# What do you think of the new false-start rule in the Olympics? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 19, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784 "2012-07-19T22:44:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/1 "2012-07-19T22:44:49Z")
It is not just for the Olympics, but for all “pro level” Track and Field, I believe. Correct me if I am wrong there. Anyway, they now have a zero tolerance policy for false starts. One false start and you are disqualified. This is actually how it is in High School, at least in Michigan, but we always pointed out to the kids that High School is oddly stricter than the Olympic level. Now, we’re the same. What do you think the rule should be for Olympic level Track? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/2 "2012-07-19T22:47:11Z")
I voted for them being allowed one false start. On these guys/girls level, their timing is so precise, they should be allowed a false start. They are literally going for world records, here; I think we can allow one false start before DQing them. It seems like this will kind of protect current World Records, since no one wants to risk a DQ. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/3 "2012-07-19T22:48:27Z")
I think it’s harsh as hell. If I had trained for 12 or 15 years to get to the Olympics, and my nervousness or a muscle spasm or some other innocuous thing caused me to twitch before the gun went off, I’d be freaking PISSED off that I was now disqualified. What is the rationale for this rule instead of DQ on the 2nd false start? ---
**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:** [July 19, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/4 "2012-07-19T22:56:04Z")
It’s been in effect since Jan. 2010. It’s nationwide at the high school level. If it weren’t for all the games the sprinters played, it wouldn’t have been necessary. [From this story.](http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/cruelest-rule-sports-track-field-zero-tolerance-false-141920180--oly.html) > [@](#): > > Most have said they they’ll be more cautious than usual in preliminary rounds and\*\* they will simply react to the gun in the final\*\* rather than risk trying to guess when the starter’s pistol will go off. Oh, boo-hoo. Poor babies can’t get an unfair advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/5 "2012-07-19T23:23:03Z")
Well, if I’m not mistaken the current (or previous, I guess) rule is that after the first false start a racer is DQ’d whether or not he/she was the one who had the first false start. This rule always struck me as fundamentally unfair, and the new one at least fixes that problem. Anyways, the entire system with the long irregular pause before the gun is just stupid. They oughta use drag racing-style christmas trees tied to the starting block sensors. Then you can anticipate the green, but if you anticipate it too much you’re out. And just let them go, DQ the early starters after the race. There’s no need to constantly restart races. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/6 "2012-07-19T23:32:17Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Anyways, the entire system with the long irregular pause before the gun is just stupid. They oughta use drag racing-style christmas trees tied to the starting block sensors. Then you can anticipate the green, but if you anticipate it too much you’re out. And just let them go, DQ the early starters after the race. There’s no need to constantly restart races. Where would you put the lights? [Sprinters typically start head down](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nbjhpcZ9_g) looking at the track to minimize distractions. You would need separate sets for the 100m/110m hurdles, 200m, 400/400m hurdles. A good starter will try to alter the timing between the “set” command and the gun to avoid runners anticipating the shot. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/7 "2012-07-19T23:40:16Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > A good starter will try to alter the timing between the “set” command and the gun to avoid runners anticipating the shot. This is the part I find ridiculous. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/8 "2012-07-20T00:01:38Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > This is the part I find ridiculous. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/9 "2012-07-20T00:13:17Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Oh, boo-hoo. Poor babies can’t get an unfair advantage. I’m not sure what you mean or are referring to by “unfair advantage”. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/10 "2012-07-20T00:17:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean or are referring to by “unfair advantage”. The fastest reaction time I’ve seen is .14 sec. If you anticipate the gun, start moving and leave the blocks .09 sec. after the gun, you have an advantage over the rest of the field. At the world class level, that can be plenty to win a race and maybe set a record. If everyone waits to react to the gun, it’s a fair race. The electronic blocks used at high level events will register a false start if any runner leaves in under .10 sec. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/11 "2012-07-20T00:28:09Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Where would you put the lights? [Sprinters typically start head down](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nbjhpcZ9_g) looking at the track to minimize distractions. You would need separate sets for the 100m/110m hurdles, 200m, 400/400m hurdles. > … No real need for actual lights, just make the countdown an audible beeping sequence. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/12 "2012-07-20T00:31:52Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > No real need for actual lights, just make the countdown an audible beeping sequence. But what is the advantage over the current starting gun? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/13 "2012-07-20T01:06:34Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > But what is the advantage over the current starting gun? The start would be a known quantity, nobody has to react or guess or start late due to worrying about false starting. A randomly-timed gunshot is pretty stupid. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/14 "2012-07-20T02:19:05Z")
Do the sprinters closer to the gun get an advantage? Speed of sound at sea level = 340.29 m/s Time for sound to travel ten metres = 0.029 seconds So lane 1 hears the gun almost 0.03 seconds before lane 8. I’d imagine the gap is even more pronounced where the lanes are staggered [This page](http://www.mathsisfun.com/activity/olympic-athletics-track.html) says the runner in lane 8 in a 400m race starts 53 metres ahead of the runner in lane 1 - so lane 8 will hear the gun 0.155 seconds after lane 1. And after all that I then found [a page](http://condellpark.com/kd/reactiontime.htm)saying the top level events have moved to ‘silent guns’ with the sound being generated by speakers in each sprinters blocks to avoid this problem. Interestingly that page’s author believes the 0.1 second reaction time threshold is too generous, and any start before 0.12 seconds is likely to be in anticipation of the gun. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/15 "2012-07-20T02:28:10Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > The start would be a known quantity, nobody has to react or guess or start late due to worrying about false starting. A randomly-timed gunshot is pretty stupid. Maybe the _reacting_ is part of the sport. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/16 "2012-07-20T02:33:12Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > Do the sprinters closer to the gun get an advantage? > Speed of sound at sea level = 340.29 m/s > Time for sound to travel ten metres = 0.029 seconds > So lane 1 hears the gun almost 0.03 seconds before lane 8. > I’d imagine the gap is even more pronounced where the lanes are staggered > > [This page](http://www.mathsisfun.com/activity/olympic-athletics-track.html) says the runner in lane 8 in a 400m race starts 53 metres ahead of the runner in lane 1 - so lane 8 will hear the gun 0.155 seconds after lane 1. > > And after all that I then found [a page](http://condellpark.com/kd/reactiontime.htm)saying the top level events have moved to ‘silent guns’ with the sound being generated by speakers in each sprinters blocks to avoid this problem. Interestingly that page’s author believes the 0.1 second reaction time threshold is too generous, and any start before 0.12 seconds is likely to be in anticipation of the gun. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the gun is not on sight for top level runners. They each have a speaker by their starting blocks that the gun is heard through. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/17 "2012-07-20T03:59:46Z")
I was never a track and field guy, but I was a swimmer, and the rule for swimming has always been elimination after any false start. I always thought it weird that the runners had a, at least superficially, much less stringent rule. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/18 "2012-07-20T05:18:50Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > The start would be a known quantity, nobody has to react or guess or start late due to worrying about false starting. A randomly-timed gunshot is pretty stupid. But the start is a known quality. **BANG!** Everybody gets the same signal at the same time, no one has an advantage by correctly guessing when the start signal will be. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/19 "2012-07-20T06:05:01Z")
I’d prefer there was a timed countdown and then a start signal. Either way, false starts are annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784/20 "2012-07-20T10:14:30Z")
I wonder why they never considered a [starting gate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starting_gate) for track & field. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-new-false-start-rule-in-the-olympics/628784.md?page=2)