RELAY EXCHANGES

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Saved by Adam Szabo
on March 8, 2009 at 8:15:37 am

RULES

The baton must be held the entire race. If the baton is dropped, pick it up and continue the race.

The incoming runner must hand the baton to the outgoing runner. You are not allowed to throw the baton.

The incoming and outgoing runners must stay within their lanes the entire race.

The baton must be exchanged within the exchange zones. Your body does not have to be in the exchange zone but the baton does.

When the race is over, do not drop or throw the baton. Doing either thing will cause a disqualification.

If one athlete is wearing an undershirt or compression shorts, the others do not have to wear them.

If two or more athletes are wearing an undershirt or compression shorts, the others also have to wear them. The under-clothing also needs to match.

RUNNING WITH THE BATON

While holding the baton in the blocks, get in a normal stance.

Squeeze the baton into the crease between the thumb and the index finger. The baton is allowed to go across the line.

When the gun goes off, make a loose fist around the baton.

Keep a loose but solid grip on the baton. Do not squeeze it.

There are many ways to hold a baton. Do what is comfortable for you but also conducive to exchanging the baton.

If you need to adjust the baton, hit the baton against your hip. Do not hit it with your knee because the force will knock it out of your hand.

BLIND EXCHANGES (4x100, 4x200)

SETTING YOUR MARKS

Marks will be set from the little triangle.

The athlete will measure a certain amount of foot lengths away from the little triangle.

For the 4x100, the mark will be 16-20 foot lengths.

For the 4x200, the mark will be 10-14 foot lengths.

Mark will be an estimate and will constantly be adjusted. All athletes should be athletic and recognize changes from the norm.

STARTING POSITION

You will line-up with your back leg right in front of the tip of the small triangle.

If you are lining up on the straight, point your feet forward and stand on the inside of the lane.

If you are lining up on the curve, point your feet on the angle of the curve and stand on the inside of the lane.

EXCHANGING THE BATON

The baton should always stay in the middle of the track so no one has to reach across their body. A person receiving the baton with their right hand should be a little bit to the inside of the lane. A person receiving the baton with their left hand should be a little bit to the outside of the lane.

4x100: The incoming runner should continue sprinting until the baton has been exchanged completely.

The outgoing runner should take off sprinting as soon as the athlete hits their mark. Normal starting technique still applies.

The first and third runners will hold the baton in their right hand.

The second and fourth runners will hold the baton in their left hand.

When the incoming runner thinks they are in proper spacing, they will give a command to tell the outgoing runner to get the baton. They should give

the command when their baton arm is back so it will time up with the reaction time of the outgoing runner.

The incoming runner is in charge of placing the baton in the outgoing runner's hand. Take the baton across your body and extend your arm and

make sure the baton is parallel with the ground. Place the baton in the palm of the outgoing runner.

When the outgoing runner is commanded to receive the baton, they will raise their arm so it is parallel with the ground.

4x200: The incoming runner should continue sprinting until the baton has been exchanged completely.

The outgoing runner should take off at about 70% as soon as the athlete hits their mark. Normal starting technique still applies. The outgoing

runner cannot get close to full speed until the baton has been exchanged.

The first and third runners will hold the baton in their right hand.

The second and fourth runners will hold the baton in their left hand.

When the incoming runner thinks they are in proper spacing, they will give a command to tell the outgoing runner to get the baton. They should give

the command when their baton arm is back so it will time up with the reaction time of the outgoing runner.

The incoming runner is in charge of placing the baton in the outgoing runner's hand. Take the baton across your body and extend your arm and

make sure the baton is parallel with the ground. Place the baton in the palm of the outgoing runner.

When the outgoing runner is commanded to receive the baton, they will raise their arm so it is parallel with the ground.

OPEN EXCHANGES (4x400, 4x800)

SETTING YOUR MARKS

4x400: The second runner will start at the 3 turn stagger.

The third and fourth runners will start at the solid line of triangles.

4x800: The outgoing runners will all start at the solid line of triangles.

STARTING POSITION

Your body and feet will be parallel with the starting line.

Get your body into a good athletic position and stick your butt out. This will keep the other runners from crowding you. If you are not on the inside lane, crowd the person on the inside of you.

If your team is in first, you will line up in the inside lane. The other teams will line up in the order of their place in the race.

As the outgoing runners in front of you get their batons, scoot closer to the inside lane.

EXCHANGING THE BATON

Be aware of the surrounding runners so you avoid contact.

The incoming runner should continue sprinting until the baton has been exchanged completely.

The outgoing runner will start when they decide to and will start running at the appropriate speed. Read the incoming runner's body language to know when and how fast to take-off.

The outgoing runner will turn their upper body towards the incoming runner and put their left hand out with their their palm up.

Both runners should completely extend their arms so the outgoing runner can run a lesser distance.

The incoming runner will extend their arm and flatten the baton. The baton will be put into the palm of the outgoing runner's hand.

Once you get the baton, avoid the traffic and get to the inside lane as soon as possible. Only pass on the curve if you can blow by the person and get back into the inside lane.

Do not pass anyone on the curve unless you can blow past them. If you pass them, immediately get back to the inside.