long track

Two competitors occupy specific lanes; they take off simultaneously and skate against a clock on an oval track 400 m long.

lane

Strip that is reserved for a skater during a race; after every lap, competitors change lanes to equalize the distance covered.

assistant referee

Official who assists the referee in his or her functions.

referee

Official who is responsible for applying the rules; the referee ensures that the competition runs smoothly and makes decisions on disputes.

start judges

Officials who give the start signal and indicate false starts; a competitor who makes two consecutive false starts is disqualified.

500 m start line

marker

Each of the pylons that delimits a lane.

warm-up lane

Lane that speed skaters use to prepare for the race.

coaches

Individuals who train the skaters; they devise strategy and give instructions to the skaters throughout the race.

protective mat

Padding that covers the boards to cushion the impact when a skater falls.

assistant judges

Officials placed near the crossover area to ensure that lane changes are executed properly.

track judge

Official who ensures that competitors skate in the proper lanes, create no obstruction and perform their turns properly.

500 m finish line

electronic timing system

Device that automatically records skaters’ finish times.

finish judge

Official who ensures that the finish conforms to regulations.

timekeepers

Officials positioned at the finish line to ensure that the electronic timing system functions properly; they keep time manually if necessary.

lap counter

Official who uses a counter to indicate the number of laps left to the skaters; the lap counter also rings a bell at the start of the last lap.