Passing the baton at full speed

In the picture

1. 1Incoming runner’s hand: pushes the baton firmly into the waiting palm and keeps running until the handover is done
2. 2Outgoing runner’s open palm: arm straight back, hand steady, making a clear target for the baton
3. 3Outgoing runner’s head: eyes face forward, trusting the hand to receive without looking back
4. 4End line of the changeover zone: the baton must be passed before it crosses this line

Examples

• In a 4×100 m school relay, the outgoing runner starts sprinting when the teammate reaches a tape mark placed a few metres before the zone.
• At the Olympic Games, top relay teams can beat four faster individual sprinters simply by making cleaner baton exchanges.

Quiz: Passing the baton at full speed (Age 16)

1. 1

   In a sprint relay, at what moment should the baton be handed over?

   • When the outgoing runner is standing still, waiting for it
   • When the incoming runner has slowed down to hand it over safely
   • When both runners are moving at nearly top speed
2. 2

   What decides whether a relay handover happened inside the changeover zone?

   • Where the baton is
   • Where the outgoing runner’s feet are
   • Where the incoming runner’s feet are
3. 3

   During the handover, where should the outgoing runner be looking?

   • Back, to watch the baton arrive
   • Down, to check the end line of the zone
   • Forward, trusting the hand to receive the baton

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.