What Is the Recall Gun in Track & Field?
Summary
The recall gun is a secondary starting signal used to stop a race immediately after it has begun. Officials fire the recall gun if there’s a false start, technical error, or unsafe condition. It ensures fairness by giving athletes another chance when something goes wrong at the start.
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What the Recall Gun Does
Fired immediately after the starting gun if the race must be stopped.
Produces a loud bang, identical or similar to the starter’s gun.
Athletes are trained to stop racing instantly when they hear it.
When Officials Use the Recall Gun
False Start
If an athlete leaves the blocks too early or reacts faster than 0.1 seconds after the gun.
Race is called back and restarted.
Equipment Malfunction
Timing system fails, starter’s gun doesn’t fire properly, or block sensors misfire.
Unsafe Conditions
Distraction at the start line, interference, or crowd noise causing athletes not to hear the first signal clearly.
Recall Gun and False Start Rules
Since 2010, any false start = disqualification in elite competition.
The recall gun stops the race, identifies the offender, and ensures other athletes don’t waste energy running a full race.
At lower levels (youth/high school), first false start may result in a warning rather than DQ.
| Situation | Action Taken | Recall Gun Used? |
|---|---|---|
| False start in blocks | Athlete disqualified, race restarted | Yes |
| Starter’s gun malfunction | Race restarted | Yes |
| Unsafe distraction at start | Race stopped, reset | Yes |
| Clean start | Race continues | No |
Why the Recall Gun Matters
Protects athletes from wasting effort in a race that won’t count.
Ensures fairness when rules are violated.
Provides redundancy in case technology fails.
FAQs
Q1: Does every race have a recall gun ready?
Yes — at all official meets, a recall gun or electronic equivalent is always on standby.
Q2: Do distance races use it?
Yes. If interference or false starts occur, officials can recall distance races too.
Q3: Is the recall gun always a second pistol?
Not necessarily. In modern systems, recall signals can also be electronic (triggered through the starter’s equipment).
Q4: What happens if an athlete ignores the recall gun?
Officials stop the race regardless. Athletes who continue risk disqualification, unsportsmanlike conduct, or wasting energy.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
The recall gun stops races for false starts, malfunctions, or unsafe conditions.
It ensures fairness and athlete safety.
False starts today = immediate DQ in elite races, but the recall gun is still essential to stop the field.
👉 Related: Learn how the Starting Gun Works or dive into False Start Rules for full context.
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