Overview Of Short track speed skating

Game Rules

There are several actions that will result in skaters being penalized (PEN) from a race, and having their time rendered invalid.

Impeding: Pushing, blocking,tripping or otherwise causing an impediment for another skater

Off track: Skating outside the designated track

Team skating: Conspiring with members from the same country, club, or other individual skaters to determine the race result. For example, forming a wall to impede passing. These infractions are rarely called as it is difficult to prove.

Assistance: Giving physical assistance to another skater. For example: pushing a teammate from behind for an extra boost, or allowing a teammate to lean on another for stability in corners

Shooting the line or Kicking out: Driving the foot in lead ahead to reach the finish faster, resulting in the lead foot lifting off the ice and creating a dangerous situation for others

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Acting in a manner not befitting an athlete or a role model. Including cursing at a competitor, kicking your feet, striking other skaters or officials, etc.

Equipment: Not wearing the proper safety equipment, losing equipment during the race, or exposure of skin not on face or neck.

False Start: Leaving before firing of the starter's pistol. On the second violation in the race, the offender on that start is disqualified.

Did not finish: Usually due to injury, the skater did not finish the race.

Did not skate: The skater did not go to the starting line.

Equipments Need For Short track speed skating

Gloves:

Gloves are worn to protect skaters' hands from blades. They are especially important when going around a curve because the hand is placed on the ice to help maintain balance.

Goggles:

Goggles are not required, but some skaters wear them to protect their eyes from wind and ice chips. Tinted lenses reduce glare and aid visibility.

Helmet:

Hard plastic helmets prevent potential head injuries resulting from crashes with competitors, ice or side walls.

Protective wear:

Knee, shin, and sometimes neck guards offer protection from the blades of the skater in front.

Skates:

Short track boots lace higher up the ankle than traditional skates and are constructed from customised foot moulds and with heavier materials to help stabilise the foot and ankle around corners. To grip the ice around turns, blades are extremely sharp and are bent in at an arc that mirrors the direction of the turn. In addition, blades are placed off-centre to the left so the boot does not touch the ice when the skater leans into the turn.

Skin-tight suit:

Skin-tight suits mould to the skater's body to reduce wind resistance.

History Of Short track speed skating

In short track speed skating, athletes compete not against the clock, but against each other. This introduces the elements of strategy, bravery and skill needed for racing.

North American origin:

Short track (or indoor) speed skating began in Canada and the United States of America were they held mass start competitions on an oval track as early as 1905/06. The lack of 400m long tracks led many North American skaters to practice on ice rinks. However, practicing on a smaller track brought new challenges, like tighter turns and shorter straightaways which lead to different techniques in order to win on a shorter track. These countries began competing against each other on an annual basis. The sport’s rise in popularity was partly thanks to the North American racing rules, which introduced a “pack” style of racing. Capitalising on this, the organisers of the 1932 Lake Placid Games, with the consent of the International Skating Union (ISU), agreed to follow these rules for the programme’s speed skating events.

International recognition:

Countries such as Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, France and Japan deserve a great deal of credit in the development of the sport since they participated in international open competitions before the sport was recognized by the International Skating Union. In 1967 the ISU declares Short Track Speed Skating an official sport but international worldwide competitions are not held until 1976. During this period of time countries kept competing amongst themselves.

Olympic history:

After having been a demonstration sport at the 1988 Games in Calgary, short track speed skating became part of the Olympic programme in Albertville in 1992, with two individual events and two relays. The discipline comprises men’s and women’s events. Since the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, the programme of this discipline has included eight events. 

It quickly became popular with the public, who are thrilled to watch rapid races on tight tracks. The skaters race so closely to each other that collisions and falls are inevitable, which is why the walls of the speed skating oval are padded.

Asian emergence:

In recent Games, China and Korea have emerged to challenge North American dominance in this event. Indeed at the 2006 Turin Games, it was South Korea who emerged as the nation to beat, winning an incredible six gold medals, and 10 medals in total.

Origin Of Short track speed skating

Short track speed skating originated in the speed skating events held with mass starts. This form of speed skating was mainly practiced in the United States and Canada, as opposed to the international form, where skaters skated in pairs.

Olympics:

At the 1932 Winter Olympics, speed skating events were conducted in the mass start form. Competitions in North America were also held indoors, for example in Madison Square Garden, New York, and therefore on shorter tracks than usual for outdoor skating.

At the 1988 Winter Olympics, held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, short track was a demonstration sport. It was upgraded to a full Olympic sport in 1992 and has been part of the Winter Olympics since. The programme was expanded from four events in 1992 to eight in 2002. The events are the same for both men and women: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000m, and the relay (5000 m (men)/3000 m (women)).

International Skating Union:

In 1967, the International Skating Union adopted short track speed skating, although it did not organize international competitions until 1976.

Championships:

World Championships have been held since 1981 (though events held in 1976-1980 under different names later received the status of World Championships). After several changes in the name of the competition (last time in 1989), the event is now held annually as the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships.]

Governing Bodies

International Skating Union(ISU):

The International Skating Union, founded in 1892, is the exclusive international sport federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) administering sports in the Branches of Figure Skating and Speed Skating throughout the world. (Long Track) Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating come under the Speed Skating Branch while Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating constitute the Figure Skating Branch. The ISU is composed of a number of national associations called ISU Members, who administer ISU sports at the national level and recognize that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU.

Synchronized Skating Events:

• ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships
  
• ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships
  
• ISU Synchronized Skating Junior World Challenge Cup
  

Timeline:

1889-The first World Championships in Speed Skating were held in Amsterdam (NED) for men only

1891-The first European Championships in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating (open to men only) were held at the same time in Hamburg (GER)

1893-The first World Championships in Speed Skating (open to men only) directly under the auspices of the ISU were held in Amsterdam (NED),The European Speed Skating and Figure Skating Chamionships (for European men skaters only) were hosted together in Berlin (GER)

1896-The first World Figure Skating Championships (open to men only) were organized in St Petersburg (RUS)

1897-The first World Championships (in Speed Skating) to be held outside Europe were organized in Montreal (CAN)

1906-The first ISU Championships for Ladies Figure Skating were organized in Davos (SUI) and became World Championships in 1924

1908-The first ISU Championships for Pairs Figure Skating were held in St Petersburg (RUS) and became World Championships in 1924,Figure Skating (including events for Ladies, Men, Pairs and Special Figures) was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games held in London (GBR)

1920-Figure Skating (with events for Ladies, Men and Pairs) was included in the Olympic Games held in Antwerp (BEL)

1924-Both Speed Skating and Figure Skating were included in the official program of the first Olympic Winter Games, held in Chamonix (FRA)

1930-The first World Figure Skating Championships to be held outside Europe, which included all three events together (Men, Ladies and Pairs), were held in New York City (USA)

1936-The first Speed Skating World Championships for Ladies were held in Stockholm (SWE) but would not become an Olympic competition for another twenty-four years

1950-The first international competition in ice dancing was held in London on the occasion of the World Figure Skating Championships

1952-The first World Championships in Ice Dancing were introduced held at the World Figure Skating Championships s in Paris (FRA)

1970-The first ISU Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Men and Ladies were inaugurated held in West Allis (USA) and became World Championships in 1972

1973-The first ISU Junior Speed Skating Championships were held in Assen (NED) and became World Championships in 1974

1976-Ice Dancing was included in the official program for the first time at the Winter Olympic Winter Games that were held in Innsbruck (AUT),The first ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships were held in Megève (FRA) and became World Championships in 1978

1978-The first ISU Short Track Speed Skating Championships, for Men and Ladies, were held in Solihull (GBR) and became World Championships in 1981s in 1981

1984-The first ISU Congress to be held outside Europe took place in Colorado Springs (USA),The World Cup events series in Speed Skating were inaugurated. Separate circuits were held for Men and Ladies until 1996

1990-The first ISU Congress to be held in Oceania took place in Christchurch (NZL)

1991-The first World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships were held in Seoul (KOR)

1992-Short Track Speed Skating was included in the official program of the Olympic Winter Games, held in Albertville (FRA)

1994-The first World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships for Men and Ladies were held in Seoul (KOR)

1995/6-The Grand Prix of Figure Skating series Series and Final were started,World Championships in Speed Skating in Single Distances for Men and Ladies were inaugurated in Hamar (NOR)

1997-The World Cup series in Short Track Speed Skating for Men and Ladies were launched,The Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series and Final were created,European Championships in Short Track Speed Skating were inaugurated in Malmö (SWE)

1999-The Four Continents Championships in Figure Skating for skaters from North America, Asia and Oceania were inaugurated in Halifax (CAN)

2000-The first World Synchronized Skating Championships were held in Minneapolis (USA)

2002-The first ISU Congress to be held in Asia took place in Kyoto (JPN)

2003-New Judging System tested at Grand Prix of Figure Skating Events for the first time

2004-50th ISU Congress held at the Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen, The Netherlands, where the ISU was founded in 1892

2006-Team Pursuit Speed Skating was included in the official program of the Olympic Winter Games, held in Torino (ITA)

2008-The first ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Event was held in Inzell, Germany

2009-The first edition of the ISU World Team Trophy 2009 in Tokyo, Japan

2010-100th Edition of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, held in Torino (ITA)