Coaching and Care of Athletes

COACHING AND CARE OF ATHLETES putting is shown clearly also in Plate VIII, Fig. I 72, by L. Haas– Goerz, Salem School, Germany, who won the English Public Schools I2-lb. shot-putting championship in I937 with 42 ft. · The full sequence of body, hips, and arm action from the shift and landing to actual delivery is clearly depicted in slow-motion cinematography in Plate LIV, Figs. I73 - I75, by Jack Torrance, U.S.A., who holds the world's record of 57 ft. I in. Mter the shot has left the hand, but never until then, the athlete reverses the position of his feet. This he does by releasing the hold of the spikes of his left shoe, so that his right foot shoots forward to the stop-board, just to the right of the line of direction, while his left leg swings back and up behind him in natural and easily relaxed reaction. In making the put, and in the reverse, any ground to the left of the line of direction is absolutely forbidden territory. The athlete simply must not drop his left shoulder, bend his left leg, or break to the left of the line of direction~ or power which should be transmitted to the shot will flow out through improperly pro– duced angles. The sequence of instruction in shot-putting and javelin-throwing is simple, because one is not faced with the very real difficulty which is met in pole-vaulting and high and long jumping, which require the performance of a number of intricate actions at con– siderable speed while the athlete's body is unsupported. Again, the hammer~thrower must turn fairly fast to keep control of his missile, and, likewise, the discus-thrower, working in slow time, will find it most difficult to keep the discus from falling from under his hand. The javelin and shot can be carried and moved fully controlled so easily that there should be but little trouble in an athlete's mastering the essential technique by progressive stages in slow time. The first thing a novice should be taught is how to hold the shot. As a novice he should cradle the I6-lb. ball in the palm of his right hand, unless he has exceptionally strong fingers. In Plate LII, Fig. r65, it .can be seen that Hirschfeld disposed the shot well down in the cupped palm of his hand. He did not, however, put the shot from that position, for he had a trick of letting it roll up to his fingers as he commenced the shift. For big men who have had a fair amount of experience it is best to recommend a hand-support in which the three middle fingers are placed behind the shot, the thumb is to the right of 4IO