Athletics (British Sports Library)

CHAPTER XIII SHOT PUTTING THE Shot P.ut is an event with which every school– boy is familiar, and yet the only one schoolboy I have ever seen perform in anything nearly approach– ing correct form is Dr. R. Salisbury Woods, the Dulwich College record holder and present English National and A.A.A. Open Champion. The main trouble is that our schoolboys never realize that this event requires much patient practice and no small measure of common sense. It is further unfortunate that the 16-lb. shot, designed only for the use of strong, fully matured men, is in universal use at our schools, whereas boys under fifteen years of age should use only an 8-lb. shot, those between the ages of fifteen and eighteen a 12-lb. sh9t, and the others the full weight implement after they have got their style and developed their strength. It is impossible for a boy to master the correct technique if he is asked to manipulate a weight which is beyond his strength. The shot is put from a circle 7 feet in diameter, 167