Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING ANb CARE OF ATHLETES The instant the right foot touches the ground the right-leg thrust is made, turning the right foot to a position at right angles to the line of direction, and the left leg, partly flexed, goes forward to secure the point of resistance for the delivery some 6 ins. to I 2 ins. to the left of the line of direction. The right heel is off the ground and the left foot is raised a little during the movement, which is seen taking place in Plate L, Fig. I57. It will be noticed that the left arm, which must never be fully extended, has gone well for– ward, so that the left elbow is in line with both shoulders, to which the shaft of the javelin lies parallel, while the chest is now turned square to the right, the hand having been rotated to a complete palm-outward position. The throwing arm is still slightly flexed: it never goes back to quite full extension. Note the position of the right hand in relation to its wrist and forearm. The transition from cross-step to throwing stance is shown clearly in Plate L, Fig. I57· The right foot, as shown in Plate LI, Fig. I58, remains at right angles to the throwing-line, but turns now on to the toes, ·as the left foot is put down and secures the throwing stance. The space between the feet in the throwing position is 3t ft. to 4ft., according to the length of the thrower's legs. The walk-like attitude of the legs, both partly 'flexed, should be noted particularly. Directly the left foot is put down, 8! ft. to 9 ft. short of the scratch-line, with the ·foot at an angle of about 45° to the line of direction, toes pointing -..._ inward to the right, the hips are rotated as rapidly as possible from right to left. It is this action of the hips that puts speed into the throw. It is the rotation of the hips also that causes the left arm to drop, the head to go back, the chest to turn square to the front, ,and the fully relaxed right arm to swing in behind the right shoulder, so that the shoulders are level and the right hand rises to the level of its own shoulder. This phase of the action is shown in Plate LI, Fig. I58. It. is very important to remember that the throwing hand must be rotated inward to a palm-upward position as the throwing arm swings in' behind the shoulder. The right arm plays no active part in this movement. The further part played by the legs and the sole contribution of force supplied by the throwing arm are phases of the delivery action portrayed in Plate LI, Figs. I59, I6o, and I6r. The rapid rotation of the hips from right to left has left the right leg (Plate LI, Fig. 158) in a partly fl~xed position, and it is therefore ·capable of providing a final thrust. Meanwhile the right shoulder is snapped up and forward, and the right elbow, almost directly under or a 392