It hurts the runners who didn't false start to have to recover and recompose before trying it again.
Swimming uses, or at least used to give one false start to the field and the next was DQed. This is what some are suggesting T&F sprints return to. It resulted in unneeded gamesmanship in swimming. Someone in every race would jump in the pool on "Take your mark" to get it out of the way, unnerve some, and it basically became one false start and you are out.
In my eyes we don't need more of this including the delays. Everyone has the same situation. If you don't want to called out of bounds in basketball, don't step on the line. If you want to race the 100 meters and record a time, don't leave before the gun.
How changing this to a discussion of whether the current rules are good? The rules used to be that one false start was allowed. I don't remember all the changes, but maybe at some point it was one false start per person, then it was first false start charged to the field, then next false starter was out. I didn't like it when the rules were changed to one false start and you're out. I think the justification was that it made the meets move along better and made for better TV viewing and scheduling. But does it really make for better TV? I don't agree with that. The sprints are already really short events, and they already show multiple replays on TV. I liked the old false start rules better.
One and done started in 2010. No real evidence it is better for the sport. If T&F athletes had collective bargaining power, I think this is a rule most of the athletes would push to have changed.
It was one and done in the 70s.
I ran in a meet in U Washington indoors.
It was early in the morning and I hadn't warmed up fully. Our bus had just arrived. The first heat of the 60 ran and I wasn't ready. I'd only had a few minutes to try warm up and get the gear on.
A guy false started, in the second heat and the starter looked over and told me to get in the lane. He was just swapping runners out.
I got two practice starts and a completely new field before we got away
They lost the #1 sprinter in the race and as I’m typing this Zharnell Hughes, the #1 Brit got dqd, would it be better for the fans if they just let them run? even if they don’t count in standings.
or allow 1 false start for field at meet promotors discretion or something? Keep strict false start rule for Championship races.
Allow 1 false start for field in DLs, maybe.
"at meet promotors discretion", good God no. The entire basis of this sport is competition on a level playing field.
(Cue false equivalences with lane draws, seedings, sponsorships etc., all of which are earned and do not materially alter the rules of the sport)
Late to the party, but this is the way I think false starts should be handled.
Let them race BUT BUT BUT, they aren't eligible for any prize winnings. This way the person still gets to "complete" and push the other competitions, but they aren't unfairly disadvantaging anyone else.
Or another option have the athletes agree before a meet what is acceptable and not when it comes to False starts. Let the runners determine what is fair to themselves.
Late to the party, but this is the way I think false starts should be handled.
Let them race BUT BUT BUT, they aren't eligible for any prize winnings. This way the person still gets to "complete" and push the other competitions, but they aren't unfairly disadvantaging anyone else.
Or another option have the athletes agree before a meet what is acceptable and not when it comes to False starts. Let the runners determine what is fair to themselves.
Never let the athletes decide.
There is no way to arbitrate disagreements, especially where money is involved.
ALL of this because people couldn't see Bromell????!!!