VOLTA HOUR — PROVISIONAL COMPETITION RULES
PROVISIONAL COMPETITION RULES — VERSION 0.1
Effective date: Not yet in force
Ratified: No

This document is a draft. It has not been ratified and does not yet govern any event. It is published so that athletes, operators and venues can see the format being built in the open. Rules will change before the first sanctioned event.

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1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

   1.1    These rules govern all events sanctioned by VOLTA HOUR under the VOLTA HOUR competition format.
   1.2    VOLTA HOUR is the creator, rulebook owner, sanctioning organisation and international league operator of the format. It is not an internationally recognised governing body for athletics.
   1.3    An event that is not sanctioned by VOLTA HOUR may not use the VOLTA HOUR name, and its results are not eligible for rankings or records.
   1.4    Where these rules are silent, the technical delegate's decision applies and is recorded for inclusion in a future version.

2. DEFINITIONS

   2.1    Race period: from the start signal until the last athlete crosses the finish line on the Final Lap.
   2.2    Circuit: the closed, measured loop on which the race is contested.
   2.3    Completed lap: one full transit of the circuit registered at the timing point.
   2.4    Final Lap: the lap in progress when the bell rings, which every athlete completes in order to finish.
   2.5    Lap total: the number of complete circuit transits registered at the finish line, including the Final Lap.
   2.6    Finishing time: the moment an athlete crosses the finish line for the last time.
   2.7    Technical delegate: the official appointed by VOLTA HOUR with final authority at a sanctioned event.

3. COMPETITION AREA

   3.1    The competition area comprises the circuit, the changeover boxes, the timing point, the athlete area and the medical area.
   3.2    The circuit must be closed to all traffic and to the public for the full race period.
   3.3    The running surface must be continuous, free of trip hazards and lit to a level allowing an athlete to see the surface clearly at racing speed.
   3.4    The minimum running width is three metres at every point, and five metres through the changeover zone.
   3.5    Only athletes, officials, medical staff and accredited personnel may enter the competition area during the race period.

4. CIRCUIT CERTIFICATION

   4.1    A circuit must be measured and certified before an event can be sanctioned.
   4.2    The certified length is measured along the shortest permitted running line.
   4.3    The finish line must be a single marked line beneath the VOLTA arch, serving as both the start line and the lap counting point.
   4.4    Certification is valid for the specific layout measured. Any change to the layout voids it.
   4.5    The certificate, the measurement method and the measurer must be recorded and published with the event results.

5. RACE DURATION

   5.1    The race clock runs for sixty minutes. Reaching sixty minutes does not end the race; it arms the finishing sequence.
   5.2    The official clock is visible from the circuit and runs up to 60:00, then continues to run until the last athlete finishes.
   5.3    The race may only be shortened or abandoned by the technical delegate on safety grounds.
   5.4    If the race is shortened, results stand at completed laps and are recorded with the actual duration raced. They are not eligible for records.

6. STARTING PROCEDURE

   6.1    All athletes in a heat start together from the marked start area.
   6.2    Start positions are allocated by the organiser. Position confers no advantage, because the result is distance covered in the hour rather than the order of crossing the line.
   6.3    The clock starts on the start signal regardless of whether an athlete is in position.
   6.4    There is no false start. An athlete crossing the line early gains no lap credit for that transit.

7. LAP COUNTING

   7.1    Laps are counted by transponder at the finish line, which is the only counting point on the circuit.
   7.2    An independent manual count is kept for every athlete and team for the full race period.
   7.3    Where the transponder and manual counts disagree, the technical delegate determines the count using both records and any video available.
   7.4    A lap registered in under sixty per cent of the athlete's median lap time for that race is flagged for review before results are confirmed.
   7.5    An athlete who leaves and rejoins the circuit must rejoin at the point they left. Rejoining ahead of that point voids the lap in progress.

8. THE FINISHING SEQUENCE AND THE FINAL LAP

   8.1    Once the race clock passes sixty minutes, the finishing sequence is armed. The next crossing of the finish line by the race leader triggers the Final Lap.
   8.2    The bell is rung at the moment the Final Lap is triggered and is audible from every point on the circuit.
   8.3    Every athlete then completes the lap they are on and crosses the finish line. That lap counts toward their lap total in the normal way.
   8.4    The race leader is the athlete with the greatest lap total at the moment the sequence is armed. Where two athletes are level, it is the one who crossed the line first.
   8.5    An athlete who does not cross the finish line after the bell is recorded at their completed laps but is not classified as a VOLTA finisher and does not earn the city patch.

9. SOLO COMPETITION

   9.1    A solo athlete competes alone for the full race period.
   9.2    There is no minimum pace, no cut-off and no elimination. Walking is permitted.
   9.3    An athlete may rest at any point within the competition area and resume. The clock continues, and there is no lap target to meet.
   9.4    An athlete who withdraws is recorded at their completed laps, is not classified as a finisher, and must inform the nearest official.

10. GROUP, CLUB AND RELAY FORMATS

   RESERVED. The main VOLTA HOUR competition is an individual race. The rules in this section describe a relay format that is in development and is not in force at any event.

   10.1   A team comprises exactly four registered athletes.
   10.2   Exactly one team athlete may be on the circuit at any moment.
   10.3   There is no minimum or maximum number of laps per athlete and no required rotation order.
   10.4   RESERVED. A team's lap total would be the sum of laps completed by its athletes.
   10.5   A team that starts with fewer than four athletes may compete but is ranked in the team table with its actual roster recorded.
   10.6   An athlete may compete for only one team at an event.

11. CHANGEOVER PROCEDURE (RESERVED)

   RESERVED. Applies only to the relay format described in section 10, which is not in force.

   11.1   All changeovers take place inside the marked changeover box.
   11.2   The exchange is by hand contact between the incoming and outgoing athlete.
   11.3   The outgoing athlete may not leave the box before contact is made.
   11.4   A changeover made outside the box carries a time penalty under rule 15.
   11.5   There is no limit on the number of changeovers within the race period.

12. ATHLETE DIVISIONS

   Age groups are provisional and will be confirmed on ratification.

   12.1   Individual divisions: women, men, open.
   12.2   RESERVED for group, club and relay divisions, which are not in force.
   12.3   Provisional age groups: under 20, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 and over.
   12.4   Age group is determined by the athlete's age on the day of the event.
   12.5   Runners entering as part of a club or company are ranked individually, and their distances are additionally combined on the live club leaderboard.
   12.6   The minimum age to compete is 16. Athletes under 18 require documented guardian consent.

13. EQUIPMENT AND FOOTWEAR

   13.1   The bib must be worn on the front of the body and remain visible for the full race period.
   13.2   The timing transponder must be worn as issued and must not be shared, other than by teams as issued to the team.
   13.3   No footwear restriction applies at city events. Any restriction at championship level will be published in advance.
   13.4   Headphones are permitted for solo athletes. Officials' instructions must still be followed at all times.
   13.5   No wheeled equipment, pacing devices or mechanical assistance of any kind.

14. CONDUCT AND ASSISTANCE

   14.1   Athletes must not obstruct, impede or endanger another athlete.
   14.2   Overtaking is the responsibility of the overtaking athlete.
   14.3   Slower athletes should hold the outside line where the circuit permits.
   14.4   Hydration and nutrition may be taken from official stations or from an athlete's own supply in the athlete area.
   14.5   Pacing by a person not competing in the same heat is not permitted on the circuit.
   14.6   Abusive conduct toward officials, volunteers, other athletes or spectators results in immediate disqualification.

15. PENALTIES AND DISQUALIFICATION

   15.1   A changeover outside the box carries a one lap deduction for the team.
   15.2   Two team athletes on the circuit simultaneously carries a two lap deduction for the team.
   15.3   Cutting the circuit voids the lap in progress. Repeated cutting carries disqualification.
   15.4   Obstruction may carry a lap deduction or disqualification at the technical delegate's discretion.
   15.5   Disqualification removes the result from rankings and records for that event.
   15.6   Penalties are notified to the athlete or team before results are confirmed, and may be appealed under rule 18.

16. MEDICAL AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

   16.1   Qualified medical cover must be present on site for the full race period and for thirty minutes after the final horn.
   16.2   The organiser must publish a medical and emergency plan as part of sanctioning.
   16.3   An athlete instructed to stop by medical staff or the technical delegate must stop immediately.
   16.4   The technical delegate may delay, shorten or abandon a race on safety grounds at any time.
   16.5   Athletes must declare relevant medical conditions at entry, and this information is used only for their safety.

17. RESULTS

   17.1   Results are ranked by lap total, greatest first. Where lap totals are equal, the athlete who crossed the finish line first is ranked higher.
   17.2   Results are reported as a lap total and a finishing time.
   17.3   An athlete who completes the Final Lap and crosses the finish line is classified as a VOLTA finisher and earns the official city patch for that event.
   17.4   Provisional results are published at the event. Final results are confirmed after the protest window closes.
   17.5   A published result may only be corrected with a recorded reason and an audit entry.

18. PROTESTS AND APPEALS

   18.1   A protest must be lodged with the technical delegate within thirty minutes of provisional results being published.
   18.2   A protest may be lodged by the affected athlete, or by the nominated contact of the affected team.
   18.3   The technical delegate rules on the protest and records the decision and its reasoning.
   18.4   An appeal against that decision may be made to VOLTA HOUR within seven days.
   18.5   The appeal decision is final.

19. RECORDS AND RATIFICATION

   19.1   A record is eligible only from a sanctioned event on a certified circuit where the full race, including the Final Lap, was completed.
   19.2   Record categories: city, national, continental and world, in each individual division.
   19.3   A record stands only once ratified by VOLTA HOUR following review of the timing data, the circuit certificate and the technical delegate's report.
   19.4   Ratification may include a requirement for anti-doping control at championship level. Any such requirement will be published in advance.
   19.5   Records are held as a lap total on a certified circuit length. No records currently exist. The first sanctioned event establishes all of them.

20. EVENT SANCTIONING

   20.1   Only VOLTA HOUR may sanction an event under this format.
   20.2   Sanctioning requires a certified circuit, an approved timing system, appointed officials, an approved medical plan, insurance and an approved results process.
   20.3   Sanction is granted per event and may be withdrawn if any requirement ceases to be met.
   20.4   Results from an unsanctioned event do not enter rankings and cannot establish records.

21. OFFICIALS AND TECHNICAL DELEGATES

   21.1   VOLTA HOUR appoints a technical delegate to every sanctioned event.
   21.2   The technical delegate has final authority on the field of play.
   21.3   The organiser appoints a chief timekeeper, a chief marshal, marshals at every corner and an official at each changeover box.
   21.4   Officials must be identifiable and must not compete at the event they officiate.

22. CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION

   22.1   Qualification for continental championships and the World Final is by ranking and by qualification standard.
   22.2   Standards are set per division and published at the start of each season.
   22.3   Only results from sanctioned events count toward qualification.
   22.4   The championship structure is in development. No qualification standard is currently in force and no championship date exists.

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https://voltahour.run/rules