Community Games 60m Hurdles u10

Trevor O Connell

okay another question for the group

Why is the 60m hurdles under 10s for the community games which is run on track different to the normal 60m hurdles for boys

With the Community Games the distances between hurdles is

15m to first hurdle
then 4 hurdles 10m a part

For the boys 60m hurdles under AAI rules its different also the tracks are not marked for the above format

I'm just curious

Is it because this event was originally ran on grass?

Trevor

ChickenTikka

I would think its because the kids are younger - in AAI they don't do hurdles until U13 age group. The height is lower also.

There are differences in other events too:-
- shot putt measured from centre point of throwing circle rather than edge
- ball throw measured to where the ball stops rolling rather than where it first hits the ground
- kids allowed to compete in bare feet including in long jump

Trevor O Connell

Can someone tell me why the officials that run the community games view it as fair

Yesterday in the 60m hurdles for boys under 10

In the first final, the athlete from Clare went out of his lane.

After the first run, the Dublin athlete placed an appeal based on this.

Instead of disqualifying the athlete from Clare the race was re-ran

Only to find that Mayo won, Dublin second and Clare third

Knocking the original third place athlete from Kerry down to fourth

How is this fair and what does it teach you children

IF you break rules you get a second chance and your rewarded

A joke is all this can be described as

Trevor

ecoli

Disqualifying at such a young age could be more harmful than good especially as it goes against the ethos of the Community Games which is aimed at Integration,inclusion and involvement.

At that age I think Re running a race is more beneficial and has less of a negative impact than a DQ. I empathize with the young athlete who missed out on a medal as a result but there was always going to be someone to miss out

The Clare athlete was not rewarded for it however as a result of the re run they were demoted 2 positions.

TRR

They should have treated it like the mini marathon and given all competitors a medal

RoyMcC

Ecoli is right I think. You really ought not to be DQ-ing very young athletes for anything other than outright deliberate cheating. If you do so for a technical infringement it can have a bad effect.

In this instance there must have been (accidental) impeding going on as running out of lane isn't, in itself, an offence on the straight and the result would otherwise have stood.

Probably a correct decision.

Trevor O Connell

And what its okay to penalise the Kerry Athlete

I don't buy this.

Rules are their for a reason and people give out why young people develop bad habits

but sure its ourselves that promote this culture

So what can you expect



Trevor

Trevor O Connell

And another thing I've an issue with

Athletes were prevented from starting sprints with a 3 point start

Since when is this in the rule books

I've read the rule book at the CG web site and rule 8 states, that once the athletes feet and hands are behind the line there is nothing preventing them from starting in a three point position that I can see.

So what's that rule about?

Is it make it up as you go along

I'm happy to be corrected if someone can point out in the rule book where it says and athlete cannot do a 3 point start

Trevor

RoyMcC

Trevor O Connell wrote: »

Rules are their for a reason and people give out why young people develop bad habits

What rule did he break Trevor? Running out of lane isn't breaking a rule, unless he impeded an athlete. In fact he's lengthening the distance he's running.

RoyMcC

Trevor O Connell wrote: »

And another thing I've an issue with

Athletes were prevented from starting sprints with a 3 point start

Since when is this in the rule books

I've read the rule book at the CG web site and rule 8 states, that once the athletes feet and hands are behind the line there is nothing preventing them from starting in a three point position that I can see.

So what's that rule about?

Is it make it up as you go along

I'm happy to be corrected if someone can point out in the rule book where it says and athlete cannot do a 3 point start

Trevor

A bit harsh all right that. What did the organisers say?

We once had a girl with a broken wrist who had to compete with a three-point start - nothing was said because it is - of course - within the rules.

Trevor O Connell

That's what I'm saying, if he did not break a rule, why was it re-run

He must have impeded the Dublin athlete and if so then I know its very harsh but disqualify him.

Its all very fine saying its only sport, but I'm sure all athletes who made the final u10 did some bit of training

Its awful harsh on the kerry lad who was told after the first run you came 3rd, but hey, someone else messed up, you have to run again, and by the way next time you only come 4th, no medal

Try explain that to a 10 year old

Sure its a lot easier to sit down and say look you ran well, but unfortunately you ran out of your lane

its just my view on things but I do think if we change rules to suit various situations then you are asking for trouble as children get older

I know its hard to stick to rules, and in particular when a child is only 10

But its a lot easier learn the right way to do things at a young age then when you are an old man 40 like myself

Trevor

RoyMcC

I suppose I'm instinctively on the side of the organisers who are damned if they do, damned if they don't. They have a hard life trying to (1) apply the rules (2) see everything that goes on, without having replays available, and try to interpret it (3) try to be fair to all parties. Parents only usually see things from their particular viewpoint.

On the day someone has to make a decision and stick with it, knowing he'll get it in the ear whatever he decides.

So you may be right Trevor, but often these things aren't black and white. And I suspect the Kerry boy will be upset but will understand. And it is a pity because medals mean a lot at that age.

notsofast

Disqualifying a 9 year old would be very harsh imo, even if did impede someone, i think it would be more harmful that benificial.

Don't think the Kerry lad missed out on a medal, they give medals to first 4 in the community games.

Trevor O Connell

Sorry about posting results I was just trying to get my point across

I understand that, and let me be the first to say the community games do a terrific job and I'm sure this kind of thing happens every year. so that kerry guy is not alone.

But I do think it might be no harm if the community games sat down between now and next year and clearly put all these rules down on paper.

For example, in athletics what type of start is permitted in the sprints, it only takes a few lines.

In terms of running out of your lane (which I could find nothing about) what is the rule, and what determines a re-run etc

That way if athletes are training they know what to do.

For example the kerry boy went off and got stuck in to a dinner after the first run of the final, he did not know that he'd have to run again. So it was hard to expect him to run after eating.

I know its a small thing to some people, but isn't it as easy do a job right as do it wrong.

They do a great job, but for the future if they could make things a bit clearer in terms of rules and put it on paper.

Trevor

Trevor O Connell

Well give the clare guy 4th so and let the kerry guy keep his third medal

Its done now but I just wanted to voice my view on the matter.

Actually a funny story, one time, along long time ago when I was in Dublin

It was my first 60m outdoor in Santry.

I was in a club and the boys were slagging off the bogger

Anyway, I set my blocks

we were all standing in front of the blocks

I heard On your marks

Went down to put my leg in to the blocks,

One of the bloody dubs had lifted my blocks and put them back in the wheel barrow

That was my introduction to graded meetings in Dublin

But I did laugh at it. Sure what could you do

Trevor