Athletic Training

118 ATHLETIC TRAINING them prevents the athlete from excelling in either. In putting the shot one develops the "pushing" muscles, while throwing the ham– mer is a "pulling" exercise. Therefore, which– ever event is selected the athlete should prac– tise it to the exclusion of the other. Shots are made in three weights, 8 pounds, 12 pounds, and 16 pounds. Th~ 8-pound shot is intended for young boys and should be used by all boys fifteen years of age and under. Boys of sixteen and seventeen years should limit themselves to the 12-pound shot and should not try the 16-pound shot before reaching the age of eighteen years. This caution should be carefully observed because success in this event cannot be obtained by a boy who puts an undue strain upon his arm before attaining his growth. The shot is put from a 7-foot circle. Four feet of the circumference of this circle has a · toe board 4 inches in height from which the shot is put. The rules of shot put– ting provide that each competitor shall be al– lowed three puts, and in case of finals the best three or four men are allowed three more puts. Each competitor is credited with