All-Comers Summer Track Meet Competition Rules

COMPETITION RULES

The competition will be conducted according to the World Athletics (WA) Handbook and with variations according to Athletics Canada and NLAA rules.

Athletes may compete in events as designated in their age category.

Failure to participate: World Athletics Rule 4.4 will be in effect for this competition. Athletes who fail to compete in an event in which they have been registered will be excluded from all subsequent events in the competition.

Reporting Non-Participation - Athletes who are registered but unable to compete must notify the event organizers. Scratches will be accepted up to 90 minutes before the scheduled start of the event.
Submitting Scratches - Please email all scratches to scratches@nlaa.ca, including the athlete’s name, bib number, and the event they are scratching.

Track events

Track events will be run as Timed Finals.
False Start: The athlete(s) responsible for the false start will be disqualified.
A crouch start and starting blocks are mandatory for races 400m and shorter. In races longer than 400m, all starts must be made from a standing position.
Starting Commands for races 400m and shorter: “On your marks”, “Set”, the gun will be fired.
Starting Commands for races longer than 400m: “On your marks”, the gun will be fired. Standing Start!
Running in lanes for races 400m and shorter: all runners must remain in their assigned lanes for the duration of the race from start to finish.
Mixed races: Male and Female Athletes competing in the Wheelchair may participate together in some of the events but will be ranked separately. For all other categories, based on NLAA and Athletics Canada rules mixed gender (female and male) races are not allowed.

Field events

Each participant in the field events will receive three (3) attempts in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, and Shot Put.
High Jump Height Progression and Increments:
- Women: Start at a height of 1.25 meters, increasing by 5 centimetres until reaching 1.45 meters, then increasing by 3 centimetres.
- Men: Start at a height of 1.45 meters, increasing by 5 centimetres until reaching 1.95 meters, then increasing by 3 centimetres.
Pole Vault Height Progression and Increments:
- Begin at a height of 2.80 meters, increasing by 20 centimetres up to 3.40 meters, then increasing by 10 centimetres thereafter.

Relays

Only Club Coach or NL Games Regional Coach can register RELAY TEAMS by submitting Club/Region name, competition category, and participants’ names in running order to the NLAA office via email to nlaaoffice@gmail.com before the registration deadline, 11:59 pm, Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Relay teams consist of four members. An athlete can only be on one relay team.
There is no limit to the number of relay teams a club/Regional Team can enter.
There are no mixed categories or genders among teammates. Girls’ teams must be composed of all girls, and boys’ teams must run with all boys. Relay team participants must be from the same competition category.
Relay Team Changes: No new relay teams will be accepted after the registration deadline on (Thursday, July 30, 2026). If there are any changes to the team's running order, substitutions, or scratches, the team coach must submit these changes on Meet Day at the Timing Hut. This can be done between 1:30 am and 1:45 pm.
The 20-meter exchange zones are open-ended; teams will not be disqualified if incoming or outgoing runners exchange the baton outside the designated zone. This rule applies to all competition categories.
The baton must be carried by hand; if it is dropped, the runner who dropped it must retrieve it.

Wheelchair Racing Basic Rules

Use standard wheelchair or racing chair.
The racing chair shall have two large wheels (not to exceed 70cm in diameter) and one small wheel (not to exceed 50cm in diameter).
No part of the racing chair may protrude behind the vertical plane of the back edge of the rear tires nor extend in front of the center of the front wheel hub.
One push rim allowed for each large wheel.
Mirrors are not allowed.
It is the responsibility of the athlete to ensure that no part of his/her lower limbs can fall from the wheelchair to the ground or track during an event.
The racing chair must be manually-propelled (no gears, levers or electronic steering). The athlete can propel a wheelchair independently.
No delay due to equipment failure.
Athlete must have a racing helmet that is a hard protective shell and recognized with an international safety standard.
Athlete can use racing gloves (soft or hard gloves).
In wheelchair races the time shall be taken to the moment in which the centre of the axle of the leading wheel reaches the vertical plane of the nearer edge of the finish line.