Why? The Science of Athletics

200 WHYi' -THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS right foot coming to ground to the right of the line per– pendicular to the scratch line. This enables a full extension of the body to be made. The reader should run through these instructions once or twice and then picture to himself what a mess he would make of things should he go straight out on to the ground and try to make a throw in accordance with Valste's instructions with a full speed approach run and with the employment of his maximum strength. And yet that is just what athletes· are doing every day of the week. _Look however at Fig. 23 and notice how Valste, experienced athlete and coach though he is, is concentrating and counting. · The way to build up technique is to practise · all the movements in slow motion, as Valste is seen doing in Plate 6, where he is shown performing the evolutions at about half-effort. But when working slow motion, as often as not, he does not even allow the javelin to leave his hand (see Fig. 27, Plate 6). · The footwork in the final four strides from check mark to throwing, or scratch line, is shown in Fig. 28 hereunder. ' +---------- 8toll YARDS CHECK MARK LEFT LEFT " ('._LEFT RIGHT '-J ~ • 0 c::::> c:::::::> FOoT~------~cr:=:J~~------~==~~-c~~~ 8 ~ RIGHT CROSS .STEP THROWING \......._------ ------./ STANCE "'V' RIGHT BOUNDING STRIDES 1 FIG. 28 The points to remember are these. When an athlete goes out and throws or jumps at maximum effort, before he has mastered the technique of his event, all that he does is to exaggerate his faults by multiplying his errors. He moreover brings antagonistic muscles into play and., further, teaches the muscles he does have to use to do things in the wrong manner ; whereas slow motion work