Types and roles of officials in track and field events – Athletics Rules and Regulations (Senior 6 Physical Education) | Ganzaa

Athletics Rules and Regulations

Lessons

Senior 6 · Physical Education

Athletics Rules and Regulations

3 lessons

Lesson 3 of 3

Types and roles of officials in track and field events

25 min

Forty people for one 100 m final

A 100 m final lasts ten seconds, yet behind it stand a call-room team who check the athletes' spikes and bibs, a start team of starter, recaller and assistants, umpires along the track, a wind gauge operator, a photo-finish team, a referee who rules on protests, and a Jury of Appeal above them all. Every official has a defined job in the World Athletics Competition Rules (2026 edition), and a meeting runs well only when each knows where their authority begins and ends. This lesson lists the officials and their duties, the signals they use, and how a protest moves up the chain.

Definition

Referee: the official who ensures the rules are observed in their area (track, field, start, call room, combined events or video), rules on protests and may warn or disqualify athletes.

Judge: an official who decides the placing (track) or the validity and measurement of each trial (field).

Umpire: an assistant to the referee who watches the race from a point on the track and reports infringements; umpires do not make final decisions.

Technical Delegate: the person appointed by the governing body to make sure the technical arrangements comply with the rules.

Jury of Appeal: the panel that hears appeals against referees' decisions; its decision is final within the competition.

Who does what

Official	Main duties
Technical Delegate(s)	Check that the facilities, equipment, timetable and entry standards follow the rules; approve the heats and draws.
Competition Director, Meeting Manager, Technical Manager	Plan and run the meeting: staff, timetable, equipment and the field of play.
Referees (track, field, start, call room, combined events, video)	Apply the rules in their area; decide protests; warn (yellow card) or disqualify (red card) for misconduct.
Start Coordinator, Starter, Recallers	The starter controls the start and fires the gun; recallers recall a false start; the coordinator assigns the start team.
Starter's Assistants	Check athletes are in the right heat and lane; show the red and black card after a false start; hand out batons.
Track judges and Chief Photo Finish Judge	Decide the order of finish; the photo-finish team reads times from the finish image.
Timekeepers	Time the race by hand where fully automatic timing is not used, or as a back-up.
Umpires	Stand at points around the track and report lane, hurdle, relay-zone and obstruction infringements, usually by raising a yellow flag.
Field judges	Check each trial, show a white flag (valid) or red flag (failure), measure, and keep the scoresheet; a yellow flag shows the last 15 s of the time allowed.
Lap Scorers	Record laps in races longer than 1500 m, keep the lap board showing laps remaining, and ring the bell for the last lap.
Wind Gauge Operators	Measure the following wind in the sprints, sprint hurdles, long jump and triple jump.
Measurement Judge (scientific)	Check electronic or video distance-measuring equipment before and during the event.
Call Room Judges	Check bibs, spikes, clothing and items athletes carry before they enter the field of play.
Competition Secretary and TIC	Collect and publish results; the Technical Information Centre links teams and officials.
Marshal	Controls who is on the field of play, keeping it clear.
Jury of Appeal	Hears written appeals against referees' decisions.

Protests and appeals

A protest about a result or the conduct of an event is made orally to the referee by the athlete or a team representative, within 30 minutes of the official announcement of the result. Only someone competing in that round may protest.
The referee considers the evidence, including official video, and decides (or refers the matter to the Jury).
An appeal to the Jury of Appeal must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the referee's decision being announced, with a deposit of USD 100 (or its equivalent), which is lost if the appeal fails.
The Jury's decision is final; it may ask the referee and judges for their reports and view video.

Umpires and judges report; referees decide; the Jury hears appeals. This separation stops one official being both witness and judge.

Worked example

Worked example 1: following a protest through. The 400 m result is announced at 14:05. A coach believes the winner stepped on the line on her left twice on the bend.

Protest deadline: 14:05 + 30 min = 14:35, made orally to the track referee.
The referee asks the bend umpire for his report (he raised a yellow flag) and views the video. The athlete touched the line twice in this round: disqualification. The amended result is announced at 14:50.
The winner's team may now appeal in writing, with the deposit, by 15:20.

Worked example

Worked example 2: staffing a school sports day. A school has an 8-lane track, hand timing and a long-jump pit. A minimum team:

Area	Officials	Why
Start	1 starter, 1 recaller, 1 starter's assistant	Fair starts, false starts recalled, athletes in the right lanes
Finish	Chief timekeeper + 1 timekeeper per lane; 2 finish judges	Each athlete timed; placings decided by torso
Track	2 umpires (on the bends)	Lane infringements reported
Long jump	1 judge at the board (flags), 2 measuring, 1 recorder	Validity, measurement and the scoresheet
Control	1 referee, 1 recorder of results, 1 first aider	Decisions, results and safety

With 8 lanes that is about 25 people: train them the day before.

Tip

Flag colours. Field judge: white = valid, red = failure, yellow = 15 s left. Umpire: yellow = infringement seen. Referee: yellow card = warning, red card = disqualification. Starter's assistant: red and black card = false start.

Warning

Common mistakes. Umpires do not disqualify anyone: they report, and the referee decides. A protest goes to the referee first, not straight to the Jury. Do not confuse the referee's red card (disqualification for misconduct or a rule breach) with the red and black card that marks a false start.

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Practice

Name the official who decides on a protest at a meeting, and the body that hears an appeal.
What does a field judge's white flag mean, and a red flag?
Who keeps the lap board, and what does it show?
A result is announced at 10:40. By what time must a protest be made?
Explain the difference in authority between an umpire and a referee.
Why must photo-finish cameras be exactly in line with the finish line?
Plan the officials needed for a school shot-put competition, giving each role and one safety duty.
Evaluate the rule that a USD 100 deposit is lost if an appeal fails. Who does it protect, and is it fair to small teams?

Show answersHide answers

The referee decides a protest; the Jury of Appeal hears appeals.
White: valid trial. Red: failure.
A lap scorer; it shows the number of laps remaining (and the bell is rung for the last lap).
By 11:10.
An umpire watches part of the race and reports infringements but has no authority to make final decisions; the referee decides, warns and disqualifies.
The finish is the moment the torso reaches the vertical plane of the nearer edge of the line; a camera out of line would record the wrong instant and give wrong times and placings.
For example: a judge at the circle who calls valid or failure and checks the athlete leaves from the back half; a judge at the landing who marks the landing point and makes sure nobody is in the sector; two officials who measure; a recorder; a steward who carries implements back and keeps the area clear.
It discourages appeals without real grounds, protecting the timetable and officials' time. But a fixed sum is a heavier burden for poorer teams; refunding it when an appeal succeeds keeps it fair to those with a genuine case.

Remember

Technical Delegates check the arrangements; referees decide; judges and umpires observe and report.
Start team: starter, recallers, starter's assistants; finish: judges and photo finish; field: flags white, red, yellow.
Protest: orally to the referee within 30 min. Appeal: in writing to the Jury within 30 min, with a deposit.

1Forty people for one 100 m final

2Who does what

3Protests and appeals

Forty people for one 100 m final

Who does what

Protests and appeals