What may a thrower put down as a marker, and when may they practise?

• How many: one marker only for a throw made from a circle.
• Where: on the ground immediately behind the circle or next to it. It may not be on any line or in the landing sector.
• For how long: it is temporary, in place only while the athlete takes their own trial.
• The landing area: no personal marker may be placed in or beside it.
• Wrong markers: the judges tell the athlete to change or remove them, and remove them if the athlete does not.
• Practice: "At the competition area and before the beginning of the event, each athlete may have practice trials." In the throws they are taken in the drawn order and under the judges' supervision.
• After the start: once the competition has begun, athletes may not practise with implements. They may not use the circle or the ground inside the sector for practice, with or without an implement.
• Wind sock: one or more are placed at the discus to show the direction and strength of the wind.
• Record marker: a flag or marker may show the existing world record or another record.

A thrower needs to set their feet in the same place each time, and one mark is enough for that. Keeping personal markers out of the sector leaves the landing area clear for the judges. Practice stops once the event begins because an implement thrown outside the order of competition is a danger to everyone in the field.