ABOUT THE TEACHING OF THROWING EVENTS By Friedheld Endemann The following address provides a general outline of principles applied to learning practices in throwing events with recommended sequences for the development of basic and refined techniques in the javelin, discus and shot. Although presented by the author to an European Coaching Convention some years ago, the translated extracts of Endemann s address are mostly stil applicable today. Re-printed with permission from Modern Athlete and Coach. When we discuss learning practices in the throws, or any other event, we have always the target of developing an event technique in mind. To define the term technique, it can be said that technique is a solution to a movement problem, accepted by coaches and athletes as the best possible way of performing an action. In the course of the learning process the athlete attempts to get closer to the best way of performing this technique. As far as the throwing events are concerned, I would like to say that it is possible and also rational, to concentrate on the perfect technique, even when dealing with novices. However, it must be kept in mind that this will not be possible when very young and insufficiently developed athletes, in terms of physical prerequisites, are involved. It means that general and specific weight training, specific throwing training, sprinting and jumping are necessary to attain a satisfactory condition in order to get beyond the basic technique. A shot putter, for example, will not be able to get in the deep knee-bend position at the start of the glide until he has developed sufficient strength and power needed for an explosive leg extension. It can often happen that we push young athletes in technique training too hard, setting them tasks that they are not able to perform. For instance, we cannot expect an under 14 year-old athlete to make full use of the circle in the shot put, as this would make his glide relatively longer than that of top athletes. It would also change the rhythm of the movement pattern and lead away from the perfect technique, instead of approaching it. We have to check therefore which aspects and components of technique have to be stressed to the novice athletes. In other words, how we should restrict our demands when working with beginners. There has to be a second ideal or perfect technique, apart from the technique used by top performers. This second technique, to be suitable for beginners and youth, must consist of a basic form of the top-level technique.
Top-level technique should be the target of our approach, but to attain it, we break the technique down in order to adjust it to the different age groups and performance levels. We also take into consideration the stages and levels of physical conditioning and finally arrive at a simplified technique, reduced to the basic and most important components. Apart from the abovementioned problems in teaching an event, there is another aspect to be taken into consideration. It is not concerned with the development of certain aspects of technique, but the coordination of technique to develop its intrinsic quality, until it becomes a motor skill. When this stage is reached, the athlete no longer has to concentrate on the performance as a whole but can work and correct certain components within the total movement. This quality can be reached in three stages: 1. Development of basic coordination. 2. Development of refined coordination. 3. Stabilization of refined coordination. For the process of learning an event it is important to know at which stage certain basic forms of technique are to be developed. For instance, there are basic elements that can be changed or developed at a later stage. On the other hand, some elements can result in stabilized faults in the technique that will later prevent the athlete from reaching his optimal performance. WHOLE - PART - WHOLE I believe, as far as the throws are concerned, that teaching in progressive stages is the only way of getting the athlete to develop an efficient technique. This does not exclude the teaching of a standing put or standing throw. Shot, discus and javelin are acyclical movements with three different phases the preparation phase (turn, glide, withdrawal), the main phase (wound-up and throwing action up to delivery) and the phase after the delivery (reverse). The coach should separate these phases very carefully when teaching the event. Emphasis should be on the main phase, bearing in mind that the thrower can attain 80 to 85% of his performance with a standing throw. Consequently, the coach should begin teaching the standing throw and only after the athlete has reached a sufficient level from this position should the preparation phase be introduced. Last, but not least, it should be taken into consideration that the throws are power events and demand a fast sequence of movements. This often leads coaches to stress right from the beginning speed across the circle or in the javelin run-up, instead of stressing technique. Let me quote Lindner to explain: The slower the
first turn and sprint action to the centre of the circle is carried out in the discus, the better will be the continuous acceleration. As far as speed is concerned, the initial phase should be performed carefully. This allows the advanced athlete to attain a more efficient wind-up position and the beginner to learn the whole movement easier and earlier. THE JAVELIN My experience has shown that the six-stride approach is easier to master from a methodical viewpoint and can be highly recommended. It only takes a single session to learn it, once the standing throw has been established. Further, experience has shown that athletes can easily switch to a five-stride approach, if they prefer it, after a year of throwing from a six stride-pattern. Development of Basic Co-ordination The development of basic co-ordination is based on the following procedures: 1. Standing throw, facing the direction of the throw. 2. Standing throw with the body turned slightly sideways. The left arm is held in front of the body to eliminate the common fault of a premature rotation. 3. Standing throw with the front foot lifted and the body weight over a slightly bent rear leg. Emphasis is placed on dragging the rear foot to learn the action of legs and trunk. 4. The three-stride approach, first walking, then relaxed running, to develop rhythm. Attention is focused on the backwards extended throwing arm and the linear landing of the front foot. 5. The six-stride approach performed: a. Walking, counting: right - left - two - three and throw. The withdrawal takes place during the third stride; b. Running, using the same procedures; c. Running, adding first four, then eight approach strides to the sixstride final pattern. Development of Refined Co-ordination This takes place at the age of 15 to 16 years with 2/3 of the throws performed with a run-up and 1/3 from the standing position. The targets are: Work on rectilinear withdrawal of the javelin.
Improvement of the throwing action. Co-ordination of the run-up and withdrawal of the javelin. Development of Basic Co-ordination THE DISCUS The development of basic co-ordination aims to establish the 5/4 turn, although the talented youngsters should switch to the 6/4 turn as soon as they have mastered the 5/4 turning action. The following procedures are used: 1. Getting used to handling the discus by: a. Bowling the discus over the forefinger, b. Tossing the discus vertically in the air, emphasizing the correct spin c. Easy throws, using only the arm d. Standing throws with a preliminary swing, and extension of the legs at delivery. 2. Teaching the 4/4 turn from a position facing the direction of the throw and taking a long step forward, followed by a rapid turn into the wind-up position. Emphasis is on a looong -and fast rhythm.
3. Teaching the 5/4 turn without using too many technical terms and comments. Emphasis is on the correct swinging leg action with the foot kept low to the ground. Dropping of the left shoulder is avoided as the body weight is naturally transferred to the left leg. Development of Refined Co-ordination This takes place at the age of 15 to 16 years and has the following targets: Perfection of the standing throw, Learning and development of the 6/4 turn. The perfecting of the standing throw aims to establish an efficient wind-up position. Instead of a preliminary swing, the exercise used to teach this position is performed by swinging back the throwing arm behind the shoulder line (see fig. 3). In teaching and developing the turn, the following procedures are recommended: 1. Imitation turns into the wind-up position correction of the wind-up position standing throw. 2. Turn and throw with a shake hands i.e. the left hand is in front of the body in the wind-up position. There is a minimal pause in the wind-up position before the throwing action starts.
Finally, competition throws should be included in every training session. These throws (6 to 10) are carried out after the warm-up and a few standing throws. In technique training it is recommended to perform 3 to 4 throws in one set. Development of Basic Coordination THE SHOT The development of basic co-ordination aims to establish the O Brien shift in the basic form. The following procedures are used: 1. Standing put from a position facing the direction of the throw. The putting action is initiated by leg extension. 2. Standing put, as in exercise 1, but with the upper body turned sideways. 3. Standing put from a position similar to that of the discus wind-up. The putting action is initiated by the turning of the rear foot. 4. Backwards stepping action from the rear of the circle left, right, left and delivery. 5. Fuchs technique with emphasis of a fast extension of the lead leg towards the front of the circle. Landing of both feet occurs virtually simultaneously. 6. The O Brien shift, developed froma hop into a glide. Development of Refined Coordination This takes place at the age of 15 to 16 years and has the following tasks: Accentuated vertical trunk action at the start of the delivery. Complete extension during the delivery. Efficient putting arm action. Experience has shown that the abovementioned refined coordination tasks can be achieved by using four types of standing throws: 1. Putting from frontal position (fig. 4a) with the upper body turned slightly to the right. This exercise develops the following basic elements: centre of gravity over the rear leg, coordinated extension of the body beginning with the legs, action of both arms. 2. Throwing from a wind-up position using a javelin like action with light shots (fig. 4b). The hip and shoulder axis are parallel, the shot is taken from the
ground and delivered like a javelin. This exercise develops the extension of both legs and the turning on the balls of the feet, coordinated with and explosive extension of the trunk. 3. Putting from a wind-up position, as in exercise 2, with the shot held slightly rear above the shoulder (fig. 4c). 4. Putting from a kneeling position with the left knee on the ground and the back towards the direction of the put. The right foot should be turned 60 to 70 degrees. The athlete extends the whole body before dropping into a wind-up position. The left leg is responsible to initiate the movement with an explosive extension, coordinated with the fast turning of both feet.