Speed Skating

Speed Skating Rules

Long-Track Speed Skating Rules

• Only two skaters compete at once in this format except for the team-pursuit and marathon events. In team-pursuit event, two teams having three players in each team compete and in the marathon event, a large group of skaters compete over long distances.
• Skaters must change lanes in every lap without impeding each other.
• Skaters may be disqualified from the race if they make a false start (starts before the signal), for impeding the opponents by pushing or blocking them, for going off-track or going inside the blocks marking the track or for any other rule infringements.  
• All rankings in this format are by time, so if a skater misses his/her race or falls, he/she has the option to start again.
• In team pursuit event, two teams start from opposite sides of the rink. Their skating time completes only after the third skater of the team crosses the line.

Short-Track Speed Skating Rules

• Four to six skaters compete in a race.
• Skaters may be disqualified from the race if they make a false start (starts before the signal), for impeding the opponents by pushing or blocking them, for going off-track or going inside the blocks marking the track or for any other rule infringements.