Track running

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Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in running on an athletics track as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland School Sport.

Risk level

Medium risk
Running activities on a grass or synthetic athletics track including sprint, distance, relay, walk and hurdle activities.

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. venue manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Compliance with the department's guide to managing electrical equipment in departmental schools and workplaces for safety switches if using extension or power cords.

Competition rules and procedures with additional or more stringent safety requirements take precedence.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time must closely monitor non-participant crossing points.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme heat).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider, the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity.

Emergency qualifications may include:

Medium risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching track running
an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with current Level 1 Youth Coach accreditation from Athletics Australia (or equivalent).

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adults of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. A thorough course inspection must occur before the event to assess suitability of the track (e.g. type of surface, debris), clear/manage hazards and ensure sufficient space to allow for deceleration.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity (e.g. enclosed footwear appropriate to the running surface). Consult Little Athletics Australia's Standard rules of competition for advice on the use of spikes, for example, no longer than 7mm (synthetic surface) or 12mm (grass surface).

Equipment (e.g. hurdles) must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.

The line marking of sports fields fact sheet must be followed if line marking is required.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Biological hazards Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)	Manage open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.4MB) for first aid and hygienic practices
Environmental conditions Weather, sun, humidity	Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers. Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing, sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside. Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions
Vehicles	If vehicle access is required to the track, closely supervise the access points
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Faulty or dangerous equipment	Use only regulation-size relay batons made from lightweight material (e.g. aluminium, plastic)
Hazardous equipment	Consider alternatives to hammer cap starting pistols (e.g. electronic starting pistol, gas powered horn, whistle, portable PA system). Starter pistol caps, if used, must be used in accordance with the explosives safety alert. That is, the caps must: be carried in a rigid container and never carried loose in pocket or hand be limited to the immediate number required avoid exposure to high temperatures avoid conditions where impact or abrasion may occur. Wear hearing protection when using any starting pistol or air horn. Load caps into the starter pistol only when it is about to be used. Use course markers made from non-injurious material
Running surface	Conduct a field check to identify and manage surface hazards. Clear the running surface from loose items or debris (e.g. rocks, burrs). Do not participate on a surface that is slippery, unduly rough or chopped up. Cover/fill surface hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads) to be level with the surrounds. Wear footwear appropriate to the running surface. Follow venue requirements, if available
Sharp implements or objects	Spikes are not to be worn when learning baton changing skills. Remove starting blocks immediately after the start of circular events to ensure they do not pose a hazard to runners at the finish of the event
Tools or equipment	If power is required, ensure electrical or extension leads do not pose a tripping hazard. Do not use finishing tapes in sprint activities. When hurdling: use lightweight hurdles for beginners and primary school participants. Place weights at the base that allow safe tipping during competition set hurdle heights and spacings to facilitate skill levels and correct technique ensure the hurdles are facing in the correct direction
Manual handling Lifting equipment, manipulating/moving students	Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying (e.g. trolleys)
Student considerations	Control measures
Collision	Ensure participants are sufficiently spaced for non-laned events to avoid collisions or spike injuries. Directly supervise relay changeovers to ensure runners stay in their lane during and after baton changes to avoid collision. Keep non-participants clear of the running track
Injury	Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment
Physical exertion Exhaustion and fatigue	Ensure students have undertaken sufficient training before participating in distance activities/events. Do not allow students to run after injury until the injury has been managed according to established procedures. If in doubt, the student should not run until medically cleared. Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks. Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities
Student issues	Implement procedures (e.g. roll marking mechanisms) to prevent separation from the group when participating off site
Visibility	Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs and are familiar with their needs

Additional links

Noise induced hearing loss
Athletics Australia facilities and equipment
World Athletics—manuals and guidelines—see competition and technical rules
Queensland Athletics coach education overview
Sports Medicine Australia injury fact sheets

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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CARA guidelines