# If Usain Bolt ran onto a field, how long for security to tackle him? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 14, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962 "2017-06-14T18:12:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/1 "2017-06-14T18:12:00Z")
From time to time we get treated to the sight of a sports fan running onto the field of play in the midst of a game, and getting tackled by security. Depending on how seriously security takes its job, this can take 10 seconds or 1 minute. So suppose Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, were to do so. How long does it take, say, 2 security guards to tackle him? Do they never get him? How many security guards to get him in, 1 minute? 30 seconds? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/2 "2017-06-14T18:16:21Z")
Once he tires. Say 300-400 meters. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/3 "2017-06-14T18:24:42Z")
I see what you did there - šŸ˜‰ - but the idea is that Bolt wouldnā€™t run unless he had to. Get onto the field, taunt, wave, then slow jog, or stand still, until security gets near, then dash off like a deer. Repeat as needed. Conserve energy. Oh, and no Tasers either, security has to get him to the ground the old fashioned way. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/4 "2017-06-14T18:38:26Z")
It is difficult to prove but Iā€™m not sure 2 guards could ever catch him if they are of average fitness. Bolt is very fit and very fast, but he doesnā€™t need to sprint to stay away from them. Whenever they get close though he has the acceleration to just blast away. I predict they get tired long before he does. I wonder how long it would take for me to create a simulationā€¦ I think 10 guards certainly could catch him. 1. No. 2. Maybe? 3. Maybe! 4. Now weā€™re getting to where I think heā€™s probably caught pretty quick. 7+ I think so with fair certainty. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/5 "2017-06-14T18:38:55Z")
With just two guards? Whenever he gives up. Thereā€™s just no way for two slower people to corral another in an open field without help of some sort. Thereā€™s a reason most sports have sidelines or some other limitation on runners. Six to ten guards, however, could probably bring him down relatively quickly, assuming good training and communication. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/6 "2017-06-14T19:45:54Z")
This actually sounds like a fun premise for a game show. A team of 4-5 contestants have to tackle a decent 100m sprinter. It would be interesting to see how the different strategies work. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/7 "2017-06-14T19:54:54Z")
I canā€™t help but picture a rodeo with an ā€œUsain Wranglingā€ event, and hapless cowboys futilely try to lasso a superhumanly fast man taunting and dodging them. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/8 "2017-06-14T20:15:52Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I canā€™t help but picture a rodeo with an ā€œUsain Wranglingā€ event, and hapless cowboys futilely try to lasso a superhumanly fast man taunting and dodging them. Oh, Iā€™m dyinā€™. Scared my cat laughing. ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/9 "2017-06-14T20:16:02Z")
The question is how long until the players come on to the field to assist. If they do and itā€™s an NFL field he wonā€™t last long and will probably be very sore the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/10 "2017-06-14T20:24:27Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > This actually sounds like a fun premise for a game show. A team of 4-5 contestants have to tackle a decent 100m sprinter. It would be interesting to see how the different strategies work. I think even 4-5 pursuers might be too many. 3 might suffice to take down Bolt, if they play something akin to zone defense where only 1-2 pursue at any moment and the other rests, staking out a section of field and only pursuing when Bolt enters his territory. Many years ago, when I was a teacher, students played a form of outdoors tag where 2 students chased after a teacher simultaneously on a field. It was surprisingly exhausting, very quickly. You could not evade your pursuers (mind you, these were just kids around grade 1-4, if I recall right) for more than a few minutes, even if they were much slower. > [@NetTrekker](#): > > The question is how long until the players come on to the field to assist. If they do and itā€™s an NFL field he wonā€™t last long and will probably be very sore the next day. Letā€™s assume itā€™s just between Bolt and a few in-average-shape security guards only. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/11 "2017-06-15T00:05:53Z")
And then there are always some armed police on siteā€¦theyā€™re not going to let someone run around indefinitely ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/12 "2017-06-15T01:51:46Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I think even 4-5 pursuers might be too many. 3 might suffice to take down Bolt, 3 guards in under a minute? Not a chance. I guess it depends on how large a field. I was assuming like a baseball field. Bolt has done the 400m in 45 seconds. So we know he can sustain a good pace for almost a minute. To get him in under the minute youā€™re going to need to be able to cut him off very quickly and close in. Iā€™m almost thinking my estimate of 7 might be too low. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/13 "2017-06-15T03:32:03Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > 3 guards in under a minute? Not a chance. I guess it depends on how large a field. I was assuming like a baseball field. Bolt has done the 400m in 45 seconds. So we know he can sustain a good pace for almost a minute. To get him in under the minute youā€™re going to need to be able to cut him off very quickly and close in. Iā€™m almost thinking my estimate of 7 might be too low. I was referring to baseball/soccer/NFL fields too, but figured some zone defense might still get him by eventually tiring him, but I may be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/14 "2017-06-15T03:46:24Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I was referring to baseball/soccer/NFL fields too, but figured some zone defense might still get him by eventually tiring him, but I may be wrong. I think you can get him by eventually tiring him but maybe I misunderstood the OP. Isnā€™t it supposed to be in under 1 minute? If he can run at a very impressive speed for 45 seconds and being winded at the end, you pretty much need to get him while heā€™s running. Thatā€™s going to take a quite few people, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Anglachel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Anglachel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anglachel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/15 "2017-06-18T16:16:32Z")
We know Bolt is fast, but we can only guess at his agility. If say three guards are after him in a confined space, even if large like a stadium, the most effective method is not to chase, but to corner. If they know their business and can tackle in space, then it would not take very long. Iā€™d be more interested to see this match up with Barry Sanders in his prime. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/16 "2017-06-18T18:15:50Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > And then there are always some armed police on siteā€¦theyā€™re not going to let someone run around indefinitely Shooting him might be a _slight_ overreaction to simple trespass. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/17 "2017-06-20T22:37:41Z")
6 guys could catch him in less than 5 min using a common technique that men use to catch much faster animals in enclosed spaces assuming he wouldnā€™t break the tackle and break through the line which he probably would do. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/18 "2017-06-21T00:22:39Z")
Is it a tag game or full tackle? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/19 "2017-06-21T02:44:39Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Is it a tag game or full tackle? Tazer tag. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962/20 "2017-06-21T02:57:43Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > This actually sounds like a fun premise for a game show. A team of 4-5 contestants have to tackle a decent 100m sprinter. It would be interesting to see how the different strategies work. [ā€¦a variation.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgKg0Hc7YIA) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-ran-onto-a-field-how-long-for-security-to-tackle-him/788962.md?page=2)