|
Dec-23-2008
USATF Amends Headphone Rule
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
It has been a topic of hot debate on internet message boards, industry group convention floors and group runs. Battle lines were drawn and nearly everyone was asked at some point to take a side: do you support the ban on wearing headphones during running races?
The controversy stemmed from a little-known IAAF rule which prohibited top athletes from wearing radios which would allow them to receive instructions and advice from their coaches during competition. The spirit of that rule had nothing to do with recreational runners participating in road races who wanted to listen to their favorite tunes while they ran. Technically, this behavior was also banned, but only a handful of race organizers took action stop runners from wearing headphones. Other organizers openly flouted the ban, encouraging runners to "plug in" at their events.
Now, USATF has modified the rule governing the wearing of headphones so that it is narrowly limited to the sport's most competitive athletes competing for important accolades or prize money. Rule 144.3, which pertains to the use of headphones and other electronic devices, has now been modified to enable race directors to choose to allow the use of headphones by runners in non-championship races. Athletes competing "in Championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices," reads the new rule.
"The difficulty in enforcement was part of the reasoning," said USATF Rules Committee chairman John Blackburn through a news release. "However, several good-sized races have demonstrated that they were able to enforce the rule. There were strong opinions on all sides of this discussion, both understanding the issues related to athlete safety, race organization, difficulty of enforcement. This resolution appeared to be the best position for USATF overall."
Many race organizers thought the genesis of the ban was due to safety concerns; runners may be listening to music which is so loud that they cannot respond to instructions should an emergency arise. Indeed, the issue had been couched that way by many who supported the ban, who also argued that plugged-in runners were discourteous to their fellow athletes, running in their own world and blocking race courses.
While the rule modification will certainly provide race organizers with much-needed breathing room, it will do little to quell the debate amongst runners themselves. Many serious recreational runners don't want to line up next to headphone wearers, afraid that their competitive efforts may be impeded. The new language of the rule may prompt some event organizers to offer headphone-free starting corrals to mollify those concerns.
|
