Did you know that athletes competing in the shot put are not allowed to tape two or more fingers together? Or that long jumpers are forbidden from doing a somersault during their run up, take off or landing?
For anyone wanting to know more about athletics, World Athletics have launched an innovative eLearning platform designed to educate everyone from newcomers to experts.
The platform, hosted by the World Athletics website, will provide educational courses and webinars for those with a general interest in the sport, such as school teachers and club volunteers, as well as key stakeholder groups, including Member Federations, technical officials, coaches and medical professionals.
The initial courses available include those for budding technical officials, organisers of athletics at club and community level and anyone who wants to know more about the rules of the sport.
Over the next year, modules to be introduced include: sustainability and gender leadership training for Member Federations, health and science courses for medical specialists, and coaching certification.
The eLearning platform aims to be a unique education hub, improving people's competencies through self-regulated learning.
Elite coach and educator, Professor Cliff Mallett of The University of Queensland School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, said the digital platform was "a significant development for the sport’s learning systems".
"This eLearning platform, which is a significant investment, will contribute in substantive ways to the operations of World Athletics, including the ongoing professionalisation of coaches, technical officials, and sports medicine practitioners," he said.
"A key aim of the digital platform is to increase quality engagement with coaches, officials, and athletes, to build a stronger learning organisation and also to engage meaningfully with the athletics community to bring the sport closer.
"Two key features of this innovative and engaging system will be increased accessibility across Member Federations worldwide, and quality assurance through standardised delivery."
