Athletics relay race. Relay running: technique, types and standards. Receiving the stick and finishing

History of relay racing

Relay race- a name borrowed from the Italian language, where the word “ staffa" means "stirrup". It is easy to understand that in earlier times, in order to deliver reports in the fastest way, messengers had to change horses, jumping from “stirrup to stirrup” - this made it possible to maintain the maximum speed of movement.

Relay race how athletics competition began to be cultivated in the 19th century. For the first time, relay racing was included in the program of the Games of the IV Olympiad (London, 1908). At these competitions, the relay race included various distances - 200+200+400+800 m. At the next Olympic Games (Stockholm, 1912), athletes competed for medals in two classic relay races - 4x100 and 4x400 m. The winners were, respectively, the British teams (42.4 s) and the USA (3.16.6 s). Subsequently, gold medals in the relay race at the Olympic Games were usually won by American athletes. Soviet runners also performed successfully in the relay. At the 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1972 Olympic Games. they were silver medalists in the 4x100 m relay, at the Moscow Olympics (1980) - winners in both relays, and in Seoul (1988) they became champions in the 4 x 100 m relay. In recent years, traditions have been lost, and our athletes do not achieve significant victories.

The 4x100m relay for women was first held at the Olympic Games in 1928, and 4x400m began to be included in the programs of major competitions in 1969. Our runners in the 4x100m relay have repeatedly become prize-winners of the World Championships and Olympic Games. In 1993, the Russian national team took first place at the World Championships in Stuttgart (Germany), and at the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) our girls sensationally won gold medals (42.31 s).

Our athletes perform even more successfully in the 4x400 m relay, which was first held at the 1972 Olympic Games. Soviet athletes won in this relay distance at the 1980 and 1988 Games. and the 1991 World Championships, and Russian runners won the 1999 and 2005 World Championships. The world record set by our athletes at this distance (3:15.17 s, Seoul) remains unsurpassed for more than 25 years.

At the Olympic Games in London (2012), a team of runners from Jamaica won the men's 4x100 m relay with a new world record (36.84 s). The United States was first in the men's and women's 4x400m relays. Our women's team came second, and the men's team came fifth.

Relay running technique

Relay running technique: A - holding the relay baton at the start; B - starting positions of the runners taking the relay; B - moment of handing over the baton; D - passing the baton: 1) receiving the relay “from top to bottom”; 2) taking the relay “bottom-up”

Relay running is a team event in which each participant runs his assigned stage, and the result and place of the team are determined by the time shown by all participants. In relay racing, victory in the competition depends on the ability of each team member to combine high running speed and passing the baton with the least amount of time. Classic relay races - 4x100m and 4x 400m - are held on a track for both men and women. At these distances, Olympic medals are played out and world records are registered. Along with the relay race along the stadium track, relay competitions are held along the city streets with stages of different lengths.

The most difficult technique is passing the baton in the 4x100 m relay race, where athletes run along their lanes at maximum speed. Since all team members, except the first one, begin running their stages on the move, and the distance between the runners during the transfer is 1-1.3 m (due to the length of the runner’s arm drawn back, receiving the stick, and the length of the arm extended forward, passing it on) , then the team’s result is better than the sum of the personal results of the team members in the 100 m race from the start. The greater this difference, the higher the transfer technique. Passing the baton when running other distances is not difficult, because accepted at low speed or even from a standstill.

A 20-meter zone (handover zone) is established for the handover of the relay. The person taking the relay has the right to start the run-up 10 m before the start of this zone (acceleration zone), which allows him to achieve a higher speed. There are two options for carrying a stick: a) with shifting- in this case, participants at all stages pass the stick from their right hand to their left, and while running at a stage they immediately transfer it from one hand to the other; b) without shifting- when the runner carries and passes the baton with the hand in which he received the baton. The following method of carrying a baton is considered the most perfect and effective in the 4 x 100 m relay race: the athlete running in the first stage holds the baton in his right hand and passes it to the second runner in his left hand; the second runner passes to the third from left to right, and, finally, the third to the fourth again from right to left. Thus, on a bend (stages 1 and 3), it is more advisable for the athlete to run closer to the inside and carry the stick in his right hand, and in a straight line (stages 2 and 4) to hold the stick in his left hand and, when running in the transfer zone, stick to the outer edge of the track, to give space to the passer running closer to the edge.

Regardless of the option of carrying the baton, there are two ways to pass the baton: a) “top-down”, when the surface of the receiver’s palm is directed upward; b) “bottom-up”, when the index finger of the receiving hand is directed downward. The first method is faster, but less reliable. It allows you to immediately grab the stick by the edge and not move it while running, but it is easy to lose the stick during the transfer process. The second method of transfer allows you to reliably grab the stick by the middle, but towards the end of the stage it becomes necessary to move the stick a little forward with your fingers for a better subsequent transfer.

Thus, in training novice athletes, where the factors of simplicity and reliability of passing the baton are most important, the “bottom-up” passing method should be practiced. In addition, this passing technique is more natural, since the upward movement of the hand does not disturb the running rhythm.

In order to pass the baton in the transfer zone at maximum speed, it is important to accurately, during training, calculate the moment the receiver begins to run, i.e. find the distance (handicap) to which the receiver will allow the transmitter to approach him before he begins the starting acceleration. This distance is selected for each pair of runners of adjacent stages through repeated runs and, depending on the ratio of the speed of the receiver and the sender, can be from 6 to 11 m, for which a clearly visible control mark is made on the track.

The participant of the first stage starts running from a low start and holds the stick in his right hand, squeezing it with two or three fingers. Runners of the remaining stages stand at the beginning of the acceleration zone in a high start position with support on their hand, while their head and torso turn to the side so that the control mark for the start of the run is clearly visible.

When the person passing the baton steps on the control mark, the receiver immediately begins the starting acceleration on the corresponding side of his track, trying to develop the highest possible speed. The distance to the mark should be such that the transmitter can catch up with the receiver exactly at the place of the intended transfer of the stick, 3-4 m before the end of the transfer zone. As soon as the runner approaches the receiver at arm's length, he gives the command: “Hop!” At this command, the receiver, without looking back, without slowing down or breaking the rhythm of running, quickly extends his hand back with an open palm and his thumb pointed towards the thigh. The transmitter must, upon seeing his partner’s outstretched hand and taking a running step, try to accurately place the baton in his palm. In addition, the athlete, having passed the baton, must continue to run along his lane and, according to the rules of the competition, leave it only when all teams have completed passing the baton.

A mistake that is often made by the receiver is searching for the stick with his hand. At the transmitter’s command, you should extend your hand back and hold it clearly, without any movements.

Coherence in passing the baton at maximum speed plays a decisive role in achieving high athletic results in relay races. Therefore, in the targeted training of sprinters in this athletics discipline, the most important place is given to improving technical techniques in a limited transmission zone, ensuring reliable performances.

With an ideal pass, the relay participants run in step at the same speed, without disturbing the rhythm of arm movements, i.e. without taking a single step with your arm outstretched. When passing, the receiver must clearly fix his hand behind the body, and the transmitter must accurately place the baton in the open palm of the receiver.

To determine the technical skill of athletes, both when performing individual passes and in relay running as a whole, there is an evaluation criterion unique to this type of running program. Most experts agree on two ways to assess technical proficiency.

First way characterized by the fact that the result shown in the 4x100 m race is subtracted from the sum of the 100 m running time of all participants in the relay team at these competitions. Most experts agree that with an effective transfer technique, the result in the relay race can be 2.50-2 .70 s is better than the sum of the results in the 100 m race shown by each of the relay participants.

Second way Assessment of technical skill in relay racing involves taking into account the time the baton is in the 20-meter zone, which shows the effectiveness of the interaction of runners during the transfer. The criterion for a high score here is the time when the baton was from the beginning of its “entry” with the runner passing the baton to the “exit” with the receiver, equal to 1.80-1.90 s for men and 1.90-2.00 s for women.

It is known that in the 30-meter run-up and handover zone of the relay, not a single runner can reach his maximum speed. It is achieved at longer distances - 40-50 and even 60-70 m. In addition, the speed of the runner passing the baton noticeably decreases towards the end of the distance. And this speed ratio should be primarily taken into account when selecting a pair of athletes at adjacent stages. In addition, taking into account the run-up (10 m) and transfer zones (20 m), athletes run a maximum of 110 m in the first stage, 130 in the second and third, and 120 m in the fourth. Therefore, when arranging the relay team participants in stages, it is necessary to take into account their individual features (motor reaction time, ability for maximum acceleration, level of maximum speed, special endurance, ability to run around a turn, etc.).

The sequence of solving problems when teaching relay running techniques and their methodological orientation

Task 1. To introduce relay running and create an understanding among those involved in the technique of passing the relay

Task 2. Teach the technique of passing and receiving the baton on the spot and at low speed

Means used	Guidelines
a) Passing the baton with the right and left hands on the spot at the teacher’s signal	Form the group in two lines (the distance between the lines is 1.5 m). The person passing the baton is shifted half a step in the opposite direction from the hand holding the baton. At the teacher’s command, students change roles, turning in a circle
b) The same, but according to the transmitting signal	Perform in pairs, changing after each pass (the sender comes forward). Make sure that the receiver does not turn his head to control the position of his hand and does not move it during the pass.
c) The same, with preliminary imitation of hand movements when running	Hand movements are performed freely with a large amplitude, the transmission is carried out at the command of the transmitter. Make sure that the arm extension with the relay is carried out after the command “Hop!”, and not simultaneously
d) Passing the stick while walking and running slowly at the teacher’s signal	Perform in pairs, change after each execution (the sender overtakes the receiver). Pay attention to the fact that the transmitter is shifted to the side in relation to the receiver
e) Passing the baton while running slowly in a column, one at a time, at the signal of the transmitter	The latter overtakes the column and becomes the guide. Pay attention to moving in step and maintaining distance between participants

Task 3. Teach the starting technique to the runner taking the baton

Means used	Guidelines
a) A story about the technique of starting with support on one hand and its demonstration	Use posters, photographs, films, video shows. Focus on the position of the starter’s head
b) Start from a position with support on one hand on a straight line	The starters, turning their heads back, follow the teacher, who, being at a distance of 7-10 m behind the starters, gives a signal to start running with a flag
c) The same, on the turn before entering the straight line and when entering the turn	The starters take a starting position closer to the outer edge of the track. Pay attention to the rapid increase in speed, arm work and body position
d) Start on a separate track at the moment the transmitter reaches the control mark	Perform in pairs, run not at full strength, without looking back

Task 4. Teach passing the baton at maximum speed

Means used	Guidelines
a) Determination of the distance from the beginning of the transfer zone to the control mark when running in “bundles” in pairs at various speeds	This distance is individual for each pair and is clarified through repeated runs.
b) Passing the baton at maximum speed without taking into account the transfer zone	Pay attention to the matching speeds of partners, consistency in transmission and reception
c) Passing the baton at maximum speed, taking into account the transfer zone	Make individual corrections depending on the location of the stick transfer. Try to pass the baton 3-4 m before the end of the transfer zone, without reducing speed
d) Passing the baton at maximum speed, taking into account the transmission area and the degree of fatigue of the transmitter	The transmitter runs his entire leg, and the receiver, after receiving the relay, runs at least 30-40 m at full strength

Task 5. Teach relay running technique in general

Means used	Guidelines
a) Arrangement of runners according to the stages of the 4 x 100 m relay race, taking into account their individual qualities	When compiling a team, it should be taken into account that the maximum runner in the first stage runs 110 m, in the second and third - 130 m, and in the fourth - 120 m. At the first stage, a runner should be placed who has a good command of the low start technique and can run quickly around a turn, II and III - the most enduring, and the latter - the fastest in the 100 m running
b) Transfer of the baton by each pair of runners at maximum speed in their zone	The time the stick “stays” in the transmission zone is recorded
c) Clarification of the distance to the control mark taking into account external conditions	Make adjustments to the location of the control mark depending on the condition of the track, headwind and tailwind
d) Team run “for results”	Pay attention to the synchronization of the baton transfer at the end of the transfer zone

Technical requirements for performing athletics events (propulsion systems)

Be able to correctly hold and pass (from below and from above) the baton in place and in motion.

Be able to perform a one-handed start and starting acceleration when entering a turn and entering a straight line.
Be able to pass the baton in the last third of the 20-meter zone accurately and consistently at maximum running speed (without turning your head at the moment of passing).
Be able to determine the control mark, and the receiver to begin running the moment the sender reaches the control mark. The baton must be passed on without loss of speed.

Exercises for independent mastery of rational technique

Standing at a distance of 1.5 m from each other (the right hand of the transmitter is opposite the left hand of the receiver), passing the baton from below and from above without a command.
The same, but the movement of the arms is like when running. The baton is passed at the command of the athlete standing behind from the right hand to the left, then from the left to the right. The pace gradually increases.
Passing and receiving the baton while walking and running slowly. Pay attention to moving in step and maintaining distance between athletes.
Starting from a position with support on one hand on a straight line, the same before entering the straight line and entering a turn. Starts at the moment the transmitter reaches the control mark.
Passing and receiving the relay baton while running at maximum speed, the same in the passing zone. After receiving the relay, the recipient runs at least 30-40 m at full strength.
Clarification of the distance from the beginning of the transfer zone to the control mark when running in “bundles” in pairs at various speeds.
Passing and receiving the baton at one of the stages of the relay race according to all the rules at maximum speed. The same at the other stages.

Typical mistakes that occur when teaching athletics exercises and how to correct them

Errors	Remedy
1. Having heard the command, the receiver turns his head to control the reception of the relay	Look only forward, imitate the movements of the receiver under the control of a comrade
2. The transmitter runs with a stick in his outstretched hand	Extend your hand only after you are confident that the recipient is ready to take the baton. Give the “Hop” command when approaching 1-1.3 m
3. The person receiving the baton does not fix the hand lowered to receive it, and the person passing the baton does not accurately place the baton in the partner’s hand.	Fix your arm in the shoulder joint. Improve visual control of the relay passing. Simulate a pass on the spot or while running slowly
4. During the transfer, the athlete ran to another track	Conduct more training in stadium conditions, using standard “corridor” markings
5. By the time the baton is handed over, the participants are running out of step	Clarify the control mark, do several runs in pairs without a relay baton

The relay race is very popular among spectators. In athletics, the following types of relay running are distinguished:

relay race held at the stadium. These include: 4x100 m, 4x400 m - these are classic types;

relay races at any distance and with any number of stages, as well as “Swedish” relay races, for example: 800 + 400 + 200 + 100 (or in reverse order);

relay races held outside the stadium, for example on city streets. They differ in the length and number of stages, and the participants (only men can run, or mixed, where both men and women run).

Rational technique, special training method, systemtopic of athlete selection and psychological preparation- all of these are the main criteria for creating a good relay team. The distance running technique in relay races does not differ from the running technique of the corresponding events. A special feature of the relay running technique is the technique of passing the baton at high speed in accordance with the type of relay.

The most important factors in the performance of a relay team are:

indicators of individual results of athletes at relevant distances;

reliability of passing the baton;

coordination of team partners' actions;

integrity of a single team.

In accordance with the competition rules in the relay race, the baton must be passed in a corridor 20 m long. In the 4x 100 m relay, runners of stages II, III and IV are given an additional run-up from the beginning of the corridor within 10 m, which allows them to gain a higher speed to the place where the relay is transferred sticks.

Taking into account the run-up zones and the passing of the baton, athletes run 10 m at the first stage, 130 m at the second stage, 130 m at the third stage, and 120 m at the fourth stage. Therefore, when arranging team members in stages, it is necessary to take into account their individual characteristics.

In the 4 x 400m relay and all other relay races there is no additional run-up and competitors must start within a 20m corridor. The running speed in these relay races is lower and therefore no additional run-up is given.

Relay running can be carried out: 1) without changing the baton; 2) with changing the baton. Usually the first method is used in short relay races, where the transfer occurs at high speeds, the second method is used in all other relay races.

To ensure effective passing, it is important for runners to have sense of space, so that when accepting the relay baton, the starting run begins accurately and in a timely manner (at the moment the transmitter crosses the control mark), and also feeling of speed

growing up, so that when handing over the relay, maintain the maximum available speed in the handover zone, and when receiving the relay, steadily and as quickly as possible increase the running speed to the 15-meter mark of the handover zone.

The criterion for the effectiveness of the baton passing technique is the time it spends in the corridor. For high-class sprinters, this figure averages 1.80-1.90 s for men and 2.05 - 2.15 s for women. Athletes reach their highest running speed at the 15th - 16th meter of the transmission zone. With an irrational technique for passing the baton, the time loss during the stage averages 0.1-0.3 s.

Let's consider the technique of the 4 x 100 m relay race. At the first stage, the runner starts from a low start in a turn, as at the start of 200 m. The relay baton is held with three fingers of the right hand, and the index and thumb are straightened and rest against the track at the starting line (Fig. 34). In order for a stage I runner to run at the edge of the track, he must always hold the baton in his right hand and pass it to his partner in his left hand. Running along the distance is carried out at maximum speed. The difficulty lies in passing the baton in a limited area at high speed.

There are two ways to pass the baton: from bottom to top and from top to bottom. In the first method, the runner receiving the baton moves the hand (opposite to the hand of the passing runner) back slightly to the side, the thumb is moved towards the plane of the palm, four fingers are closed, the palm faces straight back. The passing runner places the baton in an upward motion between the thumb and palm. Feeling the touch of the baton, the receiving runner grabs it, squeezing his hand (Fig. 35).

In the second method, the hand is also moved back slightly to the side, but the plane of the palm faces upward. The passing runner places the baton in a top-down motion, lowering it onto the palm of his hand. When the stick touches the palm, the receiving runner grabs it, squeezing the hand (Fig. 36).

When the runner passing the baton reaches the control mark, the receiving runner begins the starting acceleration. Running into the relay handover zone, both runners come closer, the first catches up with the second, the handover runner must give a brief voice command in 2 running steps so that the receiving runner straightens and moves his arm back to hand over the relay. After you-

After completing the transfer, the runner who has accepted the baton runs quickly along his stage, and the runner who passed the baton, gradually slowing down his run, stops, but does not go beyond the lateral boundaries of his lane. Only after passing through the passing zone by other teams does he leave the track.

The runner of stage II carries the baton in his left hand and will transfer to the runner of stage III in his right hand. At stage III, the runner runs along the bend as close to the edge as possible and passes the baton at stage IV from the right hand to the left hand. The baton is passed on using the methods described above.

In the passing zone, runners must run without interfering with each other, i.e. along the edges of the treadmill depending on the hand performing the transmission (Fig. 37).

With a rational technique for passing the baton, the runner receiving the baton must run and receive the baton without looking back, maintaining high speed. Typically, the runner taking the relay starts either from a high start or from a low start with support on one hand. With a high start, the runner turns his head a little back to see the control mark and the runner running up to it. When starting with support on one ARM, the runner looks back over the shoulder of the non-supporting arm, or, with his head down, looks back under the non-supporting arm (Fig. 38).

A very important element of technique at the moment of transfer is running in the same rhythm, i.e. you have to run in step. It is also important to find the optimal “head start” for starting a run, that is, start running with such a “handicap” length when the speed of the transmitter and receiver coincides in the middle of the transmission zone.

In other types of relay races, but with a speed of passing the baton less than the maximum, the same methods of transmission are used, but the runner who has accepted the baton can transfer it to a convenient hand when running the distance. The lower the speed of the transmission, the worse the athlete’s preparation. The main task when passing the baton is to pass it on as quickly as possible without wasting time on the handover itself.

The distance between the runners at the moment of passing is equal to the length of the backward arm of the runner receiving the baton, and the length of the straightened forward arm of the runner passing the baton. This distance can be increased slightly by leaning forward when passing the passing runner (Fig. 39). Such a distance can only be maintained with a rational technique for passing the baton at an appropriate running speed. If the distance decreases, then the receiving runner may be overtaken by the passing one, and vice versa, if the distance between the runners increases, the pass may not take place or will be performed outside the corridor.

One of the final stages of athletics competitions is the relay race. This exciting spectacle gathers hundreds of excited fans in the stands, and the coaching staff experiences a lot of exciting emotions. Relay racing has a long history. In addition, this competition has a number of rules, stages and features.

The first relay race competitions were held back in the 19th century.. Having earned enormous interest from spectators and becoming massively popular, this sport was soon included in the program of the 1908 Olympic Games. Then the so-called exotic type of relay race - the Swedish style of running - became widely known.

It involved runners covering a distance at irregular intervals: 100-200-400-800 m. As a rule, people who mastered a wide range of running disciplines took part in the competition, ranging from ultra-short to medium.
Later, sprint distances began to gain great popularity and gained widespread sympathy among visiting guests.

The discipline with parameters 4*100 m became the most popular in those days, and soon took first place in the Olympiad program. Then a long sprint competition was added to this distance - 4*400 m, and the exotic Swedish relay lost its status and left the Olympic competition program.

Rules for relay competitions.

The rules for relay running are very similar to the rules for smooth sprinting. The key point in this sport is passing the stick.

It must be awarded within a special 20 m long corridor for the 4*100 m relay.

Rules

At the beginning of the corridor, the athlete begins to accelerate, but already at the exit he must have the coveted pass in his hands. If an athlete receives outside the corridor, such an action is not counted.
As they move along the corridor, athletes must not interfere with other competitors. Moreover, if the process of handing over the baton is disrupted, for example as a result of it falling, then the participants do not bear any responsibility for this.

Although losing a stick is a gross violation of the rules, some athletes still pick it up. According to statistics, judges more often do not count the victory of such participants. But in sports competitions of this kind, this maneuver is not prohibited.

Types and distances

To the programs of the largest athletics competitions: the Olympic Games, world championships and continental championships, Two main types of relay distances are included:

4*100 m.
4*400 m.

Due to the busy schedule and incredible fatigue of the runners, other types of relay distances are excluded from the mandatory program.

But worldwide the athletics federation recorded records in the disciplines 4*200 m, 4*800 m and 4*1500 m.

Professional hurdlers compete in the 4*110m hurdles relay, but this competitive event is not so popular among professionals and is used only in the program of major tournaments.
Today, mixed relay races are gaining the most popularity. In this discipline, both men and women compete simultaneously.

Reference Information! The popularity of this type has affected the ranks and athletics, where mixed relay races 4*100 m and 4*400 m began to be held more and more often.

Stages

There are four stages of the relay race:

Starting. The athlete starts from a low start. At the same time, he holds a baton in his right hand, squeezing its end with two or three fingers. The index finger and thumb rest on the ground of the outlined starting line.
Basic. The difficulty of this stage lies in strict adherence to the rule of passing the baton within the designated corridor at the maximum speed of one’s running.
Transmission. In the third stage, the athlete must take over the baton with his right hand and run as close as possible to the right edge of the track.
Final. The runner must run along the outside of the marked path and take the baton with his left hand.

Peculiarities

Relay running in athletics is very popular and attractive for its dynamism , therefore, it is customary to postpone it until the last days of the competition. The prestige of this competitive relay race also lies in the fact that in the end a team of the strongest runners in a given distance is identified.

The peculiarities of relay running are that trainers allow their players a convenient option for the baton passing technique.

The athlete has the right, at his own discretion, to choose a serve from the hand that is more acceptable to him at the moment.

In this case, the wand may remain in the hand in which it was passed. But this is convenient, as a rule, for short running distances, and is explained by the loss of time when changing receiving and serving hands.

Important! The start of acceleration is an important moment in this sport. The athlete needs to clearly work out the technique of starting his run in order to achieve the highest results and score the maximum number of jury points.

The speed of passing the baton is also a very important process that requires enormous skills. In order for the relay transfer to take place without failure, it is necessary to maintain the same speed limit for the passing runners, especially this speed should be equal in the corridor.
Coaches must always adhere to the following points:

for competitions, select the strongest and most resilient athletes in this type of distance;
organize clear coordination of all participants;
develop athletes’ ideal baton passing technique;
instill team spirit in all participants;
monitor everyone’s well-being and take the necessary measures to improve the runner’s health.

Errors and their elimination

While running Receiving and transmitting athletes have a number of errors that need to be eliminated:

Attention! Thanks to these skills, the correctness of maneuvers is recorded quite firmly in memory, and the athlete shows impeccable results. It is these runners who achieve success and take first places in competitions.

For athletes, relay running is in some cases the decisive sport in their future career. This is due to the fact that the clarity of maneuvering in this type of variety and the impeccable execution of the rules makes them excellent professionals in their field in the eyes of the judges.

To achieve the highest results, runners train hard. This sport brings a lot of positive emotions to spectators and is remembered for a long time.

Relay race is considered one of the most spectacular. This type of competition is designed to unite the team and raise its sports spirit, while greatly increasing the adrenaline level of the runners. This is exactly how you can describe running with a relay baton.

What is a relay race like?

Anyone who has managed to run a relay race at least once, for example, in physical education classes at school or even at important competitions, will remember the emotions you experienced all life. However, the emotional component in such races can be harmful, so everyone needs to know the method of relay running, as well as its technique. There are the following types of relay running:

Traditional. This type of relay includes distances of 4x100 meters and 4x400 meters. They can be found at any official competitive tournaments. In addition, at amateur competitions or just small races, for example, at school, the distance can be significantly shortened, while setting completely different distances.
Swedish. Another method, which is usually carried out on stadium tracks, is the Swedish relay race. The point of such a relay race is that you need to cover distances with different distances. Most often this distance decreases.
Street. Today, so-called street relay races are increasingly being held. As a rule, they are held in conjunction with some important dates or names, holidays. What the stages will be or their distance should be taken into account by the organizers themselves, according to their idea and, of course, the calculation of the length of the city streets themselves.

How to run a relay race correctly

The entire focus of attention is focused directly on the baton itself.

At relay competitions, the athlete needs to pass it on to an athlete from his team who will run the next leg of the race. If the transmitter loses the stick, he must pick it up without leaving the track.

Stick transfer area in a relay race it is equal to 20 meters. It is limited by special white lines that run from the transverse side of the tracks. The runner who receives the stick has the right to start accelerating ten meters after this zone. During the 4x100 relay, which is one lap around the stadium, athletes must run exclusively within their lanes.

In the 4x400, track and field athletes only need to run the first lap and then the second leg of the relay. However, you cannot switch to other tracks. If such a violation is detected, the team may be completely disqualified.

In addition, by passing the baton, runners cannot provide any assistance or support to other athletes on their team. The athlete who finished the run at my stage, is obliged not to leave his path until others are free.

The transfer of the baton is carried out by taking it from the hands of one athlete to the hands of another. It is important that the team that has completed its distance will be considered the one that managed to carry the relay baton from the very beginning of the race to its finish, while excluding any violations of the rules of this competition.

Relay Technique Rules

Studying relay running technique should begin with the most basic rules, such as correct hand pass, another relay runner. Among the variations of this key action, there are various examples: if the athlete transfers the stick to the hand in which he is more comfortable, or if the stick remains in the hand with which it was originally accepted. The last option is most common in relay races, where athletes develop enough, and unnecessary manipulations with their hands can affect the decrease in pace and lead to the defeat of the entire team.

Passing the stick

In order to ensure that the transfer does not go beyond a certain track, the athlete needs to calculate with extreme accuracy the marks at which the start of the race took place. To practice these skills you will need several intensive training. The presence of a control mark acts as a guide for the second runner when he sees the first one approaching it.

When athletes reach the middle, they need to be within arm's length to make the pass. When will it be announced voice signal transmitting, the one who receives the wand must move the palm back so that it looks at the floor, and the thumb should be adjacent to the thigh. So the transmitter will independently transfer the stick to the hand of his partner.

The crossing of the corridor must be carried out at the same level of speed for both athletes, otherwise one will overtake the other, which will make it difficult to pass the baton. Also, the receiving athlete can run away from his partner when he finds himself behind the limit line.

Qualities of athletes

At the same time, an important aspect remains with the coach - the selection of good team members. In order to be confident in the victory of your team, you need to take into account certain qualities that team members must have.

Many who have been to track and field competitions cannot wait for the relay races. Usually it is appointed on the last day of the competition or the final event of the program. This is the most interesting competition that is worth coming and watching. Usually all the stands roar during the relay.

You can see the enormous tension of the entire coaching staff and fans. The relay race raises team spirit and unites the team that runs it. If you have ever run a relay race at least once in your life, even in physical education classes, then you remember this feeling of adrenaline and exciting emotions. Athletes need to remain calm and composed throughout their entire stage.

What types of relay races are there?

The main relay disciplines are 4x100 meters and 4x400 meters, these are the usual distances at all competitions. At amateur competitions, the organizers themselves can decide which type of relay to choose; it can be 4x60 meters, or there can be stages of 4x800 meters.

There is also a type of relay race called Swedish. It consists in the fact that participants go through stages of different lengths. Usually the distances decrease. There is such a relay called “Swedish”, it consists of such stages as 800+400+200+100 meters.

Many city residents have seen street relay races, which are usually timed to coincide with some holiday. For example, the famous May relay race, held in honor of "May 9". At such competitions, the distances depend on the length of the streets and the creativity of the organizers.

What are the rules of relay running?

The main moment in the relay race is the passing of the baton. If suddenly an athlete loses it, he must pick up the stick and pass it to the next runner. The wand transfer zone is 20 meters. It is usually highlighted with white lines. Competing people can start accelerating 10 meters before this corridor.

At official 4 x 100 meter relay competitions, competitors must run strictly in their own lanes. In the 4 x 400 meter discipline, you need to stick to your lane only for the first lap and 100 meters (the first turn) of the second stage of the relay.

Strict rules must be followed:

You cannot cross into someone else’s lane; if you do not, the entire team is disqualified;
Athletes should never help each other. For example, if the receiving person’s stick falls, then only he can pick it up;
An athlete who has already run the distance cannot leave his lane until everyone else is free.

Relay running technique

Coaches begin to teach relay participants from the basics, i.e., with the technique of passing the baton. There are two options:

During the distance, the athlete can transfer the stick to the hand that is more convenient for him;
The wand remains in the hand in which it was handed over. Typically this type is used in short relay races so as not to lose precious fractions of seconds.

Athletes also need to clearly know the place from which they need to start accelerating. More than one training session takes place to clearly work out this moment.

During the distance, the athlete of the first stage extends his hand already in the middle, and with the help of his voice warns the next one about passing the stick. The other athlete should have his arms back and the position of the hand should be kept like this: the thumb is directed towards the hip, and the whole hand is down. Then the first one will be able to put the wand into the second one’s hand without any problems.

Athletes must also take into account a very important point: transmission speed. It must be kept approximately equal for both transmitters in the baton transmission zone.