Shoe Regulations
(Extract from the Shoe's Frequently Asked Question):
Athletes
- Do I need to know the make and model of my shoe?
Yes, you need to be able to identify your competition shoe on the approved list for your event or, if the shoe was manufactured before 1 January 2016, at least know its make and model. - Where can I find the approved shoe list?
Go to: https://www.worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/technical-information and scroll to the section ‘Manuals & Guidelines’. The approved list is updated on a regular basis. - What happens if I cannot find my shoe on the list?
It is possible that your shoe was manufactured prior to 1 January 2016, or that the manufacturer has not submitted it for approval. In the latter case, you can email us with photographs of your shoe (including any names and/or labels) so we can contact the manufacturer. - What is the process for getting a shoe approved and how long does it take?
The process diagrams in Appendices 1 & 2 set out the procedure for getting shoes approved. Depending on the application and if the shoes need to be ‘physically’ examined, it takes, approximately, 30 days to approve a shoe. The shoe manufacturers normally handle the process for submitting an athletic shoe for approval, because the process involves clarifications which are of a technical nature, and they are better placed to answer than an athlete. - Which athletes do the Regulations apply to?
The Regulations apply to all athletes who participate in Applicable Competitions, as defined in the Athletic Shoe Regulations, as those Competitions are where World Athletics Rules and Regulations are applied in full. World Athletics’ position is that the rules are not intended to cover those club, school, college or masters level competitions where the level of competition may not be relevant for international statistics purposes and where, therefore, Rules and Regulations can deviate from those in force at World Athletics. For example, the Regulations will apply to:- World Athletics Series Events;
- Athletics programmes of: the Olympic Games; FISU World University Games; Commonwealth Games; Various Continental or Regional Multi-Sport Games
- One-Day Athletics Meetings such as Diamond League; World Indoor Tour; Continental Tour; Combined Events Tour; Race Walking Tour; Cross-Country Tour; National Permit competitions where the results are expected to be considered for international statistics purposes • National Championships, or any other competition where World Rankings points can be obtained.
_________________
The files below are provided for reference only. Only the latest files on the WA site are to be considered.
WORLD ATHLETICS APPROVED SHOE LIST
(As at 17 June 2023)
ATHLETIC SHOE REGULATIONS - FAQ
(As at 22 September 2022)
ATHLETIC SHOE REGULATIONS
(Approved by Council on 22 December 2021 and effective from 01 January 2022)