During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country

skiing, biathlon, or ice skating (usually with a baton in the fist) parts of a circuit or performing a certain action.
Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games. In the Olympic games, there are several
types of relay races that are part of track and field.

Relays in athletics
In athletics, the two standard relays are the 4x100 metre relay and the 4x400 metre relay. Traditionally,
the 4x400 metre relay finals are the last event of a track meet [citation needed], and is often met with a very
enthusiastic crowd, especially if the last leg is a close race. It is hard to measure exact splits in a 4x400 (or a
4x100) relay. For example, if a team ran a 3:00 4x400, it does not mean every runner on the team has to run a
45 second open 400, because a person starts accelerating before he/she has the baton, therefore allowing for
slightly slower overall open 400 times. A 4x400 relay generally starts in lanes for the first leg, including the
handoff. The second leg then proceeds to run in lanes for the first 100 metres, after which point the runners are
allowed to break into the first lane on the backstretch, as long as they do not interfere with other runners. A
race organizer then puts the third leg runners into a line depending on the order in which they are running (with
the first place closest to the inside). The faster teams pass first, while the slower teams have to slide in to the
inside lanes as they come available.
4x200, 4x800, and 4x1600 relays exist as well, but they are rarer, especially at the high school level, where
schools generally have only one or two competitive strong runners in such events.

Rules and strategy

Each runner must hand off the baton to the next runner within a certain zone, usually marked by triangles on
the track. In sprint relays, runners typically use a "blind handoff", where the second runner stands on a spot
predetermined in practice and starts running when the first runner hits a visual mark on the track (usually a smaller
triangle). The second runner opens their hand behind them after a few strides, by which time the first runner should
be caught up and able to hand off the baton. Usually a runner will give an auditory signal, such as "Stick!" repeated
several times, for the recipient of the baton to put out his hand. In middle-distance relays or longer, runners begin by
jogging while looking back at the incoming runner and holding out a hand for the baton.

A team may be disqualified from a relay for:

Losing the baton (dropping the baton)

Making an improper baton pass

False starting (usually once but sometimes twice)

Improperly overtaking another competitor

Preventing another competitor from passing

Wilfully impeding, improperly crossing the course, or in any other way interfering with another competitor

Based on the speed of the runners, the generally accepted strategy used in setting up a 4 person relay team is:
second fastest, third fastest, slowest, then fastest (anchor). Although some teams (usually middle school or young
high school) use second fastest, slowest, third fastest, then the fastest (anchor). Each segment of the relay (the
distance run by one person) is referred to as a leg.

Relay race, also called Relay, a track-and-field sport consisting of a set number of stages (legs),
usually four, each leg run by a different member of a team. The runner finishing one leg is usually required to
pass on abaton to the next runner while both are running in a marked exchange zone.
In most relays, team members cover equal distances: Olympic events for both men and women are the 400metre (4 100-metre) and 1,600-metre (4 400-metre) relays. Some non-Olympic relays are held at distances
of 800 m, 3,200 m, and 6,000 m. In the less frequently run medley relays, however, the athletes cover different
distances in a prescribed orderas in a sprint medley of 200, 200, 400, 800 metres or a distance medley of
1,200, 400, 800, 1,600 metres.

The relay method of racing was started in the United States about 1883. The original method was for
the men running the second quarter of the course each to take over a small flag from the first man as he
arrived, before departing on their own stage of the race, at the end of which they, in their turn, handed on their
flags to the awaiting next runners. The flags, however, were considered cumbersome, and for a time it was
sufficient for the outgoing runner to touch or be touched by his predecessor.
The baton, a hollow cylinder of wood or plastic, was introduced in 1893. It is carried by the runner and
must be exchanged between lines drawn at right angles to the side of the track 10 metres or 11 yards on each
side of the starting line for each leg of the relay. In sprint relays (400 and 800 metres) a 1964 rule change
permitted the runner receiving the baton to start his run 10 metres or 11 yards before the zone, but he had to
take the baton within the zone itself.

4x100 Meter Relay For Men at Olympics

4x100 meter Relay for Men at Olympics: The 4x100 meter relay event is also known as the
sprint relay event. It is a track event held on the 400 meter running track. During the race, the track is
divided into four legs, each of 100 meter length. The number of athletes competing in each relay team
is four. Generally, the runners carry a baton with them at the time of running

their respective leg. The baton must be passed from one runner to another athlete during the race.
Often, various strategies are taken by the teams to win the relay races. The last runner in the relay
team is known as the "anchor". The anchor is generally the fastest runner of the team.
4x100 meter Relay for Men in Summer Olympics: The 4x100 meter relay event was introduced to
the Olympic program in the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games. Since then, the event has been held at
every Summer Games. The domain of the 4x100 meter relay event has always been dominated by
the athletes of the United States of America.
Rules for 4x100 meter Relay for Men at Olympics: The International Association of Athletics
Federations or IAAF is authorized to set rules for the track and field athletics events. The rules are
strictly followed in the international competitions. The rules, which are vital for the 4x100 meter relay
event at the international competitions, are

The track will be properly marked at every 100 meter. This is essential to denote the distance
covered in the legs.

The area where the baton is passed to the next runner is known as the "take-over zone". The
length of the take-over zone is 20 meter.

The 4x100 meter relay event is held entirely on the lanes.

The relay team is allowed to have only two athletes as the substitutes after the
commencement of the race.

Runners are not allowed to leave or change their respective lanes.

In the relay races, the baton used should be made of wood. The shape of the baton should be
a hollow tube, essentially smooth. The size of baton has been specified by the IAAF.

The baton has to be passed from one athlete to the other within the specified area known as
the take-over zone.

The athletes are not permitted to wear gloves or use any substances which can enable them to
have a better grip on the baton.

Obstructing others' way during the race is a punishable offence. The athlete found to hinder
others' pace deliberately can be disqualified from the competition.

The athletes should remain in their respective lanes even after handing over the baton and
after receiving the baton.

If an athlete goes out of the track during the race, he is not permitted to enter the race again.

An athlete with two consecutive false starts is disqualified from the competition.

The athlete, who is unable to finish the race, is not given any credit for his performance.

The IAAF approved automatic timing device is only permitted to be used for measuring time
during the race.

Medal Winners in the 4x100 meter Relay for Men at Olympics: The athletes of the United States
of America have been the leading figures in the 4x100 meter relay event for a long time. Some of the
leading athletes, who have won medals in the event, are David Jacobs, Henry Macintosh, Victor
d'Arcy, William Applegarth, Charlie Paddock, Jackson Scholz, Loren Murchison, Morris Kirksey, Louis
Clarke, Frank Hussey, Alfred LeConey, Frank Wykoff, James Quinn, Charles Borah, Henry Russell,
Robert Kiesel, Emmett Toppino, Hector Dyer, Ralph Metcalfe, Foy Draper, Barney Ewell, Lorenzo
Wright, Harrison Dillard, Mel Patton, Lindy Remigino, Bobby Joe Morrow, Thane Baker, Armin Hary,
Bob Hayes, Jim Hines, Charles Greene, Robert Taylor, Mark Lewis-Francis, Marlon Devonish, Darren
Campbell, Jason Gardener, Maurice Greene, Brian Lewis, Bernard Williams, Jon Drummond,
Donovan Bailey, Carl Lewis, Mike Marsh and Sam Graddy.
Trivia: The USA relay team has been disqualified from the Olympic 4x100 relay competition thrice in
1912 semi finals, 1960 final and 1988 first round.
In the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games, the final of the 4x100 meter relay event was held between
only two teams. The third team in the final, Germany was disqualified.
In the final of the 1948 London Summer Games, the American team was disqualified from the
competition. However, after the review of the film footage of the race, the disqualification was
withdrawn.

EQUIPMENT OF RELAY
Baton
Small, very light wooden or metal stick that is passed from one runner to the next during a relay race

The relay baton is a smooth, hollow, one-piece tube made of wood, metal or any other rigid

material. It measures between 28-30 centimeters long, and between 12-13 centimeters in
circumference. The baton must weigh at least 50 grams.

The competition
All Olympic sprint and relay events include eight runners, or eight teams, in the final. Depending on
the number of entries, individual sprint events include two or three preliminary rounds before the final.
In 2004, the 100- and 200-meter events included one round of preliminary heats followed by
quarterfinal and semifinal rounds prior to the final. The 400 included one round of preliminary heats
plus a semifinal round.

Sixteen teams qualify for the Olympic 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays. Eight teams are eliminated in
the opening round heats while the other eight advance to the final.
The start
Runners in the individual sprints, plus the leadoff relay runners, begin in starting blocks. The other
relay runners begin on their feet when they receive the baton in the passing zone.

In all sprint events the starter will announce, On your marks, and then, Set. At the set command
runners must have both hands and at least one knee touching the ground and both feet in the starting
blocks.
Their hands must be behind the start line.
The race begins with the opening gun. Runners are permitted only one false start and are disqualified
for a second false start.
The race
The 100-meter race is run on a straightaway and all runners must remain in their lanes. As in all
races, the event ends when a runners torso (not the head, arm or leg) crosses the finish line.

In the 200- and 400-meter runs, plus the 4 x 100 relay, competitors again remain in their lanes, but
the start is staggered to account for the curvature of the track.
In the 4 x 400 relay, only the first runner remains in the same lane for the full lap.
After receiving the baton, the second runner may leave his/her lane after the first turn. The third and
fourth runners are assigned lanes based on the position of the teams previous runner when he/she is
halfway around the track.
Relay rules
The baton can only be passed within the exchange zone, which is 20 meters long. Exchanges made
outside the zone based on the position of the baton, not either runners feet result in
disqualification. Passers must remain in their lanes after the pass to avoid blocking other runners.

The baton must be carried by hand. If its dropped the runner can leave the lane to retrieve the baton
as long as the recovery doesnt lessen his/her total running distance. Runners may not wear gloves or
place substances on their hands in order to obtain a better grip of the baton.
Any athlete entered in the Olympics may compete on a countrys relay team. However, once a relay
team begins competition, only two additional athletes may be used as substitutes in later heats or the
final. For practical purposes, therefore, a relay team includes a maximum of six runners the four
who run in the first heat and a maximum of two substitutes.