How do the throwing and jumping events actually work?
Each has its own rules about what counts as a legal attempt, how many attempts you get, and how ties are resolved — and the details decide competitions far more often than raw ability does.
The competition format, common to most:
Three attempts for all competitors, then the leading group — commonly the top eight — receive three more. A poor first round can eliminate an athlete capable of winning, which is why opening attempts are frequently conservative.
Order is drawn, then reversed by standing for the final rounds, so the leader goes last.
A time limit per attempt, typically a minute.
The throws:
Shot put — the shot must be pushed from the shoulder, not thrown, and must not drop behind the shoulder line. The athlete must leave the circle from the back half, after the implement lands.
Discus and hammer — thrown from a circle, must land within a marked sector, and the athlete must not leave the circle until the implement has landed.
Javelin — the only throw with a run-up; must be held at the grip, thrown over the shoulder, and — the rule that decides many attempts — the metal head must strike the ground before any other part, though it need not stick in.
A foul in any throw is touching outside the circle or over the line during the attempt, which is why athletes freeze after releasing.
The jumps:
Long jump and triple jump — measured from the take-off line to the nearest mark in the sand, so taking off well behind the board loses distance that was actually jumped. Stepping over the board is a foul, now detected by video rather than plasticine in elite competition.
Triple jump has a defined hop, step and jump sequence, with the same foot landing after the hop.
High jump and pole vault work by bar heights rather than measurement. Athletes choose which heights to attempt and may pass. Three consecutive failures at any point ends the competition, regardless of heights already cleared.
Ties are broken by fewest failures at the final height, then fewest overall — which is why passing strategically is a genuine tactical decision.