Every decathlete should be familiar with track and field rules, and with a few exceptions the decathlon events are conducted by the same rules as the individual events. These exceptions can be found in the decathlon/multi-event section of rulebooks. Unfortunately, in the U.S. there are four different rulebooks being used, depending on the level of competition.

a) International meets	IAAF Rulebook
b) National/domestic meets	USA T&F Rulebook
c) Collegiate meets	NCAA Rulebook
d) High School meets	National High School Rulebook

Just make certain what set of rules under which your decathlon meet is being conducted. But don't despair. The differences in the rules are very minor.

Here are a few of the differences between normal track & field rules and decathlon practices:

1. The Decathlon for men must always be held on two consecutive days and contested in the following order:

The Decathlon for women must always be held on two consecutive days and contested in the following order:

The rulebooks will also list the order for other multi-event competition including men's pentathlon, women's heptathlon and indoor multi events.

2. An interval of at least 30 minutes should be allowed between the time one event ends and the next event begins. At the discretion of the games committee this interval can be altered.

3. Each competitor will be allowed only three attempts in the long jump, shot put, discus throw and javelin throw.

4. It is recommended that fully automatic timing be used. If the meet is manually timed, three time keepers shall time each competitor independently. If the times differ the median time shall be adopted. If for any reason only two register times, and they differ, the slower of the two shall be adopted as official.

5. At the present time the IAAF has adopted a new false start rule, charging any also start to the entire field and disqualifying an athlete after the next false start. It was not a welcome addition to the rulebook. In the US organizing groups have resisted this rule and continue to disqualify runners after two false starts. Athletes and coaches should be informed as to which false start rule applies for it can make a difference.

6. In the high jump and pole vault the games committee (not the athletes!) will set the starting height and the bar will be raised by 3cm (for high jump) and 10cm (for pole vault). The specific sets of heights (for example, high jump bar going through 2.00m, or 2.01m, or 2.02m; or pole vault bar going thru 4.00 m or 4.01m or 4.02m , etc) can be announced well in advance of the event and the starting heights adjusted downward to accommodate all athletes. It is not recommended that the athletes determine the starting height, a common and faulty practice only in the US. Not only does this practice give the weakest athletes a competitive advantage but it makes the decathlon the world's only sport where the weakest athletes set the rules!

7. All measurements are metric. It is recommended that all measurements be made with a steel tape. The shot put, discus and javelin throws are measured to the least centimeter. Until recently the discus and javelin had to be measured to the least even centimeter. This is no longer the case.

8. The determination of sections and lane assignments for running events can be drawn by lot but it is now standard practice to use recent past performances to seed races. It is recommended that only past performances from the qualifying window be used. In some cases this may be the current indoor season. In others it may be more than a year (e.g. IAAF world champs or Olympic Games). We now live in an information world and such data is readily available. Seeding is also advisable in field events, especially in the high jump and pole vault. No fewer than three competitors shall start in any section. In the final event, the 1500 meters, the leaders after nine events should run in the same section. The referee shall have the power to rearrange groups. Because modern timing equipment can handle large fields, it has become standard practice to include many athletes (up to 24) in 1500m sections.

9. Hurdles are placed in adjacent lanes, except in collegiate meets where hurdles, if there is a sufficient reason, can be placed in alternate lanes.

10. If a competitor fouls another competitor in any event he shall lose the points gained for that event but shall be allowed to compete in succeeding events unless the referee deems that the loss of points is not a sufficient penalty.

11. Athletes must make an attempt at each event. This rule is designed to guarantee that the athlete intends to do a 'decathlon' and not just set records or get a workout in single events. Athletes failing to start any event are considered to have abandoned the competition, receive no final score and are not included in the final placing.

12. The event scores, cumulative scores and places shall be announced to the competitors at the completion of each event.