On Wednesday, June 8, 2005, at 01:59 PM, Randy Treadway wrote:
Dan's idea has merit, but doesn't address all the issues. I have an
idea that addresses the best of what Dan is saying and also keeps away
from rolling starts.
It goes in this sequence: etc.
I can't claim any qualification for evaluating Dan's or Randy's
suggestion or any other on the matter of false start/disqualification.
Can I take advantage of this thread, though, to ask what is the process
that would be involved in considering and adopting such rules changes?
Maybe I can simplify my question by asking what was the process that
was involved in the IAAF adopting the present "first false start
charged to the field" rule? I don't remember hearing of any systematic
polling of athletes/coaches/officials/fans on whether a change in the
rules was necessary and what the change should be. After it was
determined by the IAAF that there needed to be a change from the
former (individual two-false start) rule, was there then a process of
consultation with athletes, coaches, and officials on the proposed new
rule? I don't remember hearing of that happening.
Put another way, do changes in the rules originate at the competitor's
level and proceed "upward" for consideration and
ratification/rejection? Or do they originate at the level of some IAAF
committee and be referred "downward" for consideration/recommendation
by athletes, coaches and meet officials? Or do they originate at the
level of some IAAF committee, proceed upward to the next committee, and
the next, etc., and then descend upon the athletes/coaches/meet
officials as already determined?
Just what is the process for change in IAAF competition rules?
