False Start Penalty

[dbirds]

Instead of DQ'ing Athletes when they start, how about either a .05 penalty or a 1 meter penalty? That way they can still compete but they have a disadvantage for trying to get an unfair advantage. Imagine Bolt in Daegu with a penalty, trying to catch or beat Blake by .05...fascinating

Also, I would propose the same thing for a lane violation, .05 (or whatever) every time you step on the line (above the allowable)...that way if you are way ahead and step on the line, you can still win the race instead of getting DQ'd.

[Norm Balke]

Re: False Start Penalty

I think this is a great idea. I have never liked the whole false start rule. IN the NBA you can have 6 fouls, you can dribble the ball off your foot or have a turnover, but in the sprint events, one flse move, and you're out!!


I like the idea of running additional distance, it could be graduated for each race. 5m for 100m, 10m for 200, 15m for 400 and so on. I think it would be too confusing for the spectator to see someone win by .01, but then see in the results they lost by .04.

It's such a good idea that IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!!

[gh]

Re: False Start Penalty

It was used 100 years ago and dropped.

In the context of today it would be totally counterproductive to the purpose of the whole false-start rule in the first place, which is to speed up the competition, not slow it down. Realize how long it would take somebody to reset their blocks?

And then you've handicapped the starter (if he doesn't have auto blocks), because he can't look at everybody relative to everybody else in the same way.

A bad idea that's total non-starter (pardon the pun). Sorry.

[Norm Balke]

Re: False Start Penalty

So shall it be written...

[Mighty Favog]

Re: False Start Penalty

How about the ancient Greek penalty -- flogging?

[TN1965]

Re: False Start Penalty

Let me ask a related question.

If the purpose is to speed up, wouldn't it make more sense to let every one run the race, and then disqualify those who false started after the race? The current system still requires a multiple restart, which does not seem to be saving much time.

[Tuariki]

Re: False Start Penalty

The other reason that it is a stupid idea is that:

1) it takes away the thrill for the crowd of knowing who won when watching the race as they would have to wait to see the actual race results and then deduct the 0.05 seconds.

2) It means that in such races the athletes could never celebrate winning a medal when they crossed the line because they would then have to wait for the maths to be done.

[Tuariki]

Re: False Start Penalty

Let me ask a related question.

If the purpose is to speed up, wouldn't it make more sense to let every one run the race, and then disqualify those who false started after the race? The current system still requires a multiple restart, which does not seem to be saving much time.

And this is a stupid idea as well. This is because the athlete who won, because of being promoted because the real winner was Dq'd, would live forever with the moniker of "he won but he didn't really win". And of course that would be true.

Nothing wrong with the current system. I want the winner to be the first person who crosses the line - with any subsequent disqualifications being for drugs or interference only.

And also maybe one day technology might reach the point where they can even perform drug tests with instant results just before the start of the race.