What counts as a false start, and what is the penalty?
B · Beginner · The event and the start · 3 of 7An athlete who begins their start before the gun has made a false start and is disqualified by the starter. There is no first warning, except in combined events. In the blocks, the start has begun when a foot leaves a foot plate or a hand leaves the ground.
How it works
- The rule: after taking the final starting position, an athlete "shall not commence their start until after receiving the report of the gun".
- What counts in a crouch start: "any motion by an athlete that includes or results in one or both feet losing contact with the foot plate(s) of the starting blocks or one or both hands losing contact with the ground".
- The 0.100 second line: where a certified start information system is used, a reaction time of less than 0.100 second signals a possible false start. The starter hears a tone, recalls the race and examines the reaction times.
- Rolling starts: a movement begun before the gun and carried on into the start is also a false start.
- Other movement: any other motion is not the beginning of a start. It may still bring a warning for conduct.
- The penalty: "any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified by the Starter".
- The card: a card halved diagonally in red and black is raised in front of the athlete.
- The recall: the starter or a recaller stops the race by firing the gun again.
- Only the one responsible: when one athlete goes early, others often follow. The starter penalises only those who, in their opinion, were responsible.
- Nobody at fault: if the recall was not caused by any athlete, a green card is shown to all and there are no warnings.
Tricky cases
An athlete twitches in the set position but hands and feet stay in place. Is that a false start?
No. The start has begun only when a foot loses contact with a foot plate or a hand loses contact with the ground. The movement may still bring a warning for conduct.
An athlete reacts 0.09 of a second after the gun. They moved after the gun, so is it legal?
No, where a certified start information system is in use. A reaction faster than 0.100 second is treated as a possible false start, and the starter decides from the system's information.
Does everyone get one free false start?
No. The athlete responsible is disqualified at the first one. Combined events are the exception.
Can an athlete who is sure they did not false start still run?
It depends on the referee. After an immediate spoken protest the referee may let the athlete run "under protest" if in doubt. That is not normally allowed when a certified start system showed the false start.
Why the rule exists
Under earlier rules a field could be allowed a false start, and athletes used it to unsettle each other and gamble on the gun. Disqualifying at the first one removed the gamble. The 0.100 second figure is the rule book's line for the fastest reaction it accepts as a response to the gun.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 16.6 to 16.10 |
| Combined events | The first false start in a race brings a warning for everyone, shown with a yellow and black card. Anyone responsible for a later one is disqualified | TR 16.9; TR 39.8.3 |
| Without a start information system | The starter and recallers judge by eye | TR 16.7 |
| Records | For records up to 400 m the blocks must be linked to a certified start system | CR 31.14.4 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 8.4.1 and 16.6 to 16.10 and Competition Rule 22.7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).