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Athletics Equipment The many events of athletics require a multitude of sporting equipment. It is important for athletes to be able to recognize and understand how equipment for the specific events works and impacts their performance. Have your athletes name each piece of equipment as you show it and give the use for each. To reinforce this ability within them, have them select the equipment used for their events as well.   Timing Devices A fully automatic timing system or electric or digital stopwatches are recommended. When Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) is used, times will be recorded in one one-hundredth (1/100) of a second. Most manual timing devices are equipped with a button for start, a button for stop and a reset button. All manual times will be recorded in one-tenth (1/10) of a second.     Starting Pistol A starting pistol should be used during training sessions. Special Olympics athletes should be exposed to the gun prior to participating in a competitive event. Suitable replacements for the gun are a bell (mandatory in an indoor track), whistle, clapping 2 pieces of wood together or verbal start.       Starting Blocks The use of starting blocks is optional. Starting blocks should be anchored behind the starting line so that when in the start position, the athlete's hands are set just behind the starting line. The blocks must be adjustable to allow the athlete to attain the most beneficial starting position.     Hurdles Hurdles that suit the ability of the athletes should be used. Competitive hurdles shouldn't be used until athletes have learned the basis of hurdling technique over practice hurdles. Practice hurdles can be collapsible or designed to fall over easily. Practice hurdles come in many forms — from a light stick balanced on traffic cones to specifically designed beginner/practice hurdles.   Relay Baton One relay baton is needed for each participating relay team. Batons measuring 10cm in circumference are made of anodized aluminum or lightweight unbreakable plastic. For practice, the following materials cut into 30cm lengths and having smooth edges can be utilized: dowels, old broom handles or PVC pipe.       Long Jump Pit The running long jump pit should be filled with a minimum depth of 30cm of sand. The pit should be long and wide enough to ensure a safe landing by the athlete. A temporary takeoff board may be set in the runway, 1m from the front edge of the pit, if the permanent board is set more than 2m from the pit.     High Jump Pit The high jump pit consists of a landing pit, a pair of adjustable standards and a crossbar. The ideal practice crossbar is a fiberglass crossbar. The high jump pit should have a minimum measurement of 500x250x50cm. Only approved and certified high jump pits may be used; pits made of other materials (such as gym mats) are not acceptable.     Shot Puts Outdoor shots, made of iron, and indoor shots, covered with hard plastic, are acceptable for use in SSOO, and either type may be used in competition as long as the following minimum weight requirements are followed:     Regular Competition Wheelchair Competition Men: 4 kg.     1.81 kg.     Women: 2.72 kg.     1.36 kg.            Softballs Official size (30cm) and weight (blue dot, traditional flight) softballs are recommended. Usually a dozen softballs are adequate for a training session. Tennis balls can be substituted for use by lower functioning and multi-handicapped athletes.     General Athletics Equipment List At-a-Glance   Batons Bell for start of indoor meets Brooms for field event runways, circles Clipboards Crossbars Flags for restraining ropes Foul/Fair flags (red and white) Throwing implements Landing pits Lap counter Last lap bell Masking tape Public address system Megaphone or bullhorn Officials' stands Pencils and pens Rakes, level board Restraining ropes, or pennant flags Rubber bands Rules books Safety pins, numbers Score sheets and event cards Sector flags Shovels Standards for high jump Starters pistols Starting block carrier (or wheelbarrow) Starting blocks Steel or fiberglass tapes Stopwatches Two-way radios Whistles

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