PaceSetter Book

Jumping Activities 5

WEB COPY ©EVEQUE

5.2.3.2 How to Carry the Pole when Running

Firstly, the young athletes should pretend they are holding a pole. If they are right-handed, their little finger on their right hand fits onto their hip or more conveniently just into a tracksuit bottom with the rest of the fingers curled and the right thumb touching the index finger. The left arm is then held at shoulder height and is bent in towards the chest with the palm away from the chest, the fingers curled and the thumb touching the index finger making a circle for the pole to go though. Once again, the reverse applies for left-handers. When the young athletes become comfortable with this position they can then progress to practising sprinting over 20 metres with the pretend pole. Once this has been achieved a small wooden practice pole can be introduced to perform this exercise several times. The coach should be observing the technique of the young athletes and ensuring that the body does not lean forwards or backwards. If this does occur it should be rectified as soon as possible and the young athletes encouraged to be running tall with their hips high. WEB COPY ©EVEQUE

For safety reasons it is important that only wooden ash poles or fibreglass poles are used. Emphasise to young athletes that they should not practise at home with wooden broom shanks.

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