COACHING
POINTS
The Grip
The shot should be placed at the base of the first three fingers, which should be evenly spread but not stretched, with the little finger and thumb supporting the shot. The shot is then be placed under the chin with the elbow held high.
To test the grip and give the athlete confidence - stand with feet shoulder width apart, facing the direction of the throw. Using the arm only, push the shot out, ensuring that the elbow is kept high. The next step is for the athlete to twist his/her upper body to give further force to the shot and then move onto flexing the legs as well.
The shot should be placed at the base of the first three fingers, which should be evenly spread but not stretched, with the little finger and thumb supporting the shot. The shot is then be placed under the chin with the elbow held high.
To test the grip and give the athlete confidence - stand with feet shoulder width apart, facing the direction of the throw. Using the arm only, push the shot out, ensuring that the elbow is kept high. The next step is for the athlete to twist his/her upper body to give further force to the shot and then move onto flexing the legs as well.
The Stance
The Athlete should take up the position as in with the weight over the right foot and should be encouraged to think of "chin-knee-toe" being vertically in line. The feet and hips should be facing the side (at right angles to the shoulders) and the shoulder "cocked" to the rear. The width of the stance will vary according to the height of the athlete but the feet should be aligned.
The Athlete should take up the position as in with the weight over the right foot and should be encouraged to think of "chin-knee-toe" being vertically in line. The feet and hips should be facing the side (at right angles to the shoulders) and the shoulder "cocked" to the rear. The width of the stance will vary according to the height of the athlete but the feet should be aligned.
The Putt
From this standing position the movement should be initiated by the right leg driving the right hip to the front , transferring the bodyweight from the right leg to the left leg . At the same time, the left arm comes forward and up pointing along the trajectory line the shot will take (approx 45° to the horizontal). During this action, the emphasis should be on a fast right hip, keeping the elbow up behind the shot.
As the hips face the front and forward, then the right shoulder is driven to the front and the left arm swings to the left side to balance the movement. When the chest is facing forward then the right arm punches the shot out, keeping the elbow high. The left shoulder must not be allowed to drop during any part of this movement and the athlete should think of keeping the left side braced.
The rotation
From this standing position the movement should be initiated by the right leg driving the right hip to the front , transferring the bodyweight from the right leg to the left leg . At the same time, the left arm comes forward and up pointing along the trajectory line the shot will take (approx 45° to the horizontal). During this action, the emphasis should be on a fast right hip, keeping the elbow up behind the shot.
As the hips face the front and forward, then the right shoulder is driven to the front and the left arm swings to the left side to balance the movement. When the chest is facing forward then the right arm punches the shot out, keeping the elbow high. The left shoulder must not be allowed to drop during any part of this movement and the athlete should think of keeping the left side braced.
The rotation
The approach is similar to the discus turn. Balance is important
and again the rotation process must bring the athlete to the basic put starting
position.
