Beach sprint and relay rules

Course

• U9 & U10: 50 m (§4.5.1).
• U11 & U12: 60 m.
• U13 & U14: 70 m.
• Juniors and seniors: 90 m.
• Masters: 70 m.

The track is marked with lanes about 1.8 m wide (1.5 m minimum), ideally ten and at least eight, and athletes must stay in their own lane.

How it's run

Up to 10 race in a heat and 8 in the final (§4.2.9). Heats usually run as "run-offs" from a line of athletes: half of each run-off goes through, until about 16 are left for the semi-finals and then 8 for the final, which gets a fresh draw (§4.5.1).

The start

1. On "on your marks" walk up from the marshalling line to the start, toes and fingers behind the line (§4.2.14, §4.5.1).
2. On "set" hold still. Starting blocks are banned, but you may dig holes or build up sand in your lane.
3. The start is a gun or whistle. Leaving your mark with hand or foot after "set" is a false start and a disqualification.

The finish and common disqualifications

Placings go by the chest crossing the line, and you must finish upright on your feet; if you fall across, you can get up and re-cross (§4.5.1). Crossing into another lane is a disqualification, as is delaying the start.

Beach relay

• Teams of four (three for masters), with runners waiting at both ends of the course (§4.5.2).
• The baton must be carried to the changeover line, never thrown.
• The receiver may be moving, but is disqualified if any part of the body crosses the line before they have the baton.
• A dropped baton can be picked up, as long as nobody else is impeded.