SportsMaze

What you can't watch without

The rules you will see every few minutes, in the order you meet them. Each opens on its answer.

B · Beginner · 7 rules · Step 1 of 4

The event and the start

  1. What is a relay, and how is it won?A relay is a race between teams of four.
  2. How does a relay start?The first runner starts as in any race of that distance: from a crouch in blocks when the leg is 400 m or shorter, and standing when it is longer.
  3. What is the baton, and what are the rules for carrying it?The baton is a smooth hollow tube about 30 cm long that must be carried by hand for the whole race.
  4. Where must the baton change hands?The baton must change hands inside the takeover zone, which is 30 m long in the 4 × 100 m and 20 m long in the 4 × 400 m.

Running and finishing

  1. What happens if an athlete steps out of their lane?Each athlete must keep within their lane.
  2. What decides who crosses the line first?Athletes are placed in the order in which any part of the torso reaches the near edge of the finish line.

Rounds, penalties and kit

  1. How do athletes get from the first round to the final?When there are too many teams for one race, the event is run in rounds.
I · Intermediate · 9 rulesNext: intermediate rules