The false start rule NEEDS TO BE CHANGED

Especially with those RIDICULOUS false starts in the women's 100 at Adidas.

TK1451 wrote:

Live coverage is necessary for a sport to survive and reach new markets. The false start rule absolutely kills live coverage. It should be one-and-done. High schoolers can go entire careers without false starting because of the one-and-done rule, and I have no reason to suspect that professional sprinters should be more inept than high schoolers. That's not the only change that needs to be made if track ever wants to attract casual viewers to broadcasts, but it's the most obvious at the moment.

with the 'one free one' the rule now; there is almost ALWAYS a false start. It is ridiculous.

All they have to do is have the meet on a 5-10 minute tape delay...at least I won't mind and many others won't notice.

I agree. Perhaps sprinters who dislike the rule should just commit a flagrant false start in every race until the IAAF finally realizes that the rule needs to be changed.

I think a sprinter who is overmatched in a good field will try to bring the field back to them by intentionally false starting. That forces the more talented people in the field to use a safe start on the second try. I think the woman on the outside lane tried that last night in the 100. She actually false started so early on her first try that they didn't even call it. Then she did it again on the next try. Someone had an actually FS on the 3rd try. And it actually worked on Lauryn Williams. Her nerves were probably tight after 3 resets and she got a terrible start and was never in it. Sprinters should have a one and done rule except for at championship events.

the average viewer wrote:

All they have to do is have the meet on a 5-10 minute tape delay...at least I won't mind and many others won't notice.

Except I've seen tons of taped coverage where they actually broadcast the false starts. That is a source of great frustration.

categorically wrote:

Sprinters should have a one and done rule except for at championship events.

Why not championship events? Having a one-and-done rule always would force sprinters to take the starts seriously. If a slower sprinter wants to have a shot at taking down the big guns, he should just train harder. I have never seen a slow sprinter intentionally false start then win his race because the faster guys are nervous. It does not work, and it just slows down the event.

False starts occur for many reasons, many times because of a bad starter! I say remedy the situation by having the starting commands automated(much like drag racing) so that athletes can train at home with the starting commands on the ipods or track PA systems. Every starting command worldwide is on the same timing. Done. No false starts, you are responsible for knowing the commands.

The whole point is its not the same cadence... so it actually takes skill.

ISLANDRUNNERJC wrote:

False starts occur for many reasons, many times because of a bad starter! I say remedy the situation by having the starting commands automated(much like drag racing) so that athletes can train at home with the starting commands on the ipods or track PA systems. Every starting command worldwide is on the same timing. Done. No false starts, you are responsible for knowing the commands.

Intentional false starts are part of the event. Some sprinters make a tactical decision to false start, throwing off their competitors. By watching them, you can analyze the false starts, determine if they were intentional and speculate on the goals the sprinter had when false starting. It is part of the event. It should be broadcast. How would you guys feel when you want to watch a 5k/10k and they cut the first half off, just showing the finish?

The false start rule creates another dimension for the race to function in. The race starts before the gun goes off.

the average viewer wrote:

All they have to do is have the meet on a 5-10 minute tape delay...at least I won't mind and many others won't notice.

Get the meet on delay, cut out the false starts (but still mention that they happened) and we would not be having this discussion.

Laurence Tureaud wrote:

How would you guys feel when you want to watch a 5k/10k and they cut the first half off, just showing the finish?

They already do that you freaken twat.

Track should use instant replay and DQ retro-actively. One start, one race.

durr da durrr wrote:

They already do that you freaken twat.

"ZOMG, Look mom! I spent the whole day in your basement on letsrun looking for a post I could call someone a twat for posting! My life is totally complete! Now I am going to go masturbate to some sweet pics of Matt Tegenkamp...what's for dinner tonight?"

You know what I meant asshat. Sorry the verb form I picked couldn't get you off today.

WHITE guys should get 1 false start , every one else- 1 fs and you are dq . THIS is affirmative action for the athletically challenged. Not sure if LOLO gets a false start.

I agree. They need to change it to include Galen Rupp.

Wow, someone take a shit in your wheaties today? Or was it the sight of me heading out the door in the morning after giving your mom a nice big slobbery kiss?

PS: We did anal...

I taped the meet and watched it this morning. I'm not sure if I have this exactly right (and I've since deleted the tape) but I think they showed four events in the first forty-five minutes: m & w 100s and m & w high hurdles. So that would be, what, less than a full minute of action? That's a hell of a way to help develop interest in our sport. And did I miss it or did the not show the w 1500?

Why don't they put each of the runners in chutes like they do with horse racing and have the door open for everyone at the same time? That would solve the problem with false starts.