4x100 Relay: Exchange Zone Judges, Baton In or Out

Relay teams practice exchanges at speed while other students act as zone judges and rule whether the baton was passed inside. It teaches the real exchange zone rule and what it means to officiate.

How to play

1. The rule: in the 4x100 the exchange zone is 30 m long, and what counts is where the baton is, not the runners' feet. Mark two zones with chalk and cones (5 min).
2. Roles: each zone gets two judges with flags (one at each end); everyone else forms teams of four (2 min).
3. Exchanges at speed: each pair of runners does three exchanges per zone; judges raise white for good and red if the baton leaves the zone (10 min).
4. Rotate: judges become runners and vice versa for another round (8 min).
5. Review: each judge explains their closest call and the group decides if they got it right (5 min).

Rules

• Pass the baton inside the zone; if it drops, the person who dropped it picks it up without getting in anyone's way.
• Runners stay in their lane after the exchange until everyone has passed.
• Respect the judge's call; reviews happen at the end.
• Only one team per zone at a time.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard of hearing: judges use only flags and agreed signals.
• Limited mobility: serves as head judge in a wheelchair at the end of the zone.
• Nervous runners: start as a judge to see lots of exchanges before running.

Learning goals

• Know the 4x100 exchange zone rule.
• Make exchanges at speed inside the zone.
• Make officiating calls with good judgment and accept them.

Equipment for a class of 25

• batons: 6
• cones: 24
• flags: 6
• chalk: 4

Teacher tip

Mark the start and end of the zone with different colored cones so judges aren't guessing. The typical judge error is watching the runners' feet instead of the baton: remind them before each round.

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