PaceSetter Book

Throwing Activities 4

WEB COPY ©EVEQUE The young athletes should be allowed to practise the following: • Swinging the hammer in the correct plane • Correct movement of the feet • Releasing the hammer at the correct position and at the correct angle

WEB COPY ©EVEQUE A common fault in young athletes participating in the hammer is that of swinging the hammer in the vertical plane in front of the body or in the horizontal plane above the head. This should be discouraged at an early stage in the development of technique and can be avoided by allowing no more than two swings and then throwing on the third swing. Limiting the number of swings will also speed up the throwing time and thus allow young athletes to have more throws. 4.5.4 Hammer Progressions for a Moving Throw After the young athletes have perfected swinging the hammer in the correct position, they can progress to trying a turn. Using a size 4 soccer ball or 1kg medicine ball, the young athletes should practise: one (first swing), two (second swing), follow the ball (first turn) and throw. They will find this relatively easy with a size 4 soccer ball or 1kg medicine ball. It is a safer way of introducing the turn than working with any kind of hammers. After several practices and when they are feeling comfortable with the turning actions, young athletes can then progress towards using a 1.5 kg plastic hammer.

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