Coaching and Care of Athletes

RELAY RACING of the baton has a tendency to unbalance the athlete in the 'set' position. We will assume that the first runner starts with the baton in his left hand, to avoid the risk of passing it from one hand to the other. The three small sketches given below show three methods of grasping the baton in the starting position-that is to say, when the runner's hands are upon the mark. B c FIG. 78A. THREE METHODS OF BATON-HOLDING Sketch A shows a position which many runners prefer, because it allows the fingers and thumb of the hand holding the baton to make contact with the track, thus conforming closely to the stan– dard tripod finger-spread position used by athletes unhampered with the baton. The man using the method shown in Sketch A needs long fingers, or he will not find it easy to maintain the baton in position. Sketch B shows a position which gives a safer grip. On the other hand, the fact that the athlete can make contact with the track only with the first and fourth fingers and thumb of his left hand weakens his support, and is liable to throw him to the left coming out of the holes. Sketch C shows, perhaps, the best position, because the first finger curled round the baton and the pressure of the ball of the thumb serve to hold the baton firmly in place. In addition the thumb and all the fingers except the first are able to make contact with the track, thus gaining a firm support and giving the runner a balanced position. Two things to guard against are that the lead-off runner in the relay team neither drops the baton nor has it knocked out of his hand when the race is started with all the runners in line. The lead-off relay runner should start with the baton in his left hand, ~o avoid the need of changing it from one hand to the other while he 1s running.