Lesson-2-Common-terminologies-and-abbreviations

Anchor

The athlete who runs the last leg in a relay race.

Bend

The curved parts of the running track.

Bend Runner

The athlete who runs the first or third leg in a relay race which goes around the bend of the track.

Break Line

An arch marked on the track which denotes the point where runners may change lanes as desired.

Cage

The marked area used for discus and hammer events, covered with netting to prevent throwing implements from leaving the competition area.

Changeover

The process of passing the baton from one runner to the next in a relay race.

Crouch Start

The crouching position required of all athletes at the beginning of the race before the starting gun is fired.

Curb

A rail marking the inside of the track.

Decathlete

An athlete who takes part in a decathlon.

Decathlon

A mixed athletic event made up of ten different Track and Field events.

False Start

When an athlete begins a race before the starting gun is fired.

Field Event

An athletic event which takes place on the field, inside the track.

Fosbury Flop

A method of twisting backwards over the high jump bar, landing on the mat on the back.

Foul

A move in an event which classifies the attempt as a fail.

Fully Automatic Time

An electronic method of timing a race using a sensor and an image.

Hammer Throw

A field event in which athletes compete to throw a metal ball as far as possible.

Heat

An early race in a competition that determines which athletes go through to the semi-finals.

Heptathlete

A contestant in a heptathlon.

Heptathlon

A mixed athletic event made up of seven different Track and Field events.

High Jump

A field event which requires athletes to jump over a horizontal cross-bar without knocking it down.

Hurdles

A track event in which athletes must jump over a series of fences.

Javelin

A field event requiring athletes to throw a long spiked pole.

Jump the Gun

A false start, when an athlete begins a race before the starting gun.

Jump-off

The final stage of a high jump or pole vault competition in case of a tie.

Landing Area

The area an athlete lands in after making a jump.

Lane

The designated section of a track which an athlete must start in.

Lap

The distance of one circuit around a 400 m track.

Lifting

A violation in the walking race where the athlete lifts the foot before the leg has bent.

Long Distance

A race which is at least 10,000 m in distance.

Long Jump

A field event where athletes compete to jump the longest distance from a specified point.

Marathon

A race measuring the distance of 42.195 km.

Middle Distance

A race that covers a distance between 800 m and 5000 m.

On Your Mark

The phrase called by the starter for athletes to assume the crouched position.

Pentathlete

A contestant of a pentathlon.

Pentathlon

An early version of the heptathlon made up of five different track and field events.

Pole Vault

A field event where athletes jump over a horizontal cross bar with a pole.

Relay

A race involving a team of athletes taking legs to cover a specified distance.

Road Race

A running race that occurs on the road or footpath.

Runway

A space designated in field events for athletes to sprint to the take-off line.

Set

The call indicating athletes should take their final starting position.

Shot Put

A field event requiring athletes to throw a shot as far as possible.

Spikes

Special running shoes with spikes to improve grip during races.

Sprint

A race of 400 m or less requiring consistent power throughout.

Starter's Gun

An instrument used to signal the beginning of a race.

Starting Blocks

Supports for the feet during a crouch start.

Steeplechase

A track event usually 3000 m, involving barriers and water obstacles.

Stop Board

A box in front of the pole vault landing mattress for the pole.

Sudden Death

An extra round in case of a tie between athletes.

Take-off Board

The point where an athlete is required to jump in the long jump and triple jump.

Take-off Line

A plasticine line at the end of the take-off board.

Take-over Zone

The section of track where baton exchange occurs in a relay race.

Track

The oval course used for running events.

Uprights

The vertical poles holding the cross bar in pole vault and high jump.

Water-jump

An obstacle in the steeplechase consisting of a miniature pool of water.

Wind Assisted

When wind speeds reach up to 2m/s invalidating record times.

DNS

Did not start.

DNF

Did not finish.

NM

No valid trial recorded.

DQ

Disqualified.

'O'

Valid trial in high jump and pole vault.

'X'

Failed trial.

'--'

Passed trial.

R

Retired from competition.

Q

Qualified by place in track events.

>

Bent knees.

~

Loss of contact.

YC

Yellow card.

RC

Red card.