Top 10 Rules of Bobsleigh

Bobsleigh, also known as bobsled, is an extremely high-speed winter sport that takes place on a long, winding, slippery track of ice. Races consist of between one and four athletes whose goal is to cross the finish line and achieve the fastest time. Keep reading to learn about the top 10 most important rules of bobsleigh.

What are the most important rules of bobsleigh?

1. Event Types
2. Track Regulations
3. Sled Weight Rules
4. Safety Rules
5. Position Rules
6. Timing Rules
7. Scoring Rules
8. Substitution Rules
9. Disqualification Rules
10. Olympic Qualification Rules

1. Event Types

In the Olympics, there are four bobsleigh events. The four bobsleigh events are a two-man event, a four-man event, a two-woman event, and a one-woman (monobob) event. In the two-man and two-woman events, there is a pilot and a brakeman. In the four-man event, there is a pilot, a brakeman, and two crewmen. In the women’s monobob event, there is one pilot. Each discipline is held on the same track, meaning every event will cover the same distance. Additionally, the timing system and general rules are consistent throughout each event.

2. Track Regulations

As one of the fastest sports in the Winter Olympics, alongside luge and skeleton, bobsleigh tracks must meet certain parameters to ensure the sport can be as safe as possible. The length of a bobsleigh track is typically between 1200 meters and 1600 meters. The track, made of concrete covered in ice, must be made so that a sled can reach from 80 miles per hour to 100 miles per hour within the first 250 meters. A bobsleigh track must also feature at least 15 turns, a labyrinth section (three quick turns in close proximity), and a straight section. Additionally, the track should be on a downward sloping elevation, dropping from 110 meters to 125 meters over the length of the track.

3. Sled Weight Rules

Since there are different events in bobsleigh with different numbers of competing athletes, the weight requirements for the sleds vary. Heavier sleds are able to travel much more quickly down the ice, so there are maximum weight requirements to ensure fairness and safety for the athletes. In a four-person race, the sled and athletes combined cannot exceed 630 kilograms. In a two-man event, the combined weight cannot exceed 390 kilograms. In a two-woman event, the combined weight cannot exceed 325 kilograms. In a monobob event, the sled must weigh at least 162 kilograms by itself, and at most 247 kilograms, including the weight of the athlete.

4. Safety Rules

In a high-speed sport such as bobsleigh, safety precautions are of the utmost importance. Both safety gear and rules are required in order to ensure each athlete’s safety. Every athlete wears a plastic helmet, goggles, spiked shoes, and a tight-fit uniform. The spiked shoes are for traction on the slippery ice since the athletes are running before getting into the sled. Every brakeman wears a protective (Kevlar) vest to protect them from burns during friction between the sled and the ice. 

5. Position Rules

The positions are essentially the same in the different bobsleigh events, with varying amounts of athletes in the sled. The athletes are always arranged in a straight line from the front to the back of the sled. In the two-person bobsled events, there is one pilot and one brakeman. The pilot’s role is to steer the sleigh along the ice track by pulling on the right and left D-ring handles. The brakeman’s role is to slow the sled down when approaching turns and stop the sled at the end of the track. In four-person events, two crewmen help push the sled to gain speed before jumping in and helping the sled maintain its balance. Players that are not the driver keep their heads tucked in during the ride to ensure balance.

6. Timing Rules

Bobsled scoring is based on time, so it is important the races are timed correctly. The races are timed using computers to ensure accuracy. A race begins when the front of the sled goes past the electric eye, which essentially creates an electronic starting line. The sleds are timed throughout their paths on the iced track and finish the race when they pass the finish line. The timing is measured to the hundredth of a second. If any number of teams have the same time, they tie in scoring and are awarded the same medal.

7. Scoring Rules

Bobsledding is scored based on the time it takes the sled to complete the race. In the Olympics, a team will race four times over two days. These four times are added together to create the total time, which scoring is based on. All it takes for a team to complete a race is that the sled passes the finish line, no matter if it crashed and was sliding, flipped on its side. While extremely rare, if there is a tie in Olympic bobsleigh, the teams would both be awarded the medal.

8. Substitution Rules

In bobsleigh, substitute athletes are occasionally needed if an athlete is injured or ill. Since bobsledding is such a fast sport, the ice track is designed so that if there is a crash and an athlete is injured, they can be promptly escorted off no matter where on the track they are. Except for the pilot, any position can be replaced with a substitute from the same team. To make a substitution, the team captain must provide a written request, and the team doctor or race doctor must present a medical certificate.

9. Disqualification Rules

There are a few instances that would result in a bobsled team being disqualified from a race. One reason for disqualification could be if the runners that support the sled are more than 4 degrees above or below their standard temperature because this affects the sled’s speed. The temperature of the runners is measured before each race. Another cause of disqualification from a race is if the sled’s weight, including the athletes inside it, is over the permitted maximum weight. Depending on the event, the bobsled has different weight standards. If a sled crashes or is flipped upside down, causing a player to be thrown from the sled, the team is disqualified as well. 

10. Olympic Qualification Rules

To qualify to compete in the Winter Olympics, an athlete must be ranked highly in the world rankings. These rankings are largely determined by performance in other major international competitions. There are 170 spots for Olympic athletes in bobsleigh: 124 spots for men and 46 for women. In order to qualify as a pilot, an athlete must have competed in eight races on three distinct tracks, ranked in at least five of the races on two separate tracks, and ranked in the top 50 (men’s) or 40 (women’s). 

FAQ