The sport of athletics is defined by the many events which make up its competition programmes. All events within the sport are forms of running, walking, jumping or throwing. These events are divided into the sub-sports of track and field, road running, racewalking and cross country running.
The Olympic athletics programme has played a significant role in shaping the most common events in the sport. The IAAF World Championships in Athletics is the foremost World Championship event, holding the vast majority of World Championship-level events within the competition. A small number of events, such as the 60 metres, are exclusive to the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Two further, separate World Championship events are held for their specific events: the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Cross country is one of many events which have appeared at Olympics but no longer form part of the Olympic athletics schedule. Some events, such as the mile run, remain very popular at competitions, despite having neither Olympic nor World Championship status.
ATHLETICS Key Stage 1 Running & Walking Lesson No. 1 Learning Outcomes Children learn to: A & D Develop awareness of speed and distance A & D Develop control and fluency in their movements A & D Develop listening skills and quick reactions S & A Use different running and walking speeds for shorter and longer durations.
Key: Present in current competition programme
Event | Olympic status | World Championship status | World Indoor Championship status | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | |
60 metres | 1900 – 1904 | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present | |||
100 metres | 1896 – Present | 1928 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||
200 metres | 1900 – Present | 1948 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – 2004 | 1985 – 2004 |
400 metres | 1896 – Present | 1964 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present |
800 metres | 1896 – Present | 1928, 1960 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present |
1500 metres | 1896 – Present | 1972 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present |
3000 metres | 1984 – 1992 | 1983 – 1993 | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present | ||
5000 metres | 1912 – Present | 1996 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1995 – Present | ||
10,000 metres | 1912 – Present | 1988 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1987 – Present | ||
60 metres hurdles | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present | ||||
100 metres hurdles | 1972 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||||
110 metres hurdles | 1896 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||||
400 metres hurdles | 1900 – Present (except 1912) | 1984 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||
3000 metres steeplechase | 1920 – Present | 2008 – Present | 1983 – Present | 2005 – Present | ||
Half marathon (road) | 1992 – Present (except 2006) | 1992 – Present (except 2006) | ||||
Marathon (road) | 1896 – Present | 1984 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||
20 kilometres race walk (road) | 1956 – Present | 2000 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1999 – Present | ||
50 kilometres race walk (road) | 1932 – Present (except 1976) | 1983 – Present | ||||
Cross country running | 1912 – 1924 | 1973 – Present | 1973 – Present | |||
4×100 metres relay | 1912 – Present | 1928 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||
4×400 metres relay | 1912 – Present | 1972 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1991 – Present | 1991 – Present |
Pole vault | 1896 – Present | 2000 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1999 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1997 – Present |
High jump | 1896 – Present | 1928 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present |
Long jump | 1896 – Present | 1948 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present |
Triple jump | 1896 – Present | 1996 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1993 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1993 – Present |
Shot put | 1896 – Present | 1948 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1985 – Present | 1985 – Present |
Discus throw | 1896 – Present | 1928 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||
Hammer throw | 1900 – Present | 2000 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1999 – Present | ||
Javelin throw | 1908 – Present | 1932 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1983 – Present | ||
Pentathlon | 1912 – 1924 | 1964 – 1980 | 1995 – Present | |||
Heptathlon | 1984 – Present | 1983 – Present | 1995 – Present | |||
Decathlon | 1912 – Present | 1983 – Present |
Event | Olympic status | World Championship status | World Indoor Championship status | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | |
80 metres hurdles | 1932 – 1968 | |||||
200 metres hurdles | 1900 – 1904 | |||||
3000 metres team race | 1912 – 1924 | |||||
Short course cross country | 1998 – 2006 | 1998 – 2006 | ||||
3 kilometres race walk (track) | 1985 – 1993 | |||||
5 kilometres race walk (track) | 1985 – 1993 | |||||
10 kilometres race walk (track) | 1912 – 1924, 1948 – 1952 | 1992 – 1996 | 1987 – 1997 | |||
10 kilometres (road) | 1983 – 1984 | |||||
15 kilometres (road) | 1985 – 1991 | |||||
20 kilometres (road) | 2006 | 2006 | ||||
Medley relay | 1908 | |||||
Marathon road relay | 1992 – 1998 | 1992 – 1998 | ||||
Standing high jump | 1900 – 1912 | |||||
Standing long jump | 1900 – 1912 | |||||
Standing triple jump | 1900 – 1904 | |||||
56 pound weight throw | 1904, 1920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Children of all ages love games that involve catching and throwing balls — not only ideal play activities to help develop eye-hand coordination but simple ways to get kids moving. With childhood obesity and diabetes on the rise, it's time to get the young ones to turn off the TV and turn them on to outdoor fun.
S-P-U-D
Gather the participants, and assign each one a number by counting them in sequence. One child receives a playground-sized rubber ball, while the remaining children form a circle around him.
The child with the ball must then throw it as high as he can straight up while yelling out a number assigned to one of the children. The child with that number must then catch the ball while the other children run away from the ball.
Once the child catches the ball, she then yells “Spud!” — the signal for all the running children to freeze in place. She then has one chance to hit another child with the ball. If she succeeds, that child receives the 'S' from the word 'spud'; if she catches the ball, the thrower gets the 'S.' The game then continues with the targeted child becoming the next person to throw the ball into the air. Children who have completed the word 'spud' must sit out for the remainder of the game.
Kickball
Using a playground-sized rubber ball, organize the group of children into two teams. Mark out an approximate baseball diamond with home, first, second and third bases. Position the children according to a standard baseball game with pitcher, catcher, infield and outfield players.
The pitcher then rolls the ball to the 'batter,' who then kicks it into the field. The fielding team will catch the ball and try to touch the runner with the ball to get him out. Follow the basic rules of baseball.
Four-Square
On a driveway or concrete playground area, mark out a 8-by-8-foot square with chalk. Divide this large square into four even squares by drawing a horizontal line across the middle and an intersecting vertical line down the middle. Position one child in each square. Play begins with one child bouncing the ball to the child in any other square of choice. The receiving child will deflect the ball to another square. If a child stops the movement of the game by holding the ball or missing the ball, or hits the ball out of the chalked lines, he is out of the game and the next player waiting on the sidelines will take his place.
Velcro Catch
Instead of using a baseball and mitt, use a Velcro shield and tennis ball. Purchase this combination of shield and ball at stores that sell toys. The catching shield is larger than a mitt and grabs the ball easily due to the Velcro, making this game ideal for beginners.
Start with two players face to face and approximately 5 feet apart. As the participants catch each toss back and forth, have them take two steps back, expanding the distance between the two players.
Chinese Ball
Either a playground-sized rubber ball or a medium-size beach ball will work for this game. Gather all the participants forming a circle with all players facing inward. Toss the ball to a random player, who then tosses it quickly to another player. The children to the right or left of the one who caught the ball must raise her hand nearest the child with the ball. Once that child tosses the ball to another player, arms go down. If a player raises the wrong hand, he is disqualified and leaves the circle. When only five children remain, the game begins again with all the players.