SHOT PUT OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION: -
The shot put is a track and field event involving "throwing"/"putting"
(throwing in a pushing motion) a heavy spherical object-the shot-as far as
possible. The shot-put competition for men has been a part of the modern
Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's competition began in 1948.
• Shot Put is played with a heavy spherical object popularly known as
shot. The aim is to throw the shot-put as far as possible through a pushing action.
It requires immense muscular strength and a good balance upon your body. In
this tutorial, we will discuss the basic techniques and playing methods of Shot Put.
HISTORY: -
Historians depict that the first hint of this sport was seen in Scottish
Highland during the first century. Homer, a great ancient Greek poet and the
author of epic poems like Iliad and Odyssey, had mentioned the competition of
throwing stones by the soldiers during the siege of troy. However, in the Middle
Ages, the glimpse of the modern shot put was noticed when the soldier's started
competition by hurling cannonballs.
It was in the early 19th century, when this sport actually started to be a
part of the local competitions. In 1866, it was played as an event in British
Amateur Championship. Now the rules of the shot put are governed by IAAF
(International Association of Athletic Association) and WMA (World Masters
Athletic).

Participating Countries: -
Shot Put comes under the track and field job event. Since its
introduction to the modern Olympics in 1896, the popularity of this sport has
grown exponentially in different nations. Many Asian and Non-Asian countries
have their active participation in this sport. List of some of the major dominating
Asian countries include China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India, Kazakhstan, Korea
etc. In 2014 Asian Games, Sultan Al-Hebshi of Saudi Arabia bagged the gold medal
in men's category and Sui Xinmei of China bagged gold medals in women's
category.
Simillarly,many Non Asian countries have shown their talents in events
like Summer Olympics. Countries like, USA, Poland, Finland, Germany, Canada,
etc. are dominating in the competitions. In 2012 Summer Olympics, Tomasz
Majewski of Poland bagged the gold medal in men's category while Valerie Adams
of New Zealand bagged gold in women's category.

SHOT PUT BASICS: -

 In this chapter, we will learn the most fundamental aspects of
Shot-Put throw.

Balance: -
If proper balance cannot be maintained, it will hamper the final result. A
loss of balance can cause deterioration in the acceleration and reduce the
application force on the ball.
Proper attention should be given to the following points;
Centre of mass of the thrower (legs, head, trunk, hip, arms).
Base of support of the thrower.
Desired direction of travel.

Direction: -
An athlete should understand the path of travel along the circle. It is not
important enough to know where your ball is going to land; rather it is important
to understand the direction of movement of your body's centre of mass.
Acceleration/Velocity: -
Instead of sudden acceleration, the implementation should be done
smoothly with gradual increase of speed. Starting from a low velocity profile, the
acceleration should be increased gradually to have a full-fledged velocity that can
throw the ball with such a force that it will be placed in its desired zone. Through
gradual practice, it should be mastered. If the velocity or the acceleration
stretches so much, then it may hamper other key elements of the sport.

Rhythm: -
With the movement of the throwing action, rhythm should be maintained.
The aim is to remain constant irrespective of the speed or acceleration of the
throw. It should not change with the increasing or decreasing speed of the throw.
Due to the stress of competition, the rhythm is often hampered. However, with
the use of rhythmic cueing, the movements can be learned quickly and can be
used to stabilize the body too.
Shot Put Glide Techniques -
Apart from traditional styles, new rotational styles were
introduced in the sport due to increasing popularity. The spin method was also
introduced later. Glide techniques also became a part of this and soon became
quite popular.
Gripping Mechanism: -
The main thing to master in this is the placement of the grip. The
first shot should be placed on the upper pad of the hand. Fingers adjustment is
another important factor. All fingers should be placed on the shot. It is a general
practice to position the shot safely under the chin. Its exact position is at the
starting point of jaw and just below the ear.

Starting Techniques: -
There are generally two types of starting techniques that can be
implemented. They are;

• Crouch start.

• T and Slant T start.

Greater stability over the performance can be achieved through a

crouch start. There will also be consistency in the performance which is a bonus
factor. But to practice this type of starting, you need good strength over your legs.
T and Slant T start to give good conversion of velocity through mechanical
displacement.
In this type of starting method, we actually do the vertical
displacement of the body and convert it into the horizontal velocity across the
ring. An athlete will require technical consistency for this. A perfect level of timing
is also required to execute it flawlessly.

Extension of Leg: -
To project the ball fully in erect position starting from below, the
athlete needs to stretch his leg fully in the corresponding direction and angle. It
should be placed at the back side of the circle and if possible, should be bought
towards the centre of the circle. While extending the extension leg and driving
leg, the lower abdomen should make contact with the upper thigh. Let's go
through some of the important points about the extension leg.
During the stage of initial single support, an athlete should balance his
position and starting movements with the use of free leg. There should be an
identical position of flexion between the free leg and the supporting leg. To make
the extension leg's target higher, one should lower the Centre of Mass below the
stance's support in the backside of the circular region. Free leg extension should
be targeted in between a particular range. This is generally from the toe board (0
inches) to 18 inches.
As we do the complete extension of our legs, the hamstrings store
elastic energy. This is useful in the recovery of driving leg at the centre of the
circle. At the backside of the circle, the CMT's height determines the height of the
free leg extension.
Now let's learn some important aspects about the direction of the
extension leg, because this is going to determine the direction of the throwing
line.

• Extension should be made along with the left sector line.

• Driving the free leg in straight across the circle is another better way of
treatment for the extension leg. During this time, your supporting leg's movement
should be towards the right side of the circle by going through the central line.

• During each technique, the foot position in the circle keeps varying. However,
the axis alignment of the hips and shoulder should remain in line with the foot.

• For a standard alignment, the heel of the foot of the extension leg should be
aligned with respect to the left sector line.
• For non-standard alignment, the toe of the extension leg should be aligned with
the centre line of the circle.
 Shot Put - Rotational Style

About Placement and Grip: -

Shot should be placed on the upper pad of the hand. Fingers should
be placed all close to the shot. The position of the shot is generally maintained
behind the point of the jaw and below the ear by the spinners. This type of
positioning of the shot is necessary to counteract the centrifugal force that tries
to pull the shot away from the neck of the thrower.

Double Starting Position: -

The initial positioning in this type of starting method is similar to that
of discus throw. Single support phase should be initiated from a viable double
support technique. To establish a dynamic support, the CM should be positioned
over the base of single support. The position of hip and shoulder is important
during this phase. They should remain in a horizontal position with respect to
each other.

First Single Support Phase: -

In this case, we have to concentrate upon two aspects very carefully
and they are;

• Drive or support leg action.

• Swing or free leg action.
The initiation of the supporting leg is important while the performer
lines up throwing direction. The leg should be driven off the phase with excessive
force. Th off of this drive phase is marked smaller as compared to that of discus
technique.
In case of free leg action, swinging of the leg action should be made in
an aggressive and dominant manner in the outset of single support. This means
the swinging action. should be made once the leg clears the ring. The swinging leg
creates an impulse, which in turn creates force and it is the most important factor
in rotational style shot put. This also depends upon the movement of torsion and
the throwing.

Phase of Non-Support: -
After completing the push offs, the driving leg should be adducted. A
thrower should also keep in mind that after the leg swing, it should be actively
inverted. In case of no support to aid the rotation of the athlete, shortening of the
free arm should be made. Otherwise, you can maintain the position that you have
achieved at the end of single-phase support in case of non-phase support. Now
let's discuss the re-contact second single support phase.

Recontact Second Single Support Phase: -

The axis of the foot should be maintained within the range of 270-315
degrees. To reduce the friction, re-contact of the swinging leg is done through a
soft turning. This type of move is also helpful in creating a reflex and stretching in
case of free leg action. To slow down the upper body, the free arm should move
out from the body in a way to maintain the torsion between the shoulder and hip
axis.

Second Double Support Phase: -

The second double support phase is nothing but an initiation of the power
position. Let's discuss some power position differences between the rotational
and glide techniques. In the middle of the circle, the technique of power position
for both glide and rotational is same. The posture of trunk is less vertical in case
glide technique as compared to rotational technique. Various techniques of glide
type utilize a broader base whereas in case of rotational techniques, a phase of
long drive is used.

Sequence of Delivery: -
First of all, the position of the torsion should be maintained in between
the hip and shoulder axis. The thrower should turn in the direction of the throw.
Unwinding of the torsion should take place when the hip axis makes a
perpendicular direction with respect to the throwing direction, but the position of
the implement should not change this time.
 Then a final step of jumping should be made. Soon after jumping, as the
ball has been lifted above, a slapping action should be followed. The movement of
your hand should be behind the shot and try to keep contact with the shot as long
as possible.
 Shot Put – Rules

The rules of the shot put are governed by IAAF (International

Association of Athletic Association) and WMA (World Masters Athletic). So, let's
know about some important rules.

• When an athlete's name is announced, he or she will have only 60

seconds to commence the throwing motion.

• For safety purposes, the players can tape their fingers, but they
certainly cannot wear gloves.

• The resting position of the shot is near the neck, and it should remain
over there throughout the motion.

• With the use of only one hand, the shot should be released above the
height of shoulder.

• An athlete can use the perimeter of inside the circle but certainly cannot
use the border or outside area of the toe board. Extension of the limbs outside
the circle during the throw is allowed.

• The legal sector is 34.92 degree of the throwing area. The shot should be
thrown within that range.

• An athlete should leave the circle from the back.

 Fouls in Shot Put

A throw will be called a foul in the following circumstances;

⚫ The athlete does not pause before the throwing action within the circle.

• The athlete is unable to commence the throw within 60 sec of calling his name.
• The athlete holds the shot below the shoulder level or outside its vertical level.

• The athlete is not able to make a continuous contact of the shot with the neck
and it slips off.

If during the throwing the shot touches any of the following;

• Top or ends of the toe board

• Upper side of the iron ring
• At any position outside the circle.

• The athlete goes out of the circle before the landing of the shot.
• The athlete does not move from the rear half of the circle.
 SHOT PUT CHAMPIONS

International Associations of Athletic Federation (IAAF) is the

governing body of Shot Put. Every participating country has its own governing
body to organize the sport successfully throughout the calendar.
Here is a list of some important tournaments in Shot Put;
• Summer Olympics.
• World Championship.
• Asian Games.
• World Indoor Championship.
• Commonwealth Games.
Shot Put is a sport in which both males and females can take part. Let us
now have a brief synopsis on some of the champions of this sport.

Adam Nelson: -
Adam Nelson is an athlete from America who has specialization in shot
put. He is three times Olympics medalist as he has won a gold in 2004 and 2013
and a silver in 2000.
He has won four medals in World Championships which include a gold in
2004 and three silvers, one each in 2001, 2003, and 2007.
Nelson also won a gold in 2005 and two silvers, one each in 2004 and 2007
in the IAAF World Athletics Final.
Tomasz Majewski: -
Tomasz Majewski is an athlete from Poland who has won many medals in
his career. In the Olympics, he won a gold in 2008 and another gold in 2012.
In World Championships, he won a silver in 2009. In European
Championships, he has won two bronzes, one in 2008 and the other in 2012.
Majewski won a gold in the World Indoor Championships in 2009. He has
won two golds and four silvers in European Team Championships, one gold in
European Cup Winter Throwing and one gold in Jeux de la Francophonie.

Valerie Adams: -
Valerie Adams is a shot-put thrower from New Zealand who has won many
championships in her career.
Valerie won her first medal which was bronze in the World
Championships, and her first gold medal was in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
In the Commonwealth Games, she made a throw of 19.66 meters.
At Beijing Olympics, she won a gold by throwing the shot put up to 20.56
meter. In 2016 Olympics, she won a silver medal.
 Records
Men's Records: -

NAMES DISTANCE COVERD YEAR

Randy Barmes 23.12 m 1990
Darlan Romani 22.53 m 2022
Ryan Crouser 23.56 m 2023

Womens Records: -

NAMES DISTANCE COVERD YEAR

Natalya Lisovskaya 21.24 m 1987
Llona Slupianek 22.41 m 1980
Natalya Lisovskaya 22.63 m 1987