Athletics words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 26 words · Step 2 of 2

Road events and race walking

Yellow paddle

A warning from a race walking judge who is not fully satisfied that an athlete is walking legally. Where possible it is shown before a red card, so the athlete can correct their technique.

Red card

A race walking judge's written report that an athlete has broken the walking rule. Three red cards from three different judges disqualify the walker, who is then shown a red paddle.

Penalty zone

A marked area where a race walker can be made to stop for a set time as a penalty. It is used only where the competition's rules provide for it.

Jumping events

Pass

In the high jump and pole vault, an athlete may skip a height and wait for a higher bar. A passed trial is shown as a dash in the results.

Countback

How ties are broken in the high jump and pole vault. The athlete with fewer jumps at the last height cleared ranks higher, then the athlete with fewer failures in total up to and including that height. A tie for first place is settled by a jump-off.

Also called: tie-break
See also: High jump, Pole vault, Jump-off

Jump-off

An extra round of jumps to decide a tie for first place.

Throwing events

Implement

The object thrown: the shot, discus, hammer or javelin. Implements are checked before a competition and weigh different amounts for different categories.

Combined events

Scoring tables

In a combined event, each performance is converted into points using a scoring table, and the athlete with the most points overall wins. The same tables are used for each event.

Officiating and results

Results abbreviations

Short codes in start lists and results: DNS for did not start, DNF for did not finish, DQ for disqualified and NM for no valid trial recorded. In the high jump and pole vault, O is a valid trial, X a failed trial and a dash a passed one.

Competition terms

Diamond League

An annual series of one-day meetings in several countries, run by World Athletics, that brings together the top athletes in each event. The format changes from season to season.

Seeding

Placing athletes into heats based on performance rankings to keep strong competitors from meeting too early.

Lane draw

The process of assigning runners to specific lanes before a race.

Automatic qualifier

An athlete who advances to the next round by finishing high enough in their heat, not on time.

Indoor athletics

Athletics held in an arena on a 200m track, with shorter sprints such as the 60m.

Running technique

Split time

The time recorded at a specific distance point during a longer race, used to judge pacing.

Negative split

Running the second half of a race faster than the first half, generally seen as an efficient pacing strategy.

Kick

A sudden burst of speed near the end of a distance race.

Drive phase

The early acceleration portion of a sprint, right after leaving the starting blocks.

Reaction time

The time between the starting gun and a sprinter's first push on the blocks, measured electronically. Where a World Athletics start information system is used, a reaction time of less than 0.100 second is treated as a possible false start.

Pacer

A runner who sets a fast early pace in a distance race, often not intending to finish competitively themselves.

Also called: rabbit

Field event technique

Fosbury flop

The modern high jump technique where the athlete goes over the bar backward, now used by nearly all elite jumpers.

Approach run

The measured run up athletes use before jumping or vaulting, kept consistent for timing and rhythm.

Glide technique

An older shot put style involving a low sideways slide across the circle before releasing the ball.

Rotational technique

A shot put or discus style using a spin across the circle to build speed before release.

Plant

The moment the vaulter places the pole into the box at the start of their jump.

Sector line

The angled boundary lines that mark where a throw must land to count as valid.

All Athletics words