Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES final result. G. Stoeck, Germany, who holds the Olympic javelin– throwing title and was also placed third in the Olympic shot put at 51 ft. 4! ins., lets the hand supporting the shot go right forward in the first half of the shift, and come right back to the shoulder just before the right foot reaches the ground at R2 (Fig. r64). This, I think, is either a trick taken from his javelin-throwing action or merely a natural counter-balance movement. Other shot-putters believe that they add to the forward momentum of the body by swinging the left arm down and across the body as the shift begins, and then up again with considerable power in concert with the forward and upward swing of the left leg. This action would give them the transitory pose shown by Baerlund in Plate LII, Fig. r66. Yet others exhibit a mannerism which has much merit, in that it gets the weight over the right leg, the body well behind the shot, and the line of the shoulders in alignment with the angle of delivery when the putting stance is secured. This particular movement is not easy to master, as the athlete's feet are both off the ground when he bends his trunk sharply to the right while his whole person is travelling forward to his left. Baerlund has commenced this sideways bend to the right)n Plate LII, Fig. r66, and H. Woellke, Germany, who won the Olympic title in 1936 at 53 ft. r! ins. is seen completing the movement in Plate LII, Fig. I67. Plate LII, Fig. r67, shows the completion of the shift, as the right foot is reaching R2 in Fig. r64. It will be noticed that during the shift and while both feet were off the ground the right leg, which was in rear of the body and fully extended at the start of the drive (Plate LII, Fig. r66), has been partly flexed and brought forward, so that the right shoulder, right knee, and right foot are in vertical alignment, with the centre of gravity disposed over the right foot when it takes the weight of the body upon reaching R2 (Fig. I64)· Mter the completion of the shift the body leans well to the right, partly flexed at the right hip, and the left shoulder and arm are well up, with the arm partly flexed at the elbow. The right knee is bent, and the left leg is moving forward, partly flexed at the knee and with the heel raised slightly backward. In Plate LII, Fig. r67, Woellke sets one thinking instinctively of a com– pressed spring about to release its power with considerable force. The thing which the athlete must avoid at all costs at .this 406