Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Competition Format
In principle the Olympic Winter Games and World Championships are held over 4 heats; Continental Championships, Junior World Championships and all other official IBSF races, including the World Cup, are held over 2 heats (Art. 10.6.1). The combined cumulative time of all heats determines the final ranking. At least one heat must be completed for a race to be officially valid (Art. 10.6.1).
5.2 The Push Start
The push start is one of the most critical phases of a bobsled run. Crew members sprint alongside the sled for approximately 50 m on the ice surface, pushing the sled to build maximum velocity before loading in sequence. The pilot enters first, then pushers (four-man), and the brakeman loads last. Start time — measured from the first timing beam to a point approximately 50 m down the track — is a primary competitive differentiator. A difference of 0.1 seconds at the start can translate to 0.3 seconds at the finish.
5.3 Driving and Steering
The pilot steers using two D-rings connected by pulley cables to the front runner axle. Steering adjustments must be subtle — overcorrection scrubs speed by increasing friction between the runners and the ice wall. The ideal line through a curve enters high, crosses the apex at the lowest point, and exits high to carry maximum speed. Pilots study track geometry extensively and memorise optimal lines for each curve during training runs.
Different curve types demand different techniques. In a high-banked Kreisel (360-degree loop), the pilot must commit early to a high line and maintain steady pressure. In a labyrinth (rapid S-curve combination), quick transitions between left and right steering are critical. Straight sections between curves require the pilot to centre the sled and minimise runner contact with the walls, as even light wall touches create significant time losses. At 150 km/h, the pilot's reaction window is measured in milliseconds.
5.4 Braking Rules
The brakeman operates a harrow-type brake between the rear runners; only harrow-type brakes are allowed (Art. 12.2.8.2). It is used to stop the sled in the braking zone after the finish.
5.5 Monobob Specifics
The monobob event, introduced for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, uses the IBSF standardised Monobob provided by iXent (Art. 10.8.1). All pilots race in identical equipment, eliminating the technology advantage that wealthier nations enjoy in two-man and four-man events. The pilot pushes the sled alone from the start, loads in, and drives. Monobob push starts are shorter and slower than crewed events because a single athlete generates less force. The event has been praised for expanding access and making bobsled more equitable across nations.
5.6 Training Runs
Before the Olympic Winter Games and World Championships, 6 official training heats are offered (Art. 10.1.1). Each pilot must complete two training heats per discipline without accident to race; a pilot entered in both disciplines at a World Cup or Asian, Europe or North American Cup needs only one valid heat per discipline (Art. 10.1). Training runs allow pilots to learn the track geometry, test different steering lines, and build confidence at progressively higher speeds.
5.7 Start Order and Seeding
First-heat start numbers come from the IBSF ranking lists; at the Olympic Winter Games the 10 best-placed pilots present choose numbers 1–10 and the rest start from 11 in ranking order (Art. 10.6.3). In 2-heat races the second heat runs from 20 to 1 on the first-heat ranking. In 4-heat races, heats 2 and 3 run from 25 to 1 and then 26 to the end, and heat 4 runs from 20 to 1 on the standings after three heats (Art. 10.6.2).
5.8 Weather and Cancellation
The Jury, in consultation with the Technical Delegate, the Race Director and the Chief of Track, can interrupt or stop the race for reasons including track damage and weather (Art. 10.6.10). The number of heats may be reduced in cases of force majeure; at least one heat must be completed for the race to be valid (Art. 10.6.1).