE WALKING with RULE 230

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• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

Walk judges are spaced around the course.

Up to six on track & up to nine on road circuits- dependent upon the dimensions of the race.

One is elected as Chief Walk Judge and is the spokesperson for the entire judging panel.

Each walk judge views samples of the competitors every lap or circuit.

Unlike diving or gymnastics where a bundle of judges see the one performance.

Judges shall act in an individual capacity and their judgements shall be based on observations made by the human eye.

THE WALK JUDGESTHE WALK JUDGES

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• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

If in the opinion of an appointed walk judge a competitor is not complying with the

FOOT or LEG requirement at any viewing of the

competitor then the judge will fill out a REDRED cardcard

and send it to the Chief Walk Judge.

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WALK JUDGESWALK JUDGES and REDRED CARDS CARDS

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

When three REDRED cards from three different Judges have been sent to the Chief Judge, the athlete is disqualified

and shall be notified of this disqualification by the Chief Judge or a Chief Judge’s Assistant by showing the athlete

a REDRED paddle.

RED RED cards issued during the crucial closing stages have to be checked and processed

before the Chief Judge approves the final result.

In designated events the CHIEF JUDGECHIEF JUDGE has a sweeping ‘power of 3’‘power of 3’

to disqualify a competitor without RED RED cards from other judges when a mode of progression over the final 100m warrants a decisive action. Full details in RULE 230. JUDGING. 2(a)

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

THE DISQUALIFICATIONTHE DISQUALIFICATION

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THREE RED RED CARDSCARDS

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

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There are various procedures put in place to keep the competitors advised as to how they might be faring during the race.

In designated races a posting board to display competitors race numbers and REDRED cards they have registered,

is on open view.

POSTING BOARDPOSTING BOARD

However competitors are not informed during the race as to which judges have

issued RED RED cardsfor them.

The ‘third’‘third’REDRED card is posted on the

board even if the Chief Judge may not have yet

notified the competitor.

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

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This picture is out of date.This picture is out of date.Currently the symbol of the offence Currently the symbol of the offence is displayed, not the RED marker is displayed, not the RED marker

as indicated in the picture.as indicated in the picture.

Caution [YELLOW PADDLE][YELLOW PADDLE] always remains a caution. It never ever has any bearing on RED RED cards

or eventual disqualification.The paddle is displayed when a judge considers

a competitor is in danger of infringing.

Most common mistake made by media commentators and arm-chair experts.

• RACE WALKING • HOW IT WORKS •

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áRSknees

>~~contact+

When a judge displays the SYMBOL PADDLESYMBOL PADDLE

to a competitor during the raceIT IS NOT !IT IS NOT !a RED RED card

for disqualification.It is a cautioncaution..

[ a gentle reminder ]

About ‘About ‘cautions’cautions’..In danger of receiving aIn danger of receiving a

RED RED card

?

?

Back stage activities are important and detailed.Back stage activities are important and detailed.If you are desirous of advancing into the race walking discipline as an official, coach,

walk judge or competitor you will need to study at length the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETICS FEDERATIONS

Rules and Procedures. IAAF Rule 230 - Race Walking

This presentation has given the basic information necessary for the average audience to understand the

front of house activities.front of house activities.