The Rules Of Skeleton Sport

Skeleton is an exciting winter sport where athletes slide down a frozen track on a small sled, headfirst, at high speeds.

How to Do Skeleton Sport

Known for its combination of speed, precision, and bravery, it stands out as one of the most exhilarating events in the Winter Olympics.

The sport relies on a strict set of rules to maintain fairness among competitors and prioritize the safety of all participants.

The Rules

Weight Rules

The combined weight of the sled and the athlete, including all race equipment, must not exceed: 264.5 lbs (120 kg) for men and 224.9 lbs (102 kg) for women.
The sled and athlete are weighed using a scale. The Jury can decide to check weights at any time.
After a race heat, the Jury may request immediate weighing of the sled and athlete.
The sled alone must not weigh more than: 99.2 lbs (45 kg) for men and 83.8 lbs (38 kg) for women.
No changes can be made to the sled or equipment before the first weight test.
Additional weights (ballast) may be used to reach the maximum allowable weight.
Ballast weights must be securely attached to the frame, base plate, or saddle of the sled.
Ballast weights on the athlete’s body are not allowed.

Sled Rules

Only sleds meeting the rules for height, weight, and length can be used in the competition.
Men’s sleds must have the following measurements:
1. Length: 31.5 in to 47.2 in (80 cm to 120 cm)
2. Maximum weight: 99.2 lbs (45 kg)
3. Height: 3.1 in to 7.9 in (8 cm to 20 cm)
4. Distance between runner centers: 13.4–15 in (340–380 mm).
Women’s sleds must have the following measurements:
1. Length: 31.5 in to 47.2 in (80 cm to 120 cm)
2. Maximum weight: 83.8 lbs (38 kg)
3. Height: 3.1 in to 7.9 in (8 cm to 20 cm)
4. Distance between runner centers: 13.4–15 in (340–380 mm).
If the sled is damaged and cannot be repaired immediately, a replacement sled may be used, but only with permission from the Jury.
The Jury can order inspections of sleds, runners, and other equipment at any time during the competition.
Sled Construction Rules:
1. The skeleton sled must include these parts: frame, saddle, saddle plates, cowling, runners, bumpers.
2. Any sharp or protruding parts that could cause injury are not allowed.
3. Features like fairings, spoilers, or aerodynamic parts are not allowed, except for the cowling.
4. The sled cannot include materials like rubber or anything that absorbs energy, except in these cases: where the cowling attaches to the frame, padding for the saddle or surfaces, filling hollow spaces beneath the supporting surface.
5. Steel must be used for sled parts. Steel means an iron-carbon alloy with at least 50% iron content
6. The frame can include: two longitudinal bars with a minimum rectangular size of 1.18 in x 0.2 in (30 mm x 5 mm), ywo transverse bars with a minimum rectangular size of 0.98 in x 0.12 in (25 mm x 3 mm), and one guide per longitudinal bar, with a maximum size of 0.98 in x 1.77 in (25 mm x 45 mm).

Equipment Rules

Helmet

Helmets must have a shell and padding that cover the head and at least the ear area.
All helmets must have a smooth surface for safety.
Helmets with spoilers or sharp edges are not allowed.
The bottom edge of the helmet must match the standard shapes of helmets sold on the market.
Only the chin guard, visor, and their attachment parts can stick out from the helmet.
No extra aerodynamic parts or adhesive tape (except for securing the visor or goggle strap) can be attached to the helmet.
One piece of adhesive tape (50mm x 70mm maximum) is allowed on the chin guard.
Foam padding can be added to the chin strap with adhesive tape. This padding must not exceed 100mm in length, 50mm in width, and 6mm in thickness.
Inside the chin guard, padding can be added but must not exceed 50mm in width or 10mm in thickness.
The helmet shell must not have a concave shape, except for spaces for the visor.
Padding can stick out up to 3 cm below the helmet shell.

Shoes

Athletes are allowed to use shoes with spikes to help push the sled, but the spikes must be arranged in a brush shape.
The spikes must have a maximum diameter of 1.5 mm and cannot be longer than 5 mm. Each shoe must have at least 250 spikes.
Apart from the spike plate, the shoes must be regularly sold in stores and cannot be changed or customized.

Clothing

Training and Competition Suits
1. Athletes are not allowed to wear suits with shorts or short sleeves during training or competitions.
2. Racing suits must fit the natural shape of the athlete’s body and cannot have any inserts or devices to alter the body’s shape.
3. No aerodynamic parts or materials may be added to or worn under the race suit. Plasticized surfaces are not allowed.
4. The seams of the racing suit and any clothing underneath (like undergarments) must only be for joining fabric pieces. No extra materials, either soft or hard, are allowed in the seams.
5. If the racing suit has a hood, it must either be fully worn or completely removed. It cannot cover the athlete’s chin or be tucked in, rolled, or sewn into place. The hood must follow the natural shape of the head, neck, and shoulders.
Gloves
1. Gloves must always be worn while sliding on the track.

Start

During the start procedure, the athlete must step on the start block with one or both feet. The complete shoe must not cross the rear edge of the start block at any time.
The start line, which marks the first timing point, must be clearly visible.
Athletes must be ready and present at the start after being called.
The starter signals that the track is clear using both sound and visual signals. The athlete must activate the timing device within 30 seconds of the signal.
Athletes may push the sled to accelerate it.
Once the athlete leaves the start block, any assistance from a third party during training or races is not allowed.

Starting Order System

For major events like Olympic Winter Games, World Championships, Junior World Championships, the top 10 athletes in the current IBSF Discipline Ranking List who are present can choose their start numbers (1 to 10).
All remaining athletes start in the order of their IBSF Discipline Ranking from start number 11 onward.
Selection order: The highest-ranked athlete chooses first, followed by the second-highest, and so on.

Race Rules

Athletes must lie on their stomachs, headfirst, on the sled throughout the race.
Athletes steer the sled by shifting their body weight, as the sled has no steering mechanism.
Athletes are not allowed to use their hands or feet to slow down or push the sled during the race.

Finish

All team members or athletes must remain inside the bobsled or on the skeleton sled when it crosses the finish line.

Scoring in Skeleton

Skeleton scoring is based on time, with the goal of determining the fastest athlete down the track.

Timing System:
1. The athlete’s time is measured to the thousandth of a second (0.001 seconds) using an electronic timing system.
2. The time starts when the sled crosses the starting line and stops when the sled crosses the finish line.
Total Time:
1. Each competition usually consists of two to four heats.
2. The total time is calculated by adding up the times from all heats.
3. The athlete with the fastest total time (the lowest combined time) is the winner.
Tiebreakers:
1. If two athletes have the same total time, the athlete with the fastest single heat time is ranked higher.
Start Rules and Penalties:
1. The clock begins as the sled crosses the start line. Delays or false starts may result in penalties.
2. Athletes must not touch the sled with their hands once they are on it, as this could affect the timing.
Points System (Season Rankings):
1. Skeleton athletes also compete for overall rankings in a season. Points are awarded based on finishing position in each race, with higher placements earning more points.
2. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) tracks these points to determine overall standings at the end of the season.

Skeleton Points System

The points system in skeleton is essential not only for determining the rankings in individual races but also for shaping the overall standings throughout the season.

Athletes earn points in every competition they participate in, and these points accumulate to decide the season’s champion in events like the World Cup, European Cup, and other IBSF competitions.

Consistency is key, as every race contributes to the athlete’s total score, influencing their rankings, season titles, and even qualification for prestigious events like the World Championships and Winter Olympics.

Points Allocation:
1. Points are awarded to all athletes who complete the race, with higher placements earning more points.
2. The exact points depend on the competition format and the athlete’s rank. For example:
3. 1st place: Maximum points (e.g., 225 points in a World Cup event).
4. 2nd place: Slightly fewer points (e.g., 210 points).
5. 3rd place: Continues to decrease (e.g., 200 points).
6. Points decrease incrementally for lower ranks until the last finisher.
Season Rankings:
1. The points from each race are added together to form a cumulative total for the season.
2. The athlete with the highest total points at the end of the season is declared the season champion in their category (e.g., Men’s Skeleton or Women’s Skeleton).
World Championships and Olympic Games:
1. Special events like the World Championships and Winter Olympics may use a different points system or not award points at all. These events are focused more on medals and titles rather than season standings.
Team Points:
1. In some competitions, points from individual athletes contribute to a team ranking for their country.
2. Team points are calculated by summing the points earned by all athletes from the same nation.
Qualification for Major Events:
1. The points system plays a significant role in qualifying athletes for major competitions like the World Championships or Olympics.
2. Athletes with higher rankings in the IBSF points system are more likely to qualify for these prestigious events.

Track Conditions During the Race

The track should be swept regularly to maintain its condition.
If it is snowing, measures must be taken to ensure the race can proceed as planned.
Special care must be given to the ice surface from the start area to the first timing point (50 m). This section must be swept before each sled begins, including the start grooves.