Rules and Regulations: Athletics

Download a PDF here – LYG_Cross Country_2022_Info_Rules

XCO 1 The London Youth Games Cross Country will be run in accordance with UKA rules.

XCO 1.1 Should any rules listed below contradict those outlined by UKA, these rules will supersede those.

XCO 1.2 It will be at the sole discretion of the event referee as to the application of these rules, and any subsequent decision made as a result will be final.

XCO 2 Age Groups The following age groups and respective minimum/maximum date of births will apply to the London Youth Games Cross Country;

XCO 2.1 Competitors are not permitted to race in an age category for which they are ineligible. No exceptions will be made.

XCO 2.2 It is the responsibility of competitors/parents/team managers/local authority staff to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission, and that they are eligible to compete for their borough under the London Youth Games Games Rules, and in accordance with the age groups outlined for each race.

XCO 2.2.1 Details should be checked by nominated individuals at the time of registration. If a registered competitor has incorrect details e.g. age category, LYG will endeavour to accommodate this correction at registration.

XCO 2.2.1.1 Once the published time of registration closing has passed, any competitors who race in the incorrect age category may be subject to XCO 2.2.2.

XCO 2.2.2 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, they will be disqualified from the competition entirely, and the borough may receive a points penalty as per the Games Rules if that competitor has competed.

XCO 3 Squad Size Boroughs are permitted to enter a maximum of 12 competitors per age category and gender e.g. 12 competitors in U11 Girls, a further 12 in U15 Boys etc.

XCO 3.1 Boroughs are permitted to bring all 12 competitors entered in each age category and gender to the event on the day.

XCO 4 Distances The following distances will apply for each respective age category and gender;

XCO 5 Clothing and footwear Competitors should wear appropriate attire and footwear, suitable for the terrain and conditions the competition will be run on/in. The terrain is largely grassland, with areas of uneven ground and potentially slippery conditions, and therefore spikes are advised, but not compulsory. All competitors should be aware that other competitors may be wearing spikes.

XCO 6 Timing and Numbers All competitors will be provided with a timing chip, and race number/bib.

XCO 6.1 Race numbers/bibs must be secured to the front of a competitors clothing, below the chest and above the waist area. This must be secured on all four corners – any competitors without fully secured numbers/bibs may be prevented from competing.

XCO 6.2 Timing chips must be securely fastened to a competitor’s ankle, ensuring the strap passes through the slot provided. Timing chips worn elsewhere on a competitor’s body may result in a void/incomplete result.

XCO 6.2.1 In the instance a competitor completes the race, but a time is not registered due to an incorrectly worn timing chip, it will be at the discretion of LYG whether a result can be recorded.

XCO 6.2.2 In the instance a competitor’s timing chip is lost during the competition, LYG and its timing supplier will use video footage of the finish to estimate a time for that competitor. No external evidence will be considered.

XCO 6.3 Where a competitor competes with the incorrect timing chip and race number/bib, they may be subject to disqualification under the Games Rules.

XCO 6.4 Timing chips must be returned before departing the finishing area. Any individuals who fail to return their timing chip may risk a £5.00 fine. Competitors may keep their race number/bib.

XCO 6 Start Line and Route The route for each age category and gender will be provided in advance of the day. It is the responsibility of competitors/parents/team managers/local authority staff to familiarise themselves with this route.

XCO 6.1 Runners must assemble in the starting area 10 minutes prior to the advertised time of their race. There will not be any seeding, and competitors must listen to start line marshals in terms of their positioning in this area/start line.

XCO 6.1.1 Competitors should remain in warm clothing until a minimum of 5 minutes prior to their race.

XCO 6.2 Runners must follow the directions of course marshals and course signage. Any runners who are deemed by the event referee to not have completed the course will be disqualified.

XCO 7 Scoring Overall borough results will be split by gender. All races are eligible to contribute to a borough’s overall score for the event in each gender, but only the best three will be combined out of the four eligible races in each gender.

XCO 7.1 The positions of a borough’s first three finishers in each race are combined to create a score e.g. 3^rd, 7^th & 11^th would provide a score of 21 (3 + 7 + 11). The lowest scores will be ranked first, and the largest scores ranked last.

XCO 7.1.1 In the instance a borough does not have three competitors in a certain race, the positions of the competitor/s will be added to the equivalent of the position that comes after the final competitor in that race. Examples below;

• A race has 56 competitors take part on the day, and a borough has two runners.
• These runners place 5^th & 34^th
• The borough score would be calculated as follows: 5 + 34 + 57 = 96
• If this borough only had one competitor who placed 5^th it would be calculated as follows: 5 + 57 + 57 = 119.

XCO 7.1.2 In the instance two or more boroughs accumulate a score that is equal, their next best finisher will determine their ranking e.g. if two boroughs are both on 21 points, and the next best runners placed 23^rd & 28^th respectively, the borough with the 23^rd placed finisher will be awarded the higher ranking.

XCO 7.2 The scores for each race will be awarded points based on their ranking in line with LYG Jubilee Points e.g. 1^st = 50 points, 2^nd = 46 points etc.

XCO 7.3 The highest number of points accumulated across the borough’s three best races will be deemed the winners for that gender.

XCO 7.4 In the event two or more boroughs are tied on points for 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd overall borough positions, the borough with the higher points for the fourth race will determine the result.

XCO 7.4.1 If the boroughs are still tied, the total score of the 4^th best position across the original three races shall be used, and so on until a result is determined.

XCO 7.4.2 If there is a tie for any positions from 4^th position downward, there will be no separation and both boroughs will be awarded the respective Jubilee points.

XCO 8 Medals & Trophies Medals and trophies will be awarded as follows;

XCO 8.1 Individuals who place 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in their respective race will be awarded medals

XCO 8.2 As per XCO 7.1, the three (or less) individuals who contribute to a boroughs race result will also receive a medal if their borough ranks 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in that race.

XCO 8.3 As per XCO 7.3, a trophy will be awarded to the borough who accumulates the highest number of points across their best three races in each gender. Medals will be awarded to all competitors who represented their borough.

Download a PDF here – LYG23_Athletics_ Info_Rules_v2

ATH 1 The London Youth Games Athletics competition will run under UKA rules.

ATH 1.1 Should any rules listed below contradict those outlined by the UKA, these rules will supersede those.

ATH 1.2 It will be at the sole discretion of the Competition Director as to the application of these rules, and any subsequent decision made as a result will be final.

ATH 1.3 The Tournament Organisers reserve the rights to alter or amend the playing schedule if necessary and make decisions on any matters arising during the tournament, including any matters not covered by the tournament regulations.

ATH 2 Age Category

ATH 2.1 The following age groups and respective maximum and minimum date of births will apply to the London Youth Games Athletics Competition:

ATH 2.3 Competitors are not permitted to enter this competition if they are ineligible. No exceptions will be made.

ATH 2.4 It is the responsibility of competitors/parents/team managers/local authority staff to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission, and that they are eligible to compete for their borough under the London Youth Games Games Rules, and in accordance with the age groups outlined for the competition.

ATH 2.4.1 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, they will be disqualified from the competition entirely, and the borough will receive a points penalty as per the Games Rules.

ATH 2.5 Para Category Eligibility Criteria: The competition is for athletes in physical group B and C. Group B athletes have poor strength or control of limbs but are able to propel a manual wheelchair. Some Group B athletes can walk but can never run functionally. The Group B athletes can throw a ball but demonstrates poor grasp and release. Group B athletes have moderately to greatly reduced function in one or both lower limbs, and moderately to greatly reduced function in both upper limbs, so that they can self-propel their manual chair with difficulty. Group C athletes can propel themselves in a wheelchair and may be able to walk with assistance or assistive devices. They may have a good grasp but have poor finger dexterity when releasing implements. Group C have moderately to greatly reduced function in one or both lower limbs but have minimal or no reduction in function in both upper limbs so that they can self-propel their manual chair with ease.  Manual Chair users may use a racing chair which is NOT indication of disability, these athletes are training or competing regularly and have access to a racing chair.  

ATH 3 Squad Size Boroughs are permitted to enter a minimum of 1 competitor and a maximum of 16 competitors.

ATH 3.1 Teams can only select one competitor per event per gender on the day e.g., only one individual per gender can compete in 100m. Please indicate each athlete’s event on the squad submission sheet prior to the day.

ATH 3.2 Each borough must bring 1 helper aged 18 or over across all competitions.

ATH 4 Kit & Equipment Competitors can wear running spikes.

ATH 5 Competition Format Track and field events

ATH 5.1 Field events – best performance

ATH 5.2 Track events – heats and finals (800m and 1500m run as time trials)

ATH 5.3 The Para Category will be non-scoring.

ATH 6 Competition Rules

ATH 6.1 Each athlete is limited to one track event, one field event and one relay event. Boroughs may only enter one athlete per borough per event per gender.

ATH 6.2 Track events include: 100m, 200m, 800m and 1500m.

ATH 6.3 Field events include: high jump (3 consecutive failures and out), long jump (3 attempts), 3kg shot put (3 attempts) and 400g Javelin (3 attempts).

ATH 6.4 Para Category events include: 100m, 200m, Shot Put and 400g Javelin.

ATH 6.4.1 The weight for shot put will depend on the athlete’s age.

ATH 6.5 Relay events includes 4×100 metres.

ATH 6.6 100 metres and 200 metres A and B final

 ATH 6.6.1 Winner of each heat and next fastest qualify to A final (total of 8 competitors).

ATH 6.6.2 The next fastest 8 times qualify for B final (medals are not awarded). The points will be calculated in the positions of the finals and then placings from the 17^th best downwards (those not in the final) will be calculated on time only.

ATH 6.6.3 If an athlete drops out of a final, they will be awarded points for the last place of that race (for example – 8^th place in 100m).

ATH 6.6.3.1 In the event there is a withdrawal, the next fastest runner will be offered this place in the final.

ATH 6.7 Seeding:

ATH 6.7.1 The lane draws for the A and B final in the 100m and 200m will be seeded in the following, lanes 3, 4,5,6 – 4 fastest qualifying times and drawn randomly in what is known as preferred lanes.

ATH 6.7.2 Lanes 1,2,7,8 – 4 slower qualifying times and drawn randomly.

ATH 6.8 Time trials only for 800m and 1500m.

ATH 6.9 Heats drawn at random prior to the day (and subject to any withdrawals changes).

ATH 7 Overall Scoring Each team is allocated points for each event (1^st = 33 points, 2^nd = 32 points etc) and their total will decide the winning team per gender. The Para Category will be non-scoring.

ATH 7.1 Incomplete competition: if the competition is cancelled or suspended, results from all completed events are combined and used to identify the overall winner.

ATH 7.1.1 As a minimum requirement, a completed event must have all heats/attempts completed. To determine a result for the competition 3 event must be completed.

ATH 7.1.2 Tied teams will not be separated once scores from events are combined, except if the top 3 teams have the same number of points, then the highest number of first place event finishers will be the deciding factor, then second place event finishers and so on.

ATH 7.1.3 If a borough has entered the competition but not an event that is used in the scoring calculations, they will be placed one lower than the last position.

ATH 8 Medals & Trophies Medals and trophies will be awarded as follows:

ATH 8.1 Overall Borough medals will be awarded to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd placed teams per gender.

ATH 8.2 Medals awarded for individual track (A Finals) and field events and relays.

ATH 8.3 Borough trophy is awarded for the overall winner for each gender.

Coming soon