Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

SHOT-PUTTING During the winter months the shot-putter in train– ing should also practise sprint starting, and standing long and high-jumP,s, which are very strongly recom– mended. These sports will help to build up his legs and to make him quick across the circle, where quickness is so vitally important. He should also go in for skipping to make him light on his toes, and for "kicking" to enable him to get the leg well up in the kick at the back of the circle before the hop forward is taken. The ph9tograph (fig. 67) of R. S. Woods, President of Cambridge University Athletic Club, and winner of the 1914 Inter-'Varsity shot-put, shows a fine example of how high the leg can be kicked without upsetting the athlete's balance, if only he will prac– tise sufficiently. Here it will be as well to say a word about this " kick," for the athlete will need to be practising it. As it will be fully described later on, it is sufficient for the moment to say that the swing must come from ankle to hip, and must be perfectly smooth and loose. Of course, Woods is only at the beginning of his career as a shot-putter, and has still many things to learn; but his preliminary " kick " is the acme of absolutely perfect style. The leg seems to swing up of its own volition perfectly loosely, well above the height of the hip, without any visible effort on the part of the athlete. The shot-putter in training must learn to keep his balance on the right leg while the left is swung high up in all directions. It is only a matter of muscle control, and can very easily be learned. To take the shot-putter's preparation in the actual art itself, from the very beginning he must first learn