Participants are allowed to enter any three individual events and one relay event (as a member of a relay team).
Competition categories are based on school grade levels.
All participants must compete within their respective grade and gender divisions, regardless of age.
Each competitor will receive a bib number to wear on their chest (not on their belly).
In all events, shoes designed specifically for turf sports are not permitted.
Participants are not allowed to compete in bare feet, slippers, or socks.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in disqualification. Disqualified participants will not be allowed to continue in the meet and will forfeit any previously earned awards.
Schools may enter up to three (3) boys and three (3) girls in each event/category at TrackFest.
All participants, including relay teams, will be assigned to specific heats and lanes for all running events. Athletes are not permitted to run in heats or lanes other than those assigned to them.
Missing event start time:
Athletes arriving late, including checked-in athletes, or missing their event start time, are not permitted to change heats. If a runner misses their heat, they will not receive another opportunity and will be marked as Did Not Start (DNS).
In the relay, the acceleration zone will not be used, and aids may not be used.
In the Two-hand Overhead Throw, Javelin Throw and Standing Long Jump, each competitor is allowed two (2) trials.
Competitors should be excused from a field event so that they may participate in a running event. Athletes must return to the field event immediately after completing that running event.
Participants are individually responsible for appearing at the start line on time and reporting promptly for each event.
Check-in:
All athletes must be on site and report to event officials approximately forty (40) minutes before the start of their event.
Athletes will be identified by their bib number and confirm heat and lane assignments during check-in.
Athletes who fail to check in will not be allowed to participate.
ON MEET DAY - START TIMES CAN BE MOVED UP BY 20 MINUTES!
Wheelchair Racing Basic Rules
“Able Bodied” competitors cannot be entered in Wheelchair events.
Wheelchair participants must have qualifying disabilities or mobility impairments.
Equipment: Participants can use Standard Wheelchair or Racing Chair. Hand cycles are not permitted.
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 is allowed for each large wheel.
Mirrors are not allowed.
The athlete is responsible for ensuring that no part of their 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 push the wheelchair independently.
There is no delay because of equipment failure.
An athlete must have a racing helmet, a hard protective shell recognized by an international safety standard.
An athlete can use racing gloves (soft or hard gloves).
Hurdles
Distance: 50m/60m
Number of hurdles: 4/5
Colour of Track Marking: Yellow
Start line to first hurdle: 11.50m/13.00m
Distance between hurdles: 8.50m
Last hurdle to finish line: 13.00m
Height of hurdles: 8"
Overhead Throw (ball size #4)
Rules
Each participant is allowed TWO throws (this is a new rule for 2026).
There is no longer a 4x4 box limit on the overhead throw; athletes are now allowed to utilize the space behind the throwing white line. However, athletes must not exit the throwing area boundaries before the ball lands on the floor.
All throws will be recorded to the nearest 0.01 meters below the measured distance if it does not end in a whole centimetre.
Each athlete will be credited with their best throw from all attempts. If there is a tie for the best throw, the second-best performance will be used to determine the winner.
Throws will not be taken consecutively; instead, they will be conducted in rounds.
Measurements will be taken perpendicular to the edge of the scratch line or tape, or its extension.
Participants may make one practice throw before the competition begins.
Warm-up:
Participants are encouraged to warm up before arriving at the competition site. During the 5-minute warm-up period, they are allowed one practice throw. Please note that officials will not call athletes for this warm-up throw.
Technique
Face the direction of the throw.
Hold the ball with both hands directly behind your head and release it using both hands.
Athletes may stand with their feet parallel or in a split stance. An active step or steps forward are allowed, as long as they do not cross the foul line.
If athletes choose a split stance, you can either drag or lift your rear leg/foot.
Athletes are allowed to rock back and forth or take steps forward. It is important to keep your back straight and your core engaged; jumping is not permitted.
A follow-through with your arms is encouraged.
Fouls
Stepping on the foul line before the ball touches the floor.
Exiting the boundaries of the throwing area before the ball lands on the floor.
“Stumbling” or stepping over the throwing line before releasing the ball.
Stepping on the foul line while still holding the ball.
Standing Long Jump
Rules
Each participant will be allowed **two jumps** (this is a new rule for 2026). Jumps are not taken consecutively; instead, they are performed in rounds. Both jumps will be recorded and measured to the nearest 0.01 meters, rounded down to the nearest whole centimetre, unless the distance measured is a whole centimetre.
Measurements will be taken perpendicular to the take-off line or its extension.
No part of a participant’s foot may cross over the edge of the scratch board or tape before the jump attempt. At the start of the jump, both feet must be parallel to one another.
Each athlete will be credited with their best jump from all attempts. In the event of a tie for the best jump, the second-best jump will be used to determine the winner.
Warm-up:
Participants may take one practice jump before the competition begins. They are encouraged to warm up before arriving at the competition site. During the 5-minute warm-up period, athletes are allowed one practice jump. Please note that officials will not call participants for this warm-up jump.
Fouls
A jump is considered a “foul” if any part of the foot crosses over the scratch board or tape, or if the contestant's feet are not parallel (i.e., if they are staggered) at the start of the attempt. A foul jump counts as an attempt but does not contribute to the distance measured.
The jump distance is measured from the front edge of the scratch board or tape to the part of the participant's body that lands closest to the scratch board or tape after the jump. This means that if an athlete falls or steps backward after jumping, the measurement will be taken from their hand, foot, or any other body part that is closest to the scratch board or tape. Athletes should walk out from the front of the jumping area to avoid unnecessary penalties.
Technique
Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart behind the line, arms raised.
Lower into a half-squat with your arms pulled back, then swing your arms forward while extending your hips explosively to jump.
Land on both feet with your knees bent to absorb the impact.
Running Events
Start of the Race: We use a modified starting pistol, which is a specialized device that uses blank cartridges. These cartridges release only smoke and sound, without firing any projectiles. The sound of the gun signals the athletes to begin their event and activates the electronic timing device.
Participants may not wear shoes designated for spikes.
Lane and position will be drawn by chance.
Starting blocks are not permitted.
The starting position is optional - Crouch Start, Standing or 3-point start.
An athlete/relay team is allowed one false start. An athlete/relay team responsible for the second false start will be disqualified.
All events are finals or timed finals.
Starting Commands:
Up to and including 400m and relays: 1) “On your marks”; 2) “Set”; 3) the gun will be fired.
Running in lanes:
In the 50m / 60m, 50mH / 60mH, 150m and 200m, athletes must run the entire distance in their designated lanes. All starts will be made from a standing position.
Relays
General Relay Information
There can only be four (4) athletes on each relay team
A school can enter up to 3 relay teams per gender in each grade category: 3 & 4 and 5 & 6
Relay teams cannot be mixed between grades 3&4 and 5&6 participants. All grades 3&4 must participate in the morning relay teams, and those in grades 5&6 must participate in the afternoon session relays.
Relay teams cannot be comprised of mixed-gender participants. Girls’ teams must be composed of all girls, and boys’ teams must run with all boys.
An athlete can only be a member of one relay team.
After passing the baton, the relieved runner should stand still or jog straight ahead unless he or she is in the inside or outside lane. In these cases, the relieved runner shall step off the track as soon as possible.
Relay registration and changes
RELAY TEAMS and team members in running order MUST BE submitted to the NLAA office before the registration deadline (Tuesday, May 26). There are no relay team alternates.
Athletes participating as part of a relay team, and that’s the only event they do, must register and pay on TrackieReg. To register, these athletes must select RELAY ONLY as an event. Athletes registered in individual events but are also part of a relay team MUST NOT select RELAY ONLY as an event.
MEET DAY RELAY TEAM CHANGES:
On the meet day, schools can use the MEET DAY RELAY TEAM CHANGES form, inside the “Coach’s Package,” to make substitutions with the eligible athlete(s) OR change the relay running order.
Timeframe to make final changes in the running order and to substitute team members:
Morning Session 10:15 am - 10:30 am;
Afternoon Session 3:15 pm - 3:30 pm.
Following the MEET DAY RELAY TEAM CHANGES period, relay teams that have altered the declared order or team members will be disqualified.
Relay hip/lane numbers
All relay members of the same relay team will be issued the same “hip” number.
Relay participants MUST wear their “hip” number on the top right chest.
“Hip” numbers will be distributed during the relay team assembly.
Rules
NEW IN 2023:
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 both competition categories: Grades 3 & 4 and Grades 5 & 6.
Modified relay rule for Grades 3 & 4 and Grades 5 & 6: Participants will use a common starting line, a waterfall start, where all the athletes would start on the same line but could cut into the inside late as soon as the gun goes off. Up to 10 teams will be seeded in each race.
The baton must be carried by hand; if dropped, it must be retrieved by the runner who dropped it.
Participants must hold the javelin at its grip and thrown overhand using one arm, over the athlete’s shoulder or upper arm.
How to hold the javelin: The javelin is lightly held across the palm, with the index finger wrapped around the top of the grip and the thumb pressing against the top of the grip as well.
Stand sideways on, looking in the direction you are throwing.
Face in the direction of the throw.
Hold the non-throwing arm in front of the body.
Keep the opposite foot to the throwing arm forward.
Point the javelin in the direction of throwing.
Throwing position: Optional. Athletes can use approach run to throw the javelin or from a standing position. The approach run is limited to 5m.
Rules
The javelin must be held at its grip and thrown overhand using one arm, over the athlete’s shoulder or upper arm.
Each participant will be allowed two throws. All two throws will be recorded to the nearest 0.01m below the distance measured if the distance measured is not a whole centimetre. Throws are not taken consecutively but rather by rounds.
Participants are allowed to do one practice throw before the start of the competition.
The measurement is taken from the first point of contact where the javelin (any part: tip, tail, or flat) lands inside the throwing landing sector.
The measurement is taken perpendicular to the edge of the scratch line/tape or its extension.
Each athlete is credited with the best of all their trials. The second-best performance of the athletes having the same best performances shall determine whether there has been a tie.
Rules
The throw must be made from behind the foul line.
The javelin must fall within the implement landing sector.
The javelin must be thrown with a distinctly above-the-shoulder motion of the throwing arm, and the thrower’s last contact with the javelin during its release must be with the grip.