Definition of Race Walking
1. Race Walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker
makes contact with the ground, so that no visible (to the human
eye) loss of contact occurs. The advancing leg shall be straightened
(i.e. not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with
the ground until the vertical upright position.
Judging
2. (a) The appointed judges of Race Walking shall elect a Chief
Judge, if one has not been appointed previously.
(b) All the Judges shall act in an individual capacity and their
judgements shall be based on observations made by the human eye.
(c) In competitions held under IAAF Rule 1(a), all Judges shall
be International Race Walking Judges. In competitions held under
IAAF Rule 1 (b) and (c), all Judges shall be either Area or
International
Race Walking Judges.
(d) For road races, there should normally be a minimum of six
to a maximum of nine Judges including the Chief Judge.
(e) For track races, there should normally be six Judges including
the Chief Judge.
(f) In competitions held under IAAF Rule 1(a) not more than one
Judge from any country can officiate.
Chief Judge
3. (a) In competitions held under Rule 1(a), (b), (c), (d), the
Chief Judge has the power to disqualify an athlete inside the
stadium when the race finishes in the stadium or in the last 100m
when the race takes place solely on the track or on the road course,
when his/her mode of progression obviously fails to comply with
the paragraph 1 above regardless of the number of previous Red
Cards the Chief Judge has received on that athlete. An athlete
who is disqualified by the Chief Judge under these circumstances
shall be allowed to finish the race.
(b) The Chief Judge shall act as the supervising official for
the competition, and act as a Judge only in the special situation
noted in paragraph (a) above in competitions under IAAF Rule 1(a),
(b), (c) and (d). In competitions held under IAAF Rule 1(a), (b)
and (c), a maximum of two Chief Judge's Assistants shall be appointed.
The Chief Judge's Assistant(s) are to assist with the notification
of disqualifications only and shall not act as Race Walking Judges.
(c) For all competitions held under IAAF Rule 1(a), (b) and (c)
an official in charge of the Posting Board(s) and a Chief Judge's
Recorder shall be appointed.
Caution
4. Athletes shall be cautioned when, by their mode of progression,
they are in danger of failing to comply with paragraph 1 above
by showing the athletes a yellow paddle with the symbol of the
offence on each side.
They cannot be given a second caution by one and the same Judge
for the same offence. Having cautioned an athlete, the Judge shall
inform the Chief Judge of his action after the competition.
Red Cards
5. When a Judge observes an athlete failing to comply with paragraph
1 above by exhibiting visible loss of contact or a bent knee during
any part of the competition, the Judge shall send a Red Card to
the Chief Judge.
Disqualification
6. (a) When three Red Cards from three different Judges have been
sent to the Chief Judge, the athlete is disqualified and he shall
be notified of this disqualification by the Chief Judge or a Chief
Judgeís Assistant by showing the athlete a red paddle.
The failure to give notification shall not result in the reinstatement
of a disqualified athlete.
(b) In all competitions, either directly controlled by the IAAF
or taking place under IAAF permit, in no circumstances shall the
Red Cards of two Judges of the same nationality have the power
to disqualify.
(c) In track races, an athlete who is disqualified shall immediately
leave the track and, in road races, shall, immediately after being
disqualified, remove the distinguishing numbers and leave the
course. Any disqualified athlete who fails to leave the course
or track may be liable to further disciplinary action in accordance
with IAAF Rules 22.1(f) and 145.2.
(d) One or more Posting Boards shall be placed on the course and
near the finish to keep athletes informed about the number of
Red Cards that have been sent to the Chief Judge for each athlete.
The symbol of each offence should also be indicated on the Posting
Board.
(e) For all IAAF Rule 1(a) competitions, hand held computer devices
with transmission capability must be used by the judges to communicate
all Red Cards to the Recorder and the Posting Board(s).
The Start
7. The races shall be started by the firing of a gun. The commands
and procedure for races longer than 400m shall be used (Rule 162.3).
In races which include a large number of athletes, a five-minute
warning before the start of the race should be given, with additional
warnings if required.
Safety and Medical
8. (a) The Organising Committee of Race Walking events shall ensure
the safety of athletes and officials. In competitions held under
IAAF Rule 1(a), (b) and (c), the Organising Committee shall ensure
that the roads used for the competition are closed to motorised
traffic in all directions.
(b) In competitions held under IAAF Rule 1(a), (b) and (c), the
events shall be scheduled to start and finish in daylight.
(c) A hands-on medical examination during the progress of an event
by a member or members of the official medical staff appointed
by the Organising Committee and clearly identified by armbands,
vests or similar distinctive apparel shall not be considered assistance.
(d) An athlete shall retire at once from the race if ordered to
do so by the Medical Delegate or a member of the official medical
staff.
Drinking/Sponging and Refreshment Stations
9. (a) Water and other suitable refreshments shall be available
at the start and finish of all races.
(b) For all events up to and including 10km, drinking/sponging
stations shall be provided at suitable intervals if weather conditions
warrant such provision.
(c) For all events longer than 10km, refreshment stations shall
be provided every lap. In addition, drinking/sponging stations
for water only shall be placed approximately midway between the
refreshment stations or more frequently if weather conditions
warrant such provision.
(d) Refreshments, which may be provided by either the Organising
Committee or the athlete, shall be placed at the stations so that
they are easily accessible to, or may be put by authorised persons
into the hands of, the athletes.
(e) An athlete who collects refreshment from a place other than
the refreshment stations renders himself liable to disqualification
by the Referee.
(f) In competitions held under IAAF Rule 1 (a), (b) and (c), a
maximum of two officials per country may be stationed behind the
refreshment table at any one time. No official shall, under any
circumstances, run beside an athlete while he is taking refreshment.
Road Courses
10. (a) For competitions held under IAAF Rule 1(a), (b) and (c),
the circuit shall be no longer than 2.5km and no shorter than
2km. For events that start and finish in the stadium, the circuit
should be located as close as possible to the stadium.
(b) Road courses shall be measured in accordance with IAAF Rule
240.3.
Race Conduct
11. In events of 20km or more, an athlete may leave the road or
track with the permission and under the supervision of an official,
provided that by going off course he does not lessen the distance
to be covered.
12. If the Referee is satisfied on the report of a Judge or Umpire
or otherwise that an athlete has left the marked course thereby
shortening the distance to be covered he shall be disqualified.
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