Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE DISCUS THROW fingers, as can be seen in Plate LX, Fig. 201. The complete details of the hand-hold will be discussed presently. When the thrower has taken up his position at the back of the circle, as shown by · Hoffmeister in Plate LX, Fig. 201, the discus is swung loosely across the body towards the left hip, and is then swung loosely back to shoulder height, as shown by Kulitzy in Plate LX, Fig. 202. Two or three preliminary swings are made in this way. The trunk turns to follow the discus, and the weight is transferred to the right foot as the discus swings back and to the left foot as it swings to the left. Although the trunk turns, the hips remain nearly square. Mter sufficient preliminary swings have been made to assure the athlete of his poise and balance the discus on its last swing to the right is-allowed to follow the path ofthe swing as far as possible. During this movement the thrower bends his legs and inclines his trunk fo the left, a:s shown by Schroder in Plate LXI, Fig. 203, preparatory to the commencement of the turning action. His beautifully balanced position is, indeed, well worthy of attention. The weight is still partly on the right foot, but is beginning to move on to the left leg in perfect co-ordination with the rest of the action. As the weight comes fully on to the left foot the right foot is picked up, and the discus descends to hip-level, but is kept well behind the body, and the turn begins upon the ball of the left foot, as shown by Andersson, Sweden, former world's record-holder, in Plate LXI, Fig. 204. The thrower turns, keeping the discus well behind him, until his back is towards the direction in which the throw is to be made. He then releases the spin upon his left foot, and the turn becomes a jump, which brings his right foot to R2. This part of the action is shown in Plate LXI, Figs. 205 and 206. Particular notice should be taken of the way in which, in Plate LXI, Fig. 206, the discus has risen to a high point behind the body, of the manner in which the right foot is put down pointing obliquely to the rear, of the – balance aetion of the left arm, and especially of the fact that the left foot is not put down at L2 (Fig. rg8) until the right foot has taken a firm hold. Another point to note is that the arm- and finger-pull upon the rim of the discus is continuous during the turn, and .that the throwing pull begins when the discus is out behind the body, as shown in Plate LXI, Fig. 206. The next phase is demonstrated by Andersson, in Plate LXII, Fig. 207. Both knees are bent when the left foot takes the ground, the body is upright, with the weight evenly distributed over both 435