W M A

 

 

 

 

WORLD MASTERS ATHLETICS

 

 

 

Riccione, Italy 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Assembly

 

Assemblée Générale

 

11th September/11 septembre 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMAF MEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS AND PARTICULARLY IN THE COMPETITION CHANGES (IN BOLD) PLEASE MAIL TO BRIDGET CUSHEN, MAURICE DOOGAN, AND ME. winston.thomas1@virgin.net;   Maurice@dooganconsulting.co.ukBcushen@aol.com

 

FOR THE PROPOSAL CHANGES TO THE HURDLES FROM AUSTRALIA, I HAVE FORWARDED IN A SEPARATE FILE THE RESULTS OF SOME TECHNICAL DATA FROM 2005 SHOWING THE INTERNATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS, MARKINGS AND USAGE OF HURDLES.

 

WINSTON THOMAS   

 

General Assembly Motions

 

WMA Council Proposals

 

Constitution:

(1)   Constitution: 3. Affiliation

(l) new paragraph: Describe Affiliates’ role in athletes’ registration validation

 

Athletes must register for any masters athletics competition through their Affiliate which reviews the application for approval and validates their registration request upon receipt of fees due. Normally, the athletes’ affiliate is his country of citizenship.

 

Reason: There have been misunderstandings in the past which is the proper affiliate for an athlete if his country of citizenship/nationality and that of his residency are not identical. The above amendment would remove this ambiguity.

 

(2)   Constitution: 4. General .Assembly

(b) 1st sentence:  after “for each 100” add- (“combined   total”)

 

Reason: To remove an imprecision in language.

 

(3)   Constitution .4 (g)

Replace “Robert’s Rules of order” with “Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 10th Edition, in Brief”.

           

 

Reason:

Legal expertise at the Law & Legislation Committee has suggested that the reference as currently written in our Constitution is imprecise and should be amended. The amendment as proposed fills that void and provides reference to the correct source of information should that ever have to be consulted.

 

(4)   Constitution: 5 Council

Add New Constitution clause 5(o):

 

The Council shall have the power to co-opt onto the Council not more than one member whose expertise in a particular field is deemed desirable and necessary for the efficient functioning of any particular aspect of the Council or any one or more of its committees.

 

Reason: To add flexibility in decision making processes of council and/or committees.

 

(5)   Constitution. 6. Officers

Amendment to Clause 6(c) 

 

The existing clause 6 (c) shall be deleted and the following substituted there for:

 

6 (c) No officer shall hold more than one office at any one time.

 

6 (c)(i). In the event of an officer failing to complete his term of office, the remaining Council’s members shall, as soon as possible thereafter, and without waiting for the next formal Council meeting, cast votes (by means of either a conference call or electronic voting) and based on the simple majority of a quorum of the Council, appoint a temporary replacement to fill the vacancy created;

 

6 (c)(ii). The term of office of the appointed replacement shall expire upon the closure of the next quadrennial election General Assembly;

 

6 (c)(iii). The casting of votes shall take place within seven days of Council members being informed by the secretary of the nominations received by him for the vacant office within a maximum period of fourteen days after the vacancy occurring.

 

6(c)(iv). The term of office of all General Assembly elected Officers shall be for an initial term of four years, and they shall thereafter be subject to re-election to the same office at General Assembly for a further term of four years. However, No officer may hold the same office to which he/she has been elected for more than eight years in total, with retrospective effect from September 2005."

 

      Reason:

On:The existing clause 6(c),expressly contradicts  provisions of clause 6(a) and is therefore ultra vires because,unlike 6(a),it provides for biennial and not quadrennial elections to Council office.t is therefore necessary to bring it into line with clause 6(a).

(6)   Constitution. Amend 7 (f) Treasurer:

In sub-section (f) iv, substitute “semi-annually” for “annually”.

 

Replace current(f)(v) with: Treasurer to prepare P+L + B/S semi-annually for distribution to council, who may distribute to Affiliates if requested by them.

 

Reason:

To bring sequential logic of distribution in line and to remove web-site postings of financial information which is uncommon and unnecessary.

     

vii = delete; obsolete because of electronic bank transfers

 

Reason: Cheques are no longer the normal means of money transfers.

           

(7)   Constitution. 11. Eligibility

add to (11): re-number as b, then c-d-e follows)

Athletes must register through the Affiliate of their own country of citizenship; if the athlete’s country of citizenship does not maintain and properly operate a WMA Affiliation the athlete may register directly with the LOC upon having received consent from WMA.

 

Reason: To improve the registration regulations.

 

BYE-LAWS

 

(8)   Bye-Laws.2 Council (7)2nd sentence: replace“cheques”with “disbursements”, replace “signed by the Treasurer and counter signed by the President”with“authorised jointly by the Treasurer and President”

 

To read.

A bank account in United States Dollars shall be operated in the name of WMA.  All disbursements on amounts above USD 5.000 shall be authorised jointly by the Treasurer and the President or any Council members so authorised in writing by the President

 

Reason: Cheques are no longer the normal means to meet disbursements and have been replaced by electronic transactions.

 

 

(9) Bye-Laws. 2 Council

 

   (8)Delete existing. The Treasurer is authorised to

   pay an invoice from a travel agent,for Council        travel for an approved meeting in advance of that     meeting.

 

Replace with: The Treasurer is authorised to reimburse council travel in accordance with a Travel and Expense Reimbursement policy established for that purpose.

 

Reason:

The Treasury function is a fiduciary obligation. Only expenses that have been properly documented after the expense has been incurred upon conclusion of the expense purpose will be accepted.

 

(10)  Bye-Laws. 3 (3)(a) Anti-Doping & Medical

Replace current with:

 

The Chairman shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the council, preferably, but not necessarily, from amongst the Council's ranks.

 

Reason: For clarity and authority in appointing persons with expertise outside of the council members

 

(11)  Bye-Laws. 3 (4) Law and Legislation Committee

 

f) add: vi:  Failure to register via affiliate of athlete’s country of citizenship

add, vii: Athletes bringing the sport into disrepute or discrediting the sport

 

Reason: To cover for unforeseen problems and irregularities in WMA competitions.

 

(12)  Bye-Laws. 4 Alteration to Rules

Add new (4a)

 

To insure that the Rules of Competition are in proper order, any proposals for changes to Rules of Competition not previously submitted for approval by the Stadia and/or the Non-Stadia Committees, can become effective only after it is reviewed by the Stadia and/or the Non-Stadia Committees as appropriate.  Also the proposals must be approved by the Law and Legislation Committee as to legality, compatibility, presentation, and wording.  If a proposal is changed in any manner by this required review, the proposal, in its changed form, and a full explanation for the changes, must be brought back before the next meeting of the appropriate body that originally approved it (either the Council or the General Assembly) for reaffirmation. 

 

Reason: To follow the same principals as IAAF in ensuring that rules of competition are viable before submission for approval at the GA and for implementation by WMA and regions.

 

     RULES OF COMPETITION

(13) Rules of Competition. 1 Championships Non Stadia

 

That the WMA World Championships Non-Stadia shall be removed and its events shall be allocated by the Council. Proposals for such events may be made by WMA affiliates or by a majority vote in the Assembly provided advance notice was filed, as required.

Reason:  Clarification from 2005 GA where the result of the proposal was incorrectly ruled, as only a simple majority was needed.

     Rules of Competition: section 1, Championships:   

Amendment of paragraph 1 (1) – to remove the WMA World Championships Non-Stadia and the placing its events with WMA Championships Stadia and Indoors.

                   Votes:       In favour        51

                            Against          41

                                Abstentions        0

           

(14)  Rules of Competition: 5 Entries

2nd paragraph, amend, and change to (2)

 

(2)Where a competitor comes from a country that does not have a WMA Affiliate then that competitor may enter directly, Subject to the approval of the WMA Council. The Council may make an exception to this requirement for a specific Affiliate. WMA Secretary shall submit a list of all the WMA Affiliates to the Organising Committee at least 120 days prior to the start of the Championships

           

Reason: re-worded for clarification

 

(15)  Rules of Competition. 8. The Competition-Running and Walking Events

NEW.8 (11) In all WMA sanctioned championships the “gun time” will be used in all cases where the chip or similar warm electronic timing devise is used.

 

Reason: “Gun Time” is the only official time accepted by the IAAF. Race directors, reporters, officials and mostly athletes continue to be confused over which time is “official”.

 

(16)  Rules of Competition. 8. The Competition-Running and Walking Events

 

NEW 8 (12)(i)At all WMA track and field championships the Non Stadia events will be timed using the chip or similar warm electronic timing devise.

 

(ii) Track race walk races will be timed by the chip or similar warn electronic timing devise.

 

(iii) An application may be made by the LOC of a WMA Championship within two weeks after the closing of the entries to use an alternate timing method. The application is to be made through the WMA secretary, to the non stadia and stadia vice presidents WMA. A determination will be conveyed to the LOC within three weeks of the receipt of the application.

 

Reason:(i) (ii) The chip or similar electronic worn devise counts laps accurately. Officials and athletes as well as their supporters become confused in long races and loose count. The WMA non stadia races and race walks in particular have been plagued for years with this problem. Officials are taking laps by simply making check marks. These can not be verified.

 

(iii) The LOC some times may find that the entries are low and therefore do not warrant the cost of the chip or the chip is not available in their location. This item gives the LOC a way out if needed.

 

(17)  Rules of Competition. 5.Entries. New paragraph

Once entries are validated by the WMA Affiliate and forwarded to the Organising Committee, the Organising Committee will not make any changes to the entries without the written express approval or request of the WMA Affiliate. 

 

Reason:

It has been the case that the Organising Committee overrides the corrections of the WMA Affiliates and team managers, using the athletes’ original entries as an input source, effectively reversing the corrections which have been made and making the athlete's entry incorrect.

 

WMA Affiliate motions

 

(18)  Proposed by British masters Athletic Federation

      Constitution, 11, Eligibility

 

British Masters Athletic Federation proposes the following change to 11 (b)

Athletes holding dual nationality/citizenship (or permanently living in a foreign country) may be permitted to change nationality/citizenship, or Affiliation (i.e. compete for another country, only when a change in the athlete’s permanent address has occurred). Such changes must be agreed by the National Bodies and be re-ported to the WMA Secretary and shall only be effected once confirmed in writing by the WMA Secretary.

 

Reason: Many athletes live in foreign countries and do not want to change their country of nationality, but wish to compete in the country they live, and this give them the opportunity through their old affiliation to do so.

 

(19)  Add.to By-Law, should 11,(b) be accepted and this paragraph adopted.

11. Eligibility:

Athletes granted dispensation under section 11(b) requesting a 2nd change in national affiliation status, will be considered by WMA Council, by request from their present Affiliation stating all reasons with evidence from the two affiliation concerned. Any reversal shall only be granted to their original affiliation of nationality /citizenship, and they shall also serve a term of non eligibility as per the WMA/IAAF rules for eligibility

 

(20)  Proposal by: Finnish Veterans’ Athletes Association

                   and Italian Athletics Federation

Constitution: 5. Council

Insert under 5 (e):

Council will appoint a Permanent Board for the purpose of dealing with anti-doping and medical matters. This board will have decision empowerment for all WMA activities relating to doping and medical issues. The board shall co-operate closely with the Medical Committee of IAAF.

 

Current (e) to (n) will become (f) to (o).

 

8. Standing Committees

Delete:

c) Antidoping- and Medical Committee”

 

(21)  Constitution      8. Standing Committees

 

USA Track & Field Masters

 

Proposes that last sentence in section 8 (c) of the Constitution be deleted

 

(22)  Constitution. 8 Standing Committee. 8 (c)

 

      The British Masters Athletic Federation propose

that WMA Council ask the IAAF Medical & Anti-Doping Commission and WADA to draw up a separate and less rigid list of prohibited substances, applicable only in Masters Athletic competition, to allow for prescribed edication for age related conditions in athletes aged 35 years and over.

 

Reason:BMAF feels that master’s athlete particularly in the older age groups, need to have different values in prohibited substances from those of normal athletes, whilst following the same anti-doping principles

 

BYE-LAWS

 

(23)  Proposed Motion Proposal by: Finnish Veterans’ Athletes Association

      and Italian Athletics Federation

By-Laws: 3 Committees

Delete: 3 (3) Anti-Doping and Medical Committee”

 

Current (6) Organisational Advisory Committee will become (3) – see above.

Add:

4. Standing Committee

“Anti-Doping and Medical Board

The Board consists of no more than 5 members, composed as follows:

·         Three members must have medical or pharmaceutical expertise

·         One member must have a legal background

·         One member will be nominated from IAAF’s Medical Committee and shall be appointed chairman.

The members will be appointed to the Board by Council.

 

Responsibilities of the Board:

Finalises draft of WMA’s Anti-Doping Code and put into effect.

Drafts proposals for age-adjusted application of anti-doping rules and advances them for voting to the decision making panel.

Compiles exemption rules for Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

Is responsible for administration of doping controls at all world championships in accordance with WADA and IAAF “Procedural Guidelines for Doping Control”.

Grants expert technical support to WMA Regional Associations, also responsible to Masters on general educational issues in doping matters.

Reports to Council and the Law and Legislation Committee about all doping matters generally and specifically.

Also responsible for all medical matters including sex determination.”

 

Current 4. and 5. will become 5. and 6.

 

     

 

 

RULES OF COMPETITION

 

(24)  Proposal by: Finnish Veterans’ Athletes Association                and Italian Athletics Federation

 

      Rules of Competition. 2, adds new paragraphs

Anti-Doping Control:

Anti-Doping testing of competitors may be conducted at any time including at WMA Stadia, Indoor and Non-Stadia World Championships and shall be performed during Stadia, Indoor and Non-Stadia events.

 

  (2a)Anti-Doping Tests are obligatory during every WMA World Championship. Each LOC accepts this procedure under the rules of the IAAF and WADA.

 

  (2b)The number of tests corresponds to the number of entries (= registered athletes) and should not be less than 1,0%

 

  (2c)Affiliates of WMA accept (obligatorily) the drug testing procedure during their regional championships.

 

  (2d)Affiliates of WMA also accept corresponding to the number of entries (= registered athletes) a percentage of these tests not be less than 0,5%

 

(25)  The Competition: 10. Steeplechase 

Proposed by the Royal Spanish Athletic Federation (RSAF) (25-28)

           

      RSAF Proposes that the height of the Steeplechase

Barriers for the M50-M55 be reduced from .914M

to.762M.

 

Reason:

All events for men 45-to 50 have changes, except the steeplechase, the heights are adjusted in the 60mh, 100mh, 400mh, there are adjustments in the throwing events, and this proposal gives some equality

 

(26)  The RSAF proposes that Men 60+ and Women 60+ do not compete in Steeplechase events.

 

Reason: In realization of the difficulty in jumping the barriers and water jump

 

(27) Should (26) not be adopted. The RSAF proposes that the Men 60+ and Women 60+ do not include the water jump in the steeplechase.

 

 

 

(28)  The RSAF proposes that the Women 35-40-45 distances of the steeplechase be increased from 2000 meters

to 3000 meters.

 

(29)  Proposed by British Masters Athletics Federation

Rules of Competition I.

BMAF proposes that WMA Championships Indoors, and Non Stadia (when re-instated) shall be organised every 4 years starting from 2008 after Clermond Ferand), and be held in the quadrennial even numbered year

 

Reasons:

We feel that there are too many championships and in particular that they are generally in Europe and with costs getting to highs for athletes to attend these and other championships, thus making entries less and more difficult to get organizer for championships.

.

(30)  Rules of Competition. 5. Entries

      Proposed by British Masters Athletics Federation

 

    1) Present paragraph     

Entries to all WMA World Championships may be submitted either through their national WMA Affiliate or electronically (E-mail) directly to the Organizing Committee. An entry received electronically (E-mail) by the Organizing Committee must be validated by the entrant’s WMA Affiliate. Each such Affiliate and the Host Organizing Committee shall inform the WMA Secretary of its method of validating entries

 

be changed to:

Entries to all WMA World Championships will be submitted through the  national WMA Affiliate electronically (E- mail) directly to the Organizing Committee or by mail, Entries received electronically (E-mail) by the Organizing Committee must be validated by the WMA Affiliate with the “hard” copies. Each such Affiliate and the Host Organizing Committee shall inform the WMA Secretary of its method of validating entries.

 

Reason:

Athletes entering directly to an LOC create considerable problems to Affiliates who have to validate these entries, and many affiliates do not have full time persons to cope with athletes entering themselves.

 

(31)  Rules of Competition. 5 New paragraph.

Proposed by British Masters Athletics Federation

 

BMAF proposes that for all Championships WMA the LOC uses a specific compatible computer program for entries, where necessary affiliates may be supplied with the database for ease of entry, or any program used shall be compatible to accept the major affiliate’s entries electronically. 

           

Reason:

We all welcome the affiliates sending electronic entries; all LOC’s have different computer systems. And particularly for affiliates that have their athletes already on a database, it is time consuming to  have to try and use a different system for each championship, when they can easily send to the LOC their database in use

 

(32)  Proposal by: Finnish Veterans’ Athletes Association

Rules of Competition: Championships

 

In the schedule of World Stadia Championships there should be only one (1) rest day

 

(33)  The Competition: Field Events

Proposed by Australia Masters Association

 

That the weight of the W70+ shot and hammer be reduced from 3 kg to 2 kg

 

      Reason:

Women only have one weight reduction and this occurs at 50 years. Men have a reduction of weight at 50, 60 70 and 80. It is unfair to expect women to use the same implement whether they 50 or 90.

           

(34)  The Competition: Field Events

Proposed by Australia Masters Association

 

That the weight of the W70+ discus be reduced from 1 kg to 0.75kg.

      (Currently only the W80+ throw the 0.75kg discus.)

 

      Reason:

Throwing records show that there is a major drop off of throwing ability in the women’s seventies age group. Men have a discus weight reduction at 50 and again at 60 years. Yet women currently use the same weighted discus whether they are 40, 50, 60 or 70.

                 

(35)  The Competition: Field Events

Proposed by Australia Masters Association

 

Rules of Competition: That the heavy weight for W70+ be reduced from 5.45 kg to 4 kg.

 

      Reason:

The heavy weight is about twice the weight of the shot that is used within any age group. This reduction will allow this pattern to continue. The men have their heavy weight reduced at this age.

           

(36)  Rules of Competition: Combined Event Competitions 4-5

That the name of the ‘weight pentathlon’  be changed to the ‘throws pentathlon.’

 

Reason: This is a more appropriate name and it will avoid confusion with the weight throwing event.

           

(37)  The Competition: Running and Walking Events

Proposed by Australia Masters Association

 

That for the setting of World Records for track and road Walk events, a minimum of 6 nationally accredited judges be required with at least 1 judge at the highest grading for a National Technical Official.  This judge to be the equivalent of at least a Level 1 IAAF Technical Official.

 

Reason: 

European masters competition has the ability to engage 6 IAAF international walk judges at walk events where world records/best performances may be set.   Because of the distance factor and sparse population of many WMA affiliates, it is not practical nor economical to comply with this rule.  By setting a standard which could be met by these Affiliates, the validity of world record claims would then be justified.

 

(38)  The Competition: Running and Walking Events

      Proposed by British Masters Athletics Federation

 

For Road and Track Walks, judges be instructed to use discretion in applying the rules regarding to “straight knees” at contact, for masters.

 

Reason:

Many masters particularly in the older age groups have difficulties in fully straightening the knee, thought their legs are still “braced” and this should not class as a disqualification

 

(39)  Rules of Competition: 9 Hurdle Races

Proposed by Australia Masters Association (39-48)

     

LONG HURDLES

 

That the M75+ long hurdles be reduced to being a 200m hurdle event with 5 hurdles. (Currently the M75+ have a 300m event with 7 hurdles.)

 

Reason: This is a safety issue as most of the falls in the 300m event tend to occur in the final 100m when athletes are fatigued.

                 

(40)  That the W65+ have the 200m hurdles replace the current 300m hurdles.

 

Reason:

Hurdling becomes an increased safety concern with older athletes. By reducing the length of this event, the fatigue level will be reduced yet the event will still offer an adequate challenge.

              

(41)  a) that the M75+ 200m hurdles have a height of 0.686m.

1) That the W65+ 200m hurdles have a height of 0.600m

 

Reason: This is the current long hurdles height for M75+ .The W65+ need the reduced height to increase the safety factor.

 

(42)  That the M55 age group have the 300m hurdles replace the current 400m hurdles.

 

Reason:

A high percentage of hurdlers in this age group struggle to maintain the form they had in the previous age group. This change would encourage more athletes to stay with the event.

 

 

(43)  That the W45 age group have the 300m hurdles replace the current 400m hurdles.

 

Reason:

From youth, women have the 400m hurdles event. Yet on reaching the age of 45, women are expected to maintain the same hurdle height and distance, even though speed and leg spring is declining.

 

(44)  That the W50 and W55 age groups have the 300m hurdle height reduced to 0.686m.

 

Reason:

From youth women have had a hurdle height of 0.762m for this event. It is unreasonable to expect women who are 50-59 to     continue to hurdle the same height. Our master’s men have a reduced hurdle height at 50 years.

 

(45)  That the W60 age group have the 300m hurdle height reduced to 0.600m.

 

Reason:

Long hurdles are normally at a reduced height compared to short hurdles. Yet the W60 have the same hurdle height for both their long and short events.

 

(46)  That the M45 have the 400m hurdle height reduced to 0.840m from the current 0.914m.

 

Reason:

By the mid forties, the loss of spring in the legs has already increased the degree of difficulty of this event. A drop in hurdle height will encourage more athletes to continue hurdling in this age group as well as encourage more athletes to participate.

 

(47)  SHORT HURDLES

     

Age

Group

Race

 

Height

To 1st Hurdle

Between Hurdles

To

 Finish

Number Hurdles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

30-39

100m

.840m

13.0m

8.5m

10.5m

10

40-44

90m

.762m

13.0m

8.0m

13.0m

9

45-49

90m

.762m

13.0m

7.5m

17.0m

9

50-59

80m

.686m

12.0m

7.0m

19.0m

8

60-69

80m

.600m

12.0m

7.0m

19.0m

8

70+

60m

.600m

13.0m

7.0m

12.0m

6

 

(48)  That the following short hurdle specifications be adopted for men.

 

Age

Group

Race

 

Height

To 1st Hurdle

Between Hurdles

To

 Finish

Number Hurdles

Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

30-39

110m

.991m

13.72m

9.14m

14.02m

10

40-54

100m

.914m

13.0m

8.50m

10.5m

10

55-59

90m

.840m

13.0m

8.0m

13.0m

9

60-64

90m

.840m

13.0m

7.5m

17.0m

9

65-74

80m

.762m

12.0m

7.0m

19.0m

8

75 +

60m

.686m

13.0m

7.0m

12.0m

6

 

Reason: These hurdle specifications provide a more gradual adjustment of distance, spacing and height for the aging hurdler. The hurdle specifications remain challenging and provide the opportunity for a hurdler to maintain a three stride pattern.

 

BMAF MEMBERS NOTE. SEE THE REPORT FROM WINSTON THOMAS ALSO ON THE WEBSITE TAKEN FROM 2005-06 (HURDLES INTERNATIONAL MARKINGS AND AUSTRALIAN RECOMMENDATIONS

 

(49)  Proposal by: Finnish Veterans’ Athletes Association

 and Italian Athletics Federation

.   

Men M35-39 Outdoor and Indoor Hurdle Height be

changed from .991m to1,067m

 

Reason:

To respect the purpose of IAAF rule 168.3. Many athletes compete in national and international events in which IAAF Rule is applied with the height of the hurdles of 1.067m.

 

(50)  Proposal by: Finnish Veterans’ Athletes Association

 and Italian Athletics Federation

 

Men 60-69 Outdoor and Indoor Hurdles distance “To 1st hurdle” be changed from 16m to 12m

 

Reason:

To respect the purpose of IAAF rule 168 and table.2.2.-3.1 of the IAAF track and Field facilities manual indicates that the maximum from the start to the first hurdle should not be more then 13.72m. The aim is to restore an homogeneous technical situation for all age groups related to 60 and more.

           

 

(51)  The Veteran Committee, Swedish Athletic Association,

Propose a change in the rules for M60 and M65 60 m hurdles (indoors)

Change the distance to the first hurdle from 16 to 12 m, and the distance from the last hurdle to finish line from 12 to 16 m

 

Present rule

  A         B       C          D         E        F

     M 60+65    84,0    5      16,00    8,00    12,00

 

New rule (proposal)

        A         B       C          D         E        F

     M 60+65    84,0    5      12,00    8,00    16,00

Reason:

We in Sweden are convinced that this change is logical and justified. In all age groups from youth and older, except M60-M65,  the distances to the first hurdle  are 12 - 13,72 m in 60 m hurdles indoor. See down the rules for veterans in all age groups:

 

(52)  Proposed by Canadian Masters Athletic Association     Rules of Competition, section 10, Steeplechase

Amendment to present paragraph 10 (3)

 

Canadian Masters Athletic Association proposes that the present wording of paragraph 10 (3):

“(3) Competitors may hurdle or vault the barriers or step on the top rail in continuous motion but may not climb them. The hands or the feet may touch only the top surface of the barrier and no other part of the body may touch any part of the barriers.” be amended so that it will now read as follows:

“(3) Competitors may hurdle, vault or step on the top of the barriers, and must go over or through the water.  In doing so, competitors shall be disqualified, if they:                         

(a) do not go over any barrier,                

(b) step to one side or the other of the water jump, or

(c) trail a foot or leg below the horizontal plane of the top of any barrier at the instant of clearance.”                                     

 

Reasoning:

We feel that the present Rule imposes an unrealistic standard on athletes, as there may be many circumstances in which an athlete may touch the front or the back of a barrier with a hand, foot or leg.  In addition, we clarify the circumstances under which an athlete may be disqualified, which clarification is adapted from the IAAF Competition Rules, but changed to use the more common term “barriers”, rather than “hurdles”