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Bobsledding Rules And Regulations

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Published: September 15, 2006

Rules of Bobsledding

The rules rule in bobsledding! Governed by the FIBT (Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing), the rules of bobsledding are long, deep, and wide. Unless you are a professional bobsledder, you won't be familiar with all of the intricate little details of the FIBT's guidelines and requirements. And, perhaps even then, a professional bobsledder will not be concerned with all of the fine details. The rules of bobsledding are by no means lean, but the most important details to consider are the competition requirements, eligibility, and the actual race rules.

The FIBT holds sanctions over The Winter Olympic Games, World Senior and Junior Championships, the American and European Cups, and any FIBT competitions. All two-man and four-man races are monitored and graded by the organization, which also writes the rules of bobsledding. These rules are used in all monitored races and any penalties will apply, whether an Olympic or non-Olympic competition. According to FIBT rules, during an Olympic year, the World Senior and Junior Championships are not held because they are used in the previous season to qualify teams for the Winter Games.

Outside competition requirements, the rules of bobsledding outline strict criteria for eligibility. According to the FIBT's rules of eligibility, members of representative teams must have national citizenship in the countries they represent and not have participated in previous FIBT meets for another nation. The rules of bobsledding also require participants to have full residency in said countries and not change that status before or during the competition. National citizenship and residency are strictly enforced because any honors garnered will go to that specific nation as well as the team itself.

The rules of bobsledding are activated before teams can even get their toboggans on the plank. The FIBT oversees track design, location, length, characteristics, and bobsleigh specifications. The official rules of bobsled weight are as follows: minimum weight for two-man toboggans is 170 kg and four-man toboggans is 210 kg; maximum weight for two-man toboggans is 390 kg, four-man toboggans is 630 kg, and women's toboggans is 340 kg. Like any regulatory requirements in other sports, the rules of bobsledding place specific criteria on facilities and equipment. It's all in keeping the sport fair.

On the track, the rules of bobsledding become a little less intense. Teams draw for start times that are called heats. Heats provide a lapse in time between teams, so that they do not collide with one another. Multiple timers are set up for each recorded start, finish, and interim time. The rules of bobsledding are extremely fastidious about time because one miscalculation affects all recorded times. The rules of bobsledding require all sleighs be in order of draw and not be behind the plank or past the starting line. Teams have exactly sixty seconds, at the start signal, to push start their toboggans, and no one outside of the team may aid in pushing. Warm-up exercises are prohibited.

The rules of bobsledding also address damage to the track and sleighs, lapse of time due to damage, and dress. The rules allow teams to replace damaged bobsleds with reserve sleds. If a portion of the track is damaged, then teams who are inconvenienced by it are allowed to retake that heat, according to the jury's discretion. As for attire, the rules of bobsledding prohibit shorts and short sleeves; regulation helmets must be worn, and all gear must be committee approved. The rules promote regulation facilities, dress, equipment, and sportsmanship.

The FIBT's implicit decree is "The rules are the rules!" The rules of bobsledding allow very little room - if any - for finagling. Penalties for infringement of rules are, first, a warning, then a fine of up to 1500 Euros, and finally disqualification.
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