Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES maintain his position, and how his eyes are following the flight of the javelin. That, I think, ·describes and illustrates as fully as possible the technique of the event. Teaching the style is quite another · matter. After a decision has been reached as to which type of grip the athlete is to use it is very important that he should become as accustomed to handling a javelin as a billiards-player does his cue or a golfer his club. He must acquire the feeling that the javelin belongs to him, and that he can perfectly easily do exactly what he likes with it. Such familiarity and natural ease are best acquired by the athlete's walking about the training-ground and constantly throwing the spear into the turf from 20 ft. to 25 ft. ahead of him.. This practice must be done in a special manner. · The javelin is carried quite loosely, and the athlete, on the completion of a stride with the left leg, carries his right arm back to almost full extension, with his hand well above the height of his head and the head of the javelin pointing forward and down at the height of his eyes. As the right arm goes back the chest is turned to the right. At the same time the right leg goes forward, and the foot is put down almost at right angles to the direction in which the athlete is going. The left leg then goes forward, and as the athlete inclines his trunk to the right in drawing back his throwing arm the left foot is put down. Without pausing, the athlete, with a good ..__._ pull, throws the spear into the ground. He must bring his body under the javelin and follow through on to the right foot to his right front. In this way he will soon become used to handling his weapon, and should acquire the trick of getting a good, long pull, which will transmit full power to the javelin in the longitudinal direction of its own shaft. Another practice is for the athlete to stand in the starting position and for the coach, standing beside him, to grasp the javelin in both hands and work it round in the proper manner for a throw, so that the athlete gets a sensory understanding of the arm evolu– tion. This practice can be done when the· athlete is standing still and also at a slow walk. · Next lay out a line of direction about 33 ft. in length. The athlete first walks and then trots along it, taking three steps to represent the three bounding strides, the last step comprising a high step-over action with the right leg, and goes through the appropriate arm movements, while the coach counts in a clear 394