Track and Field

Primary Competition Rules

• Competition Format and Age Groups

  Expand Competition Format and Age Groups

  Championship Format & Schedule

  • Format: Finals for athletes qualifying from Region finals.
  • Program Modification: State Championships will not be cancelled due to inclement weather. The Convener / Competition Coordinator reserves the right to modify the timing of the program to ensure efficient and safe conduct.
  • Rules & Governance: Conducted in accordance with World Athletics (WA) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) rules, except all children must compete in heats (track events) to progress to the final. Athletes who do not report for and compete in their heats are ineligible for finals.

  Age Groups & Eligibility

  • 9/10 Years: Born 2017, 2016.
  • 11 Years: Born 2015.
  • 12/13 Years: Born 2014, 2013.
  • Year 7 Restriction: Children in Year 7, regardless of age, are ineligible to compete in Primary Track & Field State Finals.*
  • Age Calculation: Calculated as at 31 December in the year of competition.

  *Please note Team Vic Track and Field 10-12 Years Team Selection Guidelines

  Events Conducted

  The following events are conducted separately for both boys and girls:

  • Track Events: 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m, 80m Hurdles, 4x100m 4x100 Relay.
  • Field Events: High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, and Discus.

• Athlete Qualification and Progression

  Expand Athlete Qualification and Progression

  Qualifying and Region Representation

  • Bona-Fide Students: Athletes must be bona-fide primary students who qualified at one of the eight SSV Regions.
  • Region Allocation: Regions may be represented by 2 competitors (or relay teams) per event.
  • Ties at Region: Any tie for 2nd place at Region level must be resolved at the Region event (e.g., Jump-Off, Race-Off).

  Event Limitations and Age Group Progression

  • Maximum Individual Entries: Competitors may enter a maximum of two (2) individual events and one (1) relay:
  • 2 Track events and 1 Relay
  • 2 Field events and 1 Relay
  • 1 Track event, 1 Field event, and 1 Relay
  • Older Age Groups: Competitors may compete in an older age group provided they only compete in one age group across all individual events.
  • Relay Age Groups: Competitors may compete in a different relay age group than their individual event age group, but may only compete in one age group for relays overall .
  • District Lock: The age group an athlete competes in at District level cannot be changed at higher competition levels.
  • Entry Changes: Changes notified by the Region Coordinator are accepted up to two (2) working days prior to the Championships .

• Multiclass Athletes (MC)

  Expand Multiclass Athletes (MC)

  Multiclass Athletes (MC)

  • Disciplines: Multiclass events are conducted in 100m, 200m, 800m, Long Jump, and Shot Put.
  • Categories: Intellectual Impairment, Ambulant, and Wheelchair categories for both boys and girls, calculated using Australian Athletics Multi Disability Standards (MDS) tables.
  • Event Limit: Multiclass athletes are permitted to compete in three (3) events at the State Championships. There are no Multiclass relays.
  • Classification & Progression:
  • Athletes must have competed at Region level
  • Athletes must hold a current classification.
  • Athletes wishing to compete in able-bodied events (including relays) must qualify via the regular SSV progression pathway.
  • SSV reserves the right to invite extra Multiclass athletes who did not place 1st or 2nd at their Region competition based on their Region performance and the MDS points system.

• Late Arrivals

  Expand Late Arrivals

  Marshalling and Call Room

  • Announcements: Events being marshalled will be called over the PA system and displayed on the Call Room noticeboard 30 minutes prior to the event start time.
  • Restrictions: Parents, coaches, and teachers are not permitted in the Call Room.
  • Escort: Athletes are escorted to their event site from the Call Room. 
  • Scheduled Times: Scheduled program times are approximate and are subject to change. Appropriate announcements will be made concerning any substantial alterations.

  Track Qualification and Finals Setup

  • 100m Final: First 3 placegetters per heat plus next 4 fastest qualifiers form a final of 10.
  • 200m, Hurdles, Relays: First 3 placegetters per heat plus next 2 fastest qualifiers form a final of 8.
  • 800m: Conducted as a final of 16 competitors with two athletes per lane; athletes run in lanes for the first 100m until crossing the green break line. Athletes then move out of their lanes provided they do not interfere with other athletes.
  • 1500m: Conducted as a final of 16 competitors (+ invitation competitors) using a curved line start.
  • Seeding & Hip Numbers: Drawn according to WA/IPC rules; 800m and 1500m competitors wear hip numbers.

  Starts and Equipment

  • False Start Rule: One false start rule applies; the first break is a 'False Start', and any subsequent break by any athlete results in disqualification.
  • Starts: Crouch starts are encouraged for 100m, 200m, Hurdles, and Relays (first runner), but standing starts are permitted.
  • Starting Blocks: Provided on-site; private starting blocks are strictly prohibited.
  • Hurdles Specifications: Must be collapsible in line with Little Athletics Victoria specifications.

• Relay Regulations

  Expand Relay Regulations
  • School Eligibility: All four members of a relay team must be students at the same school/campus. Small schools within the same Sports District with a combined enrolment of less than $\le 300$ pupils may enter a combined relay team.
  • Team Sheets: Relay team sheets must be submitted prior to competition. Alterations permitted up to 1 hour prior to the first relay event. Disqualification applies if the team sheet is missing or runners do not match listed names.
  • Gender Eligibility:
  • Girls may compete in a Boy/Mixed Relay provided they do not also compete in a Girls' Relay.
  • Boy/Mixed teams must include a minimum of one Boy.
  • Boys are not permitted to compete in Girls' Relays.
  • Batons: Provided at the venue.

• Field Event Regulations and Event Clashes

  Expand Field Event Regulations and Event Clashes

  Event Format and Attempt Limits

  • Order of Competition: The order of competition will be in accordance with WA and IPC rules.
  • Attempts: In all field events (except High Jump), all competitors, at the State Championships, receive three (3) attempts, with the top eight competitors receiving one additional attempt (total 4).
  • Schedule Delays: The Championship Convener reserves the right to reduce trials to 3 attempts total if events run behind schedule.
  • Triple Jump Boards: 5m, 7m, 9m, 11m, and 13m boards are available.
  • Tie-Breaking: Determined by comparing second-best trials, then third-best trials. High Jump ties follow WA rules without a jump-off for first place.

  Event Clashes

  • Track Event and Field Event Clash: Athletes must report for both events in the Call Room. Where appropriate, the athlete will be taken to the field event first, and take one or more trials(s), if time permits. The referee will assist the athlete to then marshal for their track and event, and return to the field event immediately after the track event, where the athlete will complete their three trials. These three trials must be completed within the time allocated to the event.
  • Track Event and High Jump Clash: Athletes must return to High Jump as quickly as possible following their track event. The high jump event will continue in their absence. The competitor must continue at the new height when he/she returns. T; the bar will not be lowered in their absence.