Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES the ScotJ. Dalrymple, who stands 5 ft. 7 ins. and has beaten I85 ft., and another Scot, H. A. McKillop, standing 5 ft. 9 ins. and weigh– ing less than I I stone, who has beaten I95 ft. in practice and I 70 ft. in competition. None the less it is the tall men like Lemming, Jarvinen, and Stoeck, fast, springy, and very supple in the shoul– ders, who are the most likely to throw the spear -world's record distances. Equipment plays a very important part in the javelin-thrower's success. In the first place there are no spears in any way compar– able with the first-quality Olympic pattern javelins, which may be distinguished by their blue and white bindings. They are made by Sportarticles Company at Helsingfors, Finland. The same firm manufactures the best javelin-throwing shoes, which allow properly for the spread of the foot and have a broad heel with two substantial spikes. These are obtainable in England as the 'Simlam' shoe. Before describing the Finnish method of throwing, which has now been fairly well standardized throughout the world, it will be as well to say a few words about a new style which is being advised by the American authority Boyd Comstock. His theory is that the Finns cannot throw a cricket-ball or a baseball, having no experi– ence of the games, and have therefore developed a back action in throwing the javelin. Englishmen and ~-mericans, on the other hand, he contends, are experts at cricket or baseball, and therefore natural throwers. Comstock is aiming to develop a simple and natural style of throwing the javelin, in which the throwing hand need not necessarily come above the shoulder, but the arm ;1ction must be loose and exceedingly fast. In the Comstock style (see Fig. ISO) the run is ofno more than 45ft. in length from the first check mark to the second check mark. The athlete hits the check marks with his left foot when travelling at optimum speed. In the Finnish style (see Fig. I5I) the run between Check Marks I and 2 is not more than 50 ft., the athlete hitting the two check marks with his right foot. The next three or five strides in the Comstock style may take the thrower into his throwing stance, or he may terminate the run and take the stance by means of a hop. During the run the javelin is carried either above the head, with the point directed downward, or at the right side, at almost full arm extension, with the point of the spear a little above the position in which the shaft would be parallel to the ground. In the Comstock style thejavelin is held between the top joints ofthe thumb 3 s6