Discus Throwing in Details: Useful Data for Beginners

Discus throwing is a kind of traditional throwing disciplines. To achieve successful results in the given kind of sport, athletes should have superior speed-power skills, good technique, and well-developed coordination abilities. in addition to that, discus throwers are quite tall. Thus, the given article is going to present the general peculiarities of discus throwing.

Sights

Athletes throw a discus from a 2.50-meter circle that is surrounded by an S-shaped safety fencing of a 7-meter diameter. It is done to protect athletes, referees, and spectators from possible dangers.

There is a 6-meter space between the ends of the safety fencing; discus should go through this space. The fencing is represented by a metal rack and grid. The rack consists of eight separate sections. The grid should be made of the steel wire with cells of 50×50 mm. It is fixed to the upper side of the rack.

Discus

A discus is made of wood or any other appropriate material that is fringed with a metal edge. Two metal sheets are fixed parallel to each other in the center of this item. Both sides of a discus should be identical. Its weight and dimensions are different for male and female athletes, and there are particular governing bodies that stipulate these peculiarities.

A discus for men weighs 2 kilos; outside full diameter of a metal rim is about 22 cm; its thickness in the center is 44-46 mm. As for an item for female athletes, it weighs only 1 kg; outside full diameter of a metal rim is a bit more than 18 cm; its thickness in the center is 50-57 mm. In addition to that, both female and male discuses have the following identical parameters: a diameter of the metal sheets is 50-57 mm and the metal rim is at least 12 mm thick.

General Peculiarities

Discus throwing is a difficult technical discipline. It is governed mainly by the law of mechanics, and this law is of crucial significance for achieving successful results. It includes the following criteria:

• discus launching speed;
• launching angle;
• wind resistance;
• launching height.

To effectively use these factors, athletes should take as long runs as it is possible to gather more power. That is why the best discus throwers in the world start their attempt with their backs facing a throwing direction. With this, almost 85% of the acceleration effects the item during its launching. Also, a launching angle and discus angle influence significantly a distance the item will travel. The best results can be achieved if an athlete manages to preserve a launching angle of 31-39 degrees.

Holding Discus

The throwing hand is in free contact with a discus; the fingers are a bit spread. The last phalanges grapple the discus edge. If an athlete lets his/her throwing hand fall, the center of gravity is somewhere between the supporting points of the middle and pointer fingers.

Initial Position

An athlete takes a place close to back part of the circle, his back facing the throwing direction. The athlete lets his throwing hand fall; it is waving from side to side in front of the hip. The right leg is in a front position, while the left one is a bit curved to a turning direction. The right leg is used mainly to support the whole body.

Wind-Up

A wind-up is an initial movement. It is necessary to move a discus back from left to right. The left hand is a bit bent in front of the chest and follows the wind-up. At the same time, the right hip should not be turned back much. While athletes are performing the wind-up, they should knee their legs. In addition, it is necessary to avoid a sitting posture, curved spine, and active movements with the shoulders.

Turning

A turn is the first part of a progressive movement and discus acceleration. In order to take a correct position after turning and before actual delivery, athletes should perform a flat, rather than wavy jump. Special attention should be paid to the work of legs. Once the wind-up is performed, athletes should leave their upper bodies and throwing hand behind them. The left leg is turned to the throwing direction. The right leg is used to take off the ground and land in the center of the circle in front of the left one after making a wide curve. At this time, it is not reasonable to recline the upper body, while the shoulders should as parallel to the ground as possible.

Power Position

In this moment, both feet are in contact with the ground. In general, the feet are placed so that an athlete can achieve the best balance.

Final Effort

This stage begins when an athlete places his/her right leg on the ground after turning; it represents a straightening movement. From the initial position, an athlete starts performing progressive rotation that begins with the right leg and then goes to the right side of the body.

The left side acts as a lever that should suppress the pressure of the right leg. During the rotational movement, the body center of gravity is above the right leg. At the moment when both legs kneeled to almost the same degree and the right side of the body is facing the throwing direction, athletes should immediately straighten their legs.

In other words, it marks the end of the rotation, while the right hand is moved closer with the help of the upper body and pushed forward to deliver a discus. In the moment of delivery, the feet should be in contact with the ground; it is allowed to stay on tip-toe. The throwing hand and the shoulders should parallel to the ground.

Recovering from the Throw

The active efforts described above make it difficult to control the endpoint and recover from the throw. For this, athletes are advised to alter their feet (either displacement or jump). In addition to that, it is reasonable to move the right leg in the front part of the circle to prevent an athlete from leaving its limits.

History

Discus throwing was one of the most popular physical exercises in ancient times. This discipline was a part of the ancient Olympic Games as a part of the pentathlon. There were special names for those athletes and their equipment. Unfortunately, those times did not preserve precise information on throwing technique and achievements.

The Greek, however, welcomed the traditions of their ancestors, which made use an ancient throwing technique at the 1908 Olympics. That is why that technique was called the Greek style; it was used together with the freestyle. Soon, the Greek style disappeared, and throwing with two-hand came instead. This style meant, athletes took turns to throw a discus with their right and left hands, the results were then summarized.

Particular changes to the given kind of sport happened in 1912 when they established dimensions for discus to be used at official competitions. The 1920 Olympic Games were the first event, in which athletes competed in throwing discus with only one hand. Women started competing in discus throwing in 1928. Nowadays, athletes perform one and a half turn instead of a quarter turn, they used to perform the previous century.