Running · rule
Athletics False Start, Visualised
See why reacting to the gun sooner than the reaction-time threshold is ruled a false start.
Step-by-step · SVG · accessible
Step 1 of 4
On your marks, set
Sprinters settle in the blocks and hold still on “set”.
Examples
- A sprinter leaving 0.08 s after the gun is flagged for a false start.
- A reaction of 0.14 s is a fast but legal start.
Common mistakes
- • Thinking any twitch is a false start — the ruling is based on the reaction-time threshold.
- • Assuming the rule is the same at every level; standards differ.
How the rule has evolved
- False-start rules have tightened over time, moving from an allowance per race to a stricter standard at elite level.
Official references
Verified sources pending
This visualiser explains the rule in general, educational terms. Links to the governing body’s official rulebook are added only once verified through the knowledge pipeline — we don’t cite sources we haven’t confirmed. For the definitive wording, always consult the official rules for your competition.