The much talked about no false start rule that will be used in this year's Coca Cola Games will be the main topic of discussion in the Games technical meeting today at the TFL Stadium.
Coca Cola Games Chief Organizer Vuli Waqa said while many schools feel that it is unfair to make this change since the zone meet was conducted under the old rule, he believes that we need to lift the standard of the game.
Waqa said the no false start rule is used in international competitions and our athletes need to move with this change.
A number of officials of the different school zones are opposing the idea, saying that the new international rule should be implemented.
They want the old rule to stay for now.
Under the new no false start rule, any athlete that breaks at the beginning of the race will be disqualified.
The old rule is that any athlete can break in the first start however if any athlete breaks the start for the second time, he or she is disqualified.
The issue here is that the international rule puts every athlete on notice that they will be disqualified if they have a false start.
There will be no warnings.
This issue will be at the top of the agenda when the technical and Secondary Schools Athletics Association AGM takes place this morning.
Some are threatening to boycott if the international rule comes in while others have stressed that they will take a vote on the issue on whether the new rule should be implemented.
Sila Central College head coach, Eparama Ratu said they are not happy with the international rule being implemented in the Coca-Cola Games this year.
He is suggesting that the rule should come into force in the next two years.
Marist Brothers High School Manager, Ashish Prasad said they are going into the games with an open mind, and are not worried whether the rule is in place or not.
However national athletics coach, Bola Tafou said the international rule on no false start rule should not be used in this year's Coca Cola Games.
We asked him why the people opposing the implementation of the rule are not embracing it as this is now the international standard.
We also asked whether it should be every coach's focus to ensure that the athletes are competing at an international level, understanding and practicing the international rules.
Tafou said while he supports the international standards but more work needs to be done before it's implementation.
The 2010 Coca Cola Games will start on Friday at the TFL Stadium.
