Why? The Science of Athletics

rg8 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS they will not have patience, }Jut prefer, or cannot resist the temptation, to see just how big a performance they can accomplish every time they turn out to train. Let us now take an ordinary brief instruction in Javelin Throwing, as delivered by Armas Valste, the famous Finnish athlete, at the English A.A.A. Summer School for Athletes, I934, and see how many are the matters with which the pupil must concern himself. Instruction in Javelin Throwing as given by Armas Valste. The Grip The usual grip is with the thumb and first finger gripping the rear edge of the binding. Some throwers, however, grip the binding with the thumb and second finger, the first finger being placed under the shaft-not directly under, but with the index finger a little to the right. In that way the grip is a little nearer to the point of balance and the first finger helps to keep the tail of the javelin from dropping and perhaps coming into contact with the ground. The Run and Carry The javelin must be carried during the run with the point downward. The arm is flexed so that the hand which holds the javelin is about level with the head. The angles which the javelin shaft and the thrower's fore-arm make with the ground are about equal. When the hand falls to the throwing position the wrist must be rotated so that the palm turns upwards. The hand falls to the level of the hip-bone, the shaft of the javelin lies along the fore-arm and the point is kept close to the chest. From that position the elbow leads forward ; this prevents the elbow from being injured and insures that the throw will be made over and not round the shoulder. The Check Mark The check mark should be from 8 to I I yards back from the scratch line, and the left foot must be made to strike this mark. The first two strides after the left foot has struck the check mark must be bounding strides, each of 6 ft. to 7 ft. in length. I