What makes a landing good?
B · Beginner · The throw · 4 of 5The shot must first land inside the two white lines of the sector, which open out from the centre of the circle at an angle of 34.92 degrees. The lines themselves are out. A shot that touches a line, or the ground outside it, when it first lands is a failure. Where it rolls afterwards does not matter.
How it works
- The rule: it is a failure if the shot "in contacting the ground when it first lands touches the sector line or the ground outside the sector line".
- The sector: two white lines 50 mm wide at an angle of 34.92 degrees. Their inner edges, if extended, would pass through the centre of the circle.
- How wide that is: 20 m from the centre of the circle the lines are 12 m apart. For every metre further out, the sector is 0.60 m wider.
- Each line is out: the inner edge of each sector line is the boundary. A landing that touches the line is a failure.
- First landing only: the rule looks at where the shot first meets the ground. A bounce, roll or slide afterwards is not judged.
- Hitting something on the way: since 2026 it is also a failure if the shot touches any object outside the sector line after release and before it lands.
- The ground: grass, cinders or another surface on which the implement leaves a mark.
Tricky cases
The shot lands inside the sector and rolls out over a line. Is it a failure?
No. Only where the shot first lands is judged.
The shot lands half on the line and half inside. Is it good?
No. A shot that touches the sector line on first landing is a failure.
Does a shot that lands short of the judges' markers still count?
Yes. Any landing inside the sector is valid, whatever the distance.
Why the rule exists
The sector is where the judges stand ready and nobody else is allowed, so a throw outside it is a danger as well as a miss. Counting the line as out gives one clear test: the mark is either wholly inside or it is not.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 32.10 to 32.12; TR 32.16 |
| Javelin | A narrower sector of 28.96 degrees, and the head must land first | TR 32.12.2; TR 38.2 |
| Discus and hammer | Thrown from a cage, with rules on hitting it | TR 32.14 (notes ii and iii) |
| Slope | The landing area may not slope down by more than 1 in 1,000 in the throwing direction | TR 32.11 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 32.10 to 32.12, 32.14 and 32.16 with the notes and commentary printed under them. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).