The long jump facility includes a runway, a take‑off board and a landing area. Usually, it is placed outside the track along one of the straights with two adjacent runways with a landing area at each end. This allows competition in either direction by two groups of athletes simultaneously.
The runway is 40m minimum long, 1.22m ± 0.01m wide and is measured from the beginning of the runway to the take‑off line. It is marked by white lines 0.05m wide or broken lines 0.05m wide, 0.10m long and 0.50m apart. The runway is usually covered with the same surface as the track.
The take‑off board is a white rectangle and measures 1.22m ± 0.01m long and 0.20m ± 0.002m wide and not more than 0.10m deep. The surface of the take‑off board must be flush with the surface of the runway.In the case of a runway with a permanent surface, this requires a built‑in installation tray made of corrosion protected metal in which the take‑off board is correctly positioned. During sport free periods, the take‑off board can be removed. If it has a track surface on its reverse side, it can be turned over and used as part of the runway. This makes it possible to combine the long and triple jump with two or three take‑off boards (which can be used on both sides) on a triple jump runway.
The landing area is 7‑9m long depending on the distance between its nearest end and the take‑off line. It is 2.75m wide. Generally, a landing area 8m long placed 2m from the take‑off line is recommended. The landing area is placed so that the middle of the runway coincides with the middle of the landing area. If two landing areas are situated parallel side by side or staggered, the distance between them is at least 0.30m. The landing area has a border not less than 0.05m wide and 0.30m high, rounded off towards the inside (eg wooden plank or concrete border with soft covering) and level with the ground.The landing area has a water permeable substructure or a suitable drainage system (draining well or canal connection) and filled with sand to a depth of not less than 0.30m at the edges and slightly deeper at the centre.The top edge of the border of the landing area, generally also dictates the level of the sand, which must be level with the take‑off board.
With the exception of the placement of the take‑off board, the same facilities are used for triple jump as for long jump. For international competition, it is recommended that the take‑off board is not less than 13m for men and 11m for women from the nearer end of the landing area. For other competitions, this distance is appropriate for the level of competition.
The high jump facility includes a semicircular runway, a take‑off area, two uprights with cross bar and a landing area. By temporarily removing sections of the kerb, it is possible to use the oval track as part of the runway. For major championships, the high jump facility must be large enough so that two high jumps can be conducted simultaneously.
The semicircular runway, with a radius of at least 20m, will permit approaches from every direction. If it is necessary to remove the kerb temporarily in order to be able to use the oval track as a runway, care must be taken to ensure that the heights of the surfaces of the oval track and the segment are the same along the track border.The runway and take‑off areas are usually covered with the same surface as the track.
They must be 4.02m ± 0.02m apart.
The landing mats measure not less than 6m x 4m and are covered by a spike proof protective mat. The overall height is a minimum 0.70m.
The pole vault facility includes a runway, a box for inserting the pole, two uprights with crossbar and a landing area. It can be located either outside the track, parallel to one of the straights or within one of the segments.
When located outside the track, it is usually constructed as a symmetrical facility with one landing area in the middle of two runways. When located within a segment, it is usually constructed with two parallel runways with positions for landing areas at each end.
The runway is a minimum of 40m long and is measured from beginning of the runway to the 0‑line. The runway is 1.22m ± 0.01m wide.It is marked by white lines 0.05m wide or broken lines 0.05m wide with a length of 0.1m and a distance of 0.5m. At the end of the runway, the box is mounted flush with the runway and installed such that the top inside edge of its end board lies on the 0‑line and at the same height. The 0‑line is marked by a white line, 0.01m wide which extends beyond the outside edges of the uprights.
The two uprights must be installed on horizontal bases, level with the 0‑line, such that each can be moved from the 0‑line not less than 0.80m towards the landing area (eg on a built‑in double rail) or in fixed sockets with movable cross bar supports.They are not less than 5.20m apart with approximately 0.10m between each upright and the landing mat. The lower part of the uprights are covered with appropriate padding to protect the athletes and their poles. The landing mats are recessed to take the uprights and any horizontal bases.
The landing mats are the same as for the high jump, except for the dimensions.For major international competitions, the landing area is a minimum of 6m long (excluding the front pieces), 6m wide and 0.80m high. The front pieces must be at least 2m long. The sides of the landing area nearest to the box are 0.10m‑0.15m from the box and slope away from the box at an angle of approximately 45°. For other competitions, the landing area is not less than 5m long (excluding the front pieces) x 5m wide.
Download the IAAF Track and Field Facilities Manual 2008 Edition (PDF 5.6 MB)
Vince Del PreteChief Executive OfficerPO Box 157, Floreat WA 6014Telephone 61 8 6272 0480Email admin@athleticswest.com.auWebsite www.athleticswest.com.auFacebook athleticswest
The information in this guide is general in nature and cannot be relied upon as professional advice concerning the design of, or marking out for, sporting facilities and playing areas. No assurance is given as to the accuracy of any information contained in this guide and readers should not rely on its accuracy. Readers should obtain their own independent and professional advice in relation to their proposed sporting activity.