The short course prevention factor (SCPF) is a multiplicative factor or coefficient used in the sport of

athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competi ...

, specifically

road running Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain. These events are usually classified as long-distance ...

, to ensure that the measured length of a course is at least as long as the desired length of the course.

World Athletics World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body fo ...

, the international

governing body A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ...

for athletics, as well as

USA Track & Field USA Track & Field (USATF) is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking (known as the sport of athletics outside the US). The USATF was known between 1979 and ...

, the national governing body for the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, specify the numerical factor of the SCPF to be 1.001. The SCPF has important implications when verifying

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...

performances. However, just because the SCPF has been added to the measurement calculation, that does not mean that a 10k course is 10,010 meters in length. The SCPF is designed to make sure that, in spite of wobble of the bicycle used for measuring, or small curves to avoid potholes or other obstructions, the course will still be at least as long as the advertised distance. All certified 10k courses should be longer than 10,000 meters, but will normally be less than 10,010 meters, depending on the measurer, and obstructions/hazards present during measurement. The SCPF applies to courses measured by a bicycle and does not apply to measurements made with a steel tape or with an electronic measuring device.

References

USATF Course Measurement and Certification Procedures: The Shortest Possible Route
Retrieved May 26, 2010.
USATF Course Measurement and Certification Procedures: Statement of Requirements
Retrieved May 26, 2010. *

Retrieved May 26, 2010. Sports rules and regulations Sport of athletics terminology {{athletics-stub

See also

References