There are important rule changes (starting 1 Nov 2017) you need to be aware of. I don’t know whether Little A is applying them. Make sure you pay extra attention to the officials’ instructions:
- You must start your throw within 30 seconds of being called (Rule 180.17). This means you have to be alert and make sure you get ready when the person before you gets ready. They could have a foul, and so you might be up next within just a few seconds! At the same time the rules contain notes aimed at officials to ensure they take into account the circumstances. For instance, the official should only call your name once the circle is ready for you to throw.
- Don’t leave the competition area without the permission of an official otherwise you may be disqualified (Rule 180.19).
- After commencing your throw you are now allowed to touch/scrape the ground outside the circe, but only as long as you don’t ‘propel’ yourself in the process, in other words you are still not allowed to push off the back of the circle, and in fact you still are not allowed to clip the inside edge of the rim of the circle (Rule 187.14(b)). The note reads:
Note: However, it will not be considered a failure if the touch is made without providing any propulsion and occurs during any first rotation at a point completely behind the white line which is drawn outside the circle running, theoretically, through the centre of the circle.
To get a copy of the complete rule book, click here.