Proposal 25: Revise 2B.6.6 Relay (Track) [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: TrackSubmitted on 2023-08-15
Status: Passed on September 01, 2023
Background
The current rule 2B.6.6 Relay (Track) has several shortcomming - i.e. it becomes not clear from the current rule how the 4x400m relay is to be held at all. Furthermore, there is no information at all in the current rule about the nature of the baton and also the information about dropping a baton and picking it up again is very incomplete. All these aspects are taken into account in the proposal.
Proposal
Revision of the Rule: (As PDF Version with changes highlighted)
Old Rule:
2B.6.6 Relay (Track)
The relay distances shall be 4 x 100m or 4 x 400m like in athletics.
In the 4 x 100m relay each takeover zone shall be 30m long, in the 4 x 400m relay each takeover zone shall be 20m. The takeover zones must be marked on the track. (The zones shall start and finish at the edges of the zone lines nearest the start line in the running direction.) In the 4 x 100m relay, riders are not permitted to line up outside their takeover zones, and shall start within the zone. In the 4 x 400m relay, there is no defi ned preparation area for the next riders as long as they stay within their lanes. Riders may remount if necessary, and must pick up the baton if it is dropped. The handover of the baton must be within the takeover zone. This means that before the baton crosses the start mark of the takeover zone only the incoming rider is in touch with the baton and at
the end of the takeover zone only the outgoing rider is in touch with the baton. Riders may not throw the baton to make a pass and may not touch the ground with any part of their body while making a pass. If the baton is not handed over within the marked takeover zone, the team will be disquali fied. Leaving of the lane within the takeover zone or when remounting does not result in disquali fication as long as the riders do not obstruct, impede or interfere with another rider's progress.
Mixed male/female teams may be used, and reasonable age groups may be used depending on the number of expected competitors of the event. Each relay team may have any mix of ages, the age of the oldest rider determines the age group.
New Rule:
2B.6.6 Relay (Track)
1. The standard relay distances shall be 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m like in athletics. Remounting after a dismount is allowed in all relays.
1.1 The 4 x 100 m relay is a lane-bound race for all legs. The race is started with a stagger start, where riders are started in separate lanes, at separate locations.
1.2 The 4 x 400 m relay is a lane-bound race for the entire first leg. The second leg shall be run as lane-bound race as far as the nearer edge of the breakline where riders may leave their respective lanes. After the breakline, the race shall be run as non-lane-bound-race. The race is started with a stagger start, where riders are started in separate lanes, at separate locations.
2. In the 4 x 100m relay each takeover zone shall be 30m long, in the 4 x 400m relay each takeover zone shall be 20m. The takeover zones shall be marked on the track. (The zones shall start and finish at the edges of the zone lines nearest the start line in the direction of riding.)
2.1 In the 4 x 100m relay, riders are not permitted to line up outside their takeover zones, and shall start within the zone.
2.2 In the 4 x 400m relay, there is no defined preparation area for the next riders. The riders of the second leg shall line up in the lane assigned to their relay team at the start. The riders of the third and fourth legs shall, under the direction of a designated judge, place themselves in their waiting position in the same order (inside to out) as the order of their respective team members as they enter the last bend. Once the incoming riders have passed this point, the waiting riders shall maintain this order and may not change their positions. Waiting riders can take an inner position on the track as incoming team members approach, provided they do not obstruct another rider.
If a rider does not follow this rule, their team shall be disqualified.
3. A baton shall be used for all relays and shall be held by hand throughout the race. The baton shall be a smooth hollow tube with a circular cross-section, made of wood, metal or other rigid material in one piece. It shall be no longer than 0.30m and no shorter than 0.28m. The outer diameter shall be 40 mm (± 2 mm) and the weight shall not be less than 50 g. For relays in age groups with a maximum age of 10 or younger the outer diameter of the baton may be smaller but shall not be less than 31 mm. It is recommended that the batons have different colors that are clearly visible during the race.
4. If the baton is dropped, it shall be picked up by the rider who dropped it. To retrieve it, they may leave their lane, as long as they do not obstruct another rider. The rider shall continue the race from the point where the baton was last in their hand. If a rider does not follow this rule, their team shall be disqualified.
5. The handover of the baton must be within the takeover zone. This means that before the baton crosses the start mark of the takeover zone only the incoming rider is in touch with the baton and at the end of the takeover zone only the outgoing rider is in touch with the baton. Riders may not throw the baton to make a pass and may not touch the ground with any part of their body while making a pass. If the baton is not handed over within the marked takeover zone, the team shall be disqualified.
6. Each member of a relay team may ride one leg only.
7. Mixed male/female teams may be used, and reasonable age groups may be used depending on the number of expected competitors of the event. Each relay team may have any mix of ages, the age of the oldest rider determines the age group.
Body
Further information can be found in the corresponding discussion 77
In the linked PDF version hopefully all changes are highlighted: red and crossed out means this part is omitted, blue and italic is new.
References
Discussion
View Discussion
Votes on this proposal:
3 out of 5 voting members have voted.
Agree: 3, Disagree: 0, Abstain: 0.