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Several coaches at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships have sought to explain the reason behind an unusual number of false starts on the opening day, with the leading theory being nervousness and anticipation.

Over 20 false starts were recorded on day one at Champs, which raised concerns for coaches and spectators alike as several athletes saw their Champs dream ending within a moment.

Gregg Scott, head coach of Ferncourt High, said: "I have observed the starts and I think that the majority of it is not because of the equipment, but the mental state of the athletes.

"I have observed that they are not waiting, but, rather, they are trying to anticipate the gun and causing a lot of false starts."

He continued, "When I speak to my athletes, I tell them to get in the set position and wait for a sound, don't wait for a movement. Only once you hear the sound, then you can react because, anything before that, you're going to false start."

Dwight Palmer, a member of the Vere Technical High coaching staff, shared his views.

"I feel like it is just their nerves because, with the new surface, some of them will want to make their presence felt. These kids have been preparing from last year for everything, and to get a false start here, I really think it's just nerves."

Jody Muschette, a coach at Camperdown High, also echoed those sentiments,

"Athletes are very nervous," Muschette said. "This is what they have been preparing for all year. As a coach, I try to create a calm atmosphere and try my best to keep them relax and confident."

Orville Brown, head coach of Wolmer's Boys', also voiced his observations.

"Since the introduction of the no false start rule and watching meets since that time, I have never witnessed this many false starts.

"It has raised a concern about the calibration of the equipment. I assume the technology would produce the metrics that it was designed to produce, but clearly something is off."

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com