Tips

Using Artificial Intelligence to Schedule Athletics Meets

Posted on by Ian Martin

Master Timetable

Funetics Multi Challenge — Event Timetable

Start: 13:00  |  Finish: 15:51  |  27 June 2026
⚠ Revised: Long jump extended to 36 min per station (60 sec/attempt × 3 attempts × 12 athletes) · Minimum 5-min buffer between events for each group · Finish pushed to 15:51 (9 min inside 16:00 deadline)
▶ Track sprint — U10s 50m
TimeEventAthletesGroups
13:00–13:0550m Sprint6A
13:05–13:1050m Sprint6B
13:10–13:1550m Sprint6C
13:15–13:2050m Sprint6D
13:20–13:2550m Sprint6E
13:25–13:3050m Sprint6F
13:30–13:3550m Sprint6G
13:35–13:4050m Sprint6H
▶ Track sprint — U12s 75m
TimeEventAthletesGroups
13:41–13:4675m Sprint6N
13:46–13:5175m Sprint6O
13:51–13:5675m Sprint6P
13:56–14:0175m Sprint6Q
⏸ Groups R–U complete field LJ (14:01–14:16) before sprinting
14:21–14:2675m Sprint6R
14:26–14:3175m Sprint6S
14:31–14:3675m Sprint6T
14:36–14:4175m Sprint6U
▶ Track endurance — U12s 600m
TimeEventAthletesGroups
14:31–14:41600m12N & O
14:41–14:51600m12P & Q
14:51–15:01600m12R & S
15:01–15:11600m12T & U
▶ Track endurance — U10s 400m
TimeEventAthletesGroups
15:11–15:21400m12A & B
15:21–15:31400m12C & D
15:31–15:41400m12E & F
15:41–15:51400m12G & H
◆ Field events — U10s Standing LJ & Howler
TimeEvent (station)AthletesGroups
13:20–13:56Standing Long Jump 112A & B
13:30–14:06Standing Long Jump 212C & D
13:40–14:10Howler 112E & F
13:50–14:20Howler 212G & H
↺  Rotate (≥5 min buffer before next station)
14:10–14:40Howler 112A & B
14:15–14:51Standing Long Jump 112E & F
14:20–14:50Howler 212C & D
14:25–15:01Standing Long Jump 212G & H
◆ Field events — U12s Long Jump & Howler
TimeEvent (station)AthletesGroups
13:00–13:36Long Jump 112N & O
13:00–13:36Long Jump 212P & Q
13:00–13:30Howler 112R & S
13:00–13:30Howler 212T & U
↺  Rotate — N,O,P,Q sprint 13:41–14:01 before Howler
13:40–14:16Long Jump 112R & S
13:40–14:16Long Jump 212T & U
13:56–14:26Howler 112N & O
14:06–14:36Howler 212P & Q
▼ Estimated finish: 15:51 — 9 min inside the 16:00 deadline
U12 endurance (600m) before U10 endurance (400m)  |  Blue = U10s Purple = U12s

Event Schedule Cards

Officials Guidance Cards

Jumping Zone Event
Long Jump
U12s  |  Run-up approach
Set Up & Running the Event
  • Place athletes in the listed jumping order and allow them to measure out their run-up (restricted to 20–25m / 10–12 strides for U10s & U12s).
  • Allow each athlete 1–3 practice jumps depending on time available.
  • Call out the name of the athlete next to jump and the athlete after this.
  • Athletes use a controlled run-up and take off from one foot.
  • Athletes must take off on or before the take-off board to avoid a No Jump.
  • Each athlete has at least 3 attempts.
  • Measurement is taken from the take-off board to the back of the closest heel on landing.
Take-off Zone Option (Festival Rule)

Use a take-off zone instead of the board to allow more recorded jumps and fewer No Jumps. Measure from the point of take-off (as judged by take-off judge) to the point of landing.

  • U10s: 60cm zone, 20cm either side of the board
  • U12s: 40cm zone, 10cm either side of the board
Volunteer Roles
1
Jumping Order Controller — calls up the next athlete for their turn.
2
Take-off Judge — holds the measuring tape at the take-off board (or point of foot placement if using take-off zone). Can also check for No Jumps if short of volunteers.
3
Distance Measurer — measures and records the distance jumped. Must stand at the side of the sand pit. Use a second person to help record if possible.
4
Safety & Sandpit Monitor — looks out for hazards, ensures the area is clear before each jump and rakes the pit.
You Will Require
  • 1–2 long jump pits
  • Tape measure
  • Brush and rake
  • Cones
  • Recording chart or electronic device
Jumping Zone — Long Jump
Jumping Zone Event
Standing Long Jump
U10s  |  Two-footed take-off
Set Up & Running the Event
  • Children use a two-footed take-off from a standing position, with both feet behind the take-off line.
  • Each child has a minimum of 3 attempts.
  • Measurement is taken from the take-off line to the back of the closest heel on landing.
  • The participant may step forward after the jump. However, any step back or touching of the mat behind the feet results in the measurement being taken from that point.
  • If using multiple standing long jump stations, you may require one volunteer per mat.
Volunteer Roles
1
Jumping Order Controller — calls up the next athlete(s) for their turn.
2
Take-off Judge — ensures the athlete takes off from behind the line from two feet. Also holds the measuring tape at the take-off line, unless using a Sportshall Standing Long Jump mat.
3
Distance Measurer — measures and records the distance jumped. Use a second person to help record if possible.
You Will Require
  • 3–4 standing long jump or gym mats with a take-off marker
  • 3–4 measuring tapes (one per mat)
Jumping Zone — Standing Long Jump
Throwing Zone Event
Howler Throw
U10s & U12s  |  Standing throw
Set Up & Running the Event
  • Each child has at least 3 throwing attempts.
  • Children throw a howler as far as possible from a standing position.
  • Children must stand with one foot in front of the other. If throwing with the right hand, the left foot should be forward (and vice versa for left-handed children).
  • Children must not go into the throwing area unless requested by the official.
  • Measure the distance thrown to the nearest completed centimetre.
  • One official or helper should measure the best throw for each child once all attempts have been completed.
  • Children not throwing must be positioned behind the safety line.
Festival Deduction Rules

Any athlete who steps over the throwing line will still have the throw measured. Instead of a No Throw:

  • U12s over the line: deduct 3m from the measured distance
  • U10s over the line: deduct 1m from the measured distance
  • All legal throws: no deduction applied
Volunteer Roles
1
Throwing Order Controller — calls up the next athlete for their turn.
2
Throwing Judge — holds the measuring tape at the throwing line. Can also check for No Throws if short of volunteers.
3
Distance Measurer — measures and records the distance thrown. Must stand out of the area where the throw will take place. Use a second person to help record if possible.
4
Safety Monitor — looks out for hazards and ensures the throwing area is clear before each throw.
You Will Require
  • 9–12 howlers (allows 3 attempts for up to 4 children with no retrieval required)
  • Measuring tape
  • Safe area to throw into
Throwing Zone — Howler Throw
Running / Pushing Zone Event
Sprints
50m (U10s)  |  75m (U12s)
Set Up & Running the Event
  • Measure out the 50m or 75m distance on the track.
  • Place cones to indicate the start line and finish line if not already marked.
  • Split athletes into groups of 6–8 and assign each a lane. Place athletes in groups of similar abilities where possible.
  • Ensure all athletes start behind the line.
  • Give the commands: ‘On your marks’ — ‘Set’ — ‘GO’ (or blow a whistle to start).
False Starts

If an athlete jumps ahead clearly by eye, the starter recalls all athletes for a false start. There are no penalties for false starting, unless you are holding a licensed competition.

Volunteer Roles
1
Starter — drops hand to signal timekeepers to begin timing (or uses claxon or hand clap). Recalls athletes for a false start if necessary.
2
Starter’s Assistant — checks all athletes are behind the line. If unavailable, the starter can also do this task.
3–6
Timekeepers & Spotters — record finish time and order on score sheets. Aim for one timekeeper per two athletes. Each timekeeper records a time for each athlete on their stopwatch. Times are rounded up to the nearest 0.1 second (e.g. 13.47 becomes 13.50).
You Will Require
  • 50m or 75m track
  • Cones
  • Whistle
  • Recording chart or scoring app
  • 1 volunteer to start the race
  • 2–3 timekeepers to record results
Running Zone — Sprints
Running / Pushing Zone Event
Endurance Race
400m (U10s)  |  600m (U12s)
Set Up & Running the Event
  • Measure out the 200m or 400m distance on the school field or use an official athletics track.
  • Place cones to indicate the start line and finish line if not already marked.
  • Split athletes into groups of 6–8 and assign each a lane to start in. Place athletes in groups of similar abilities where possible.
  • Ensure all athletes start behind the line.
  • If safe to do so, you can run the 400m and 600m combined, with athletes starting at the same time from either the 400m or 600m start line. This may help speed up the competition format.
False Starts & Timing

If an athlete jumps ahead clearly by eye, the starter recalls all athletes for a false start. There are no penalties for false starting, unless you are holding a licensed competition.

Times are rounded up to the nearest 0.1 second (e.g. 2:31.46 becomes 2:31.50).

Volunteer Roles
1
Starter — drops hand to signal timekeepers to begin timing (or uses claxon or hand clap). Recalls athletes for a false start if necessary.
2
Starter’s Assistant — checks all athletes are behind the line. If unavailable, the starter can also do this task.
3–6
Timekeepers & Spotters — record finish time and order on score sheets. Aim for one timekeeper per two athletes. Each timekeeper records a time for each athlete on their stopwatch to ensure standardisation in case one stopwatch is faulty.
You Will Require
  • 200m or 400m track
  • Cones
  • Whistle, claxon or starting pistol
  • Recording chart or electronic device
Running Zone — Endurance Race
Ian Martin