Photo Finish: Burst Mode to Call the Close Ones

In short head-to-head sprints and relays, a judge sets the tablet in line with the finish and shoots in burst mode to call close finishes. It builds speed and fair play, and shows how technology helps officiate.

How to play

1. Warm up with high knees and build-ups, then explain: in track, it's the torso crossing the line that counts, not the head or arms (5 min).
2. Set up the photo judges: tablet at line level, lined up with it, off to the side of the track (3 min).
3. 20 m sprints in evenly matched pairs; before checking the photo, the judges say who they think won (8 min).
4. Review close finishes: did the eye match the photo? (5 min).
5. Team relays with photo finishes, rotating judges (4 min).

Rules

• Judges stay outside the lanes, behind a chalk line.
• Slow down in a straight line after the finish without crossing lanes.
• Photos show only the finish line and are deleted at the end of class.
• A photo decision is accepted without argument.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: race in a wide lane against another wheelchair user, or with an agreed head start.
• Students with visual impairments: run with a guide; the finish is judged on the runner, not the guide.
• Students who don't want to race: act as photo judge or starter.

Learning goals

• Improve reaction and sprint speed.
• Apply the track finish rule.
• Accept officiating decisions backed by technology.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tablets: 2
• cones: 12
• chalk: 2
• relay batons: 6

Teacher tip

The key is that the tablet sits exactly in line with the finish line; if it's off to one side, the photo lies. Mark its spot in chalk so every judge sets it up the same way.

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