LESSON 4

Athletics in
Relation to
Health-Related
Fitness
 OBJECTIVES

a. identify the nature and background of

athletics.
b. recognize in explain the different
categories/events in athletics
c. illustrate the variety of body position in
athletics events
 ATHLETICS

Athletics is composed of sports involving running,

walking, jumping and throwing. It is a group of sports
divided mainly in what is popularly known as track and
field and it has been played centuries ago in a sports
competition. In 776 B.C, Greeks started to promote track
and field and it opened the Olympic Games. Since then,
it has been staged every four years until 394 A.D. Athens
revived the Olympic Games in 1896. After that, the
Olympic Games is stage every four years
In the early stage, the Greeks’ participation in athletics
was intended to show the strong body and skills of the
soldiers. The beauty of the games caught the attention
and interest of more than 5000 people. Olympic Games
became very competitive and in 1923 women were
included in the event. The competition was under the
support of the Amateur Athletics Union
Track and field was introduced to the Filipinos by the
Americans. It was warmly accepted as one of the
events for competition. Athletics, as part of the local
competition, was governed by the Philippines Athletics
Track and Field Association. It followed the rules of
International Amateur Athletic Federation as a world
governing body for track and field athletics. Because of
its worth and value, it was included as a subject in the
Physical Education
Events in
Athletics
 Running Event
100-meter dash 4 x 100-meter
relay
200-meter dash 4 x 400-meter
relay
400-meter dash 110-meter
high hurdles
800-meter run 100-meter
hurdles
1500-meter run 400-meter low
 Running Event

Running events are played in an oval. It has eight

lanes and the inner most lane measures 400 meters.
The seven other lanes are appropriately marked to
indicate the 400-meter distance and the exceeding
land measurement.
 Running Event
The surface of the oval is even and levelled, covered by
mixture of sand and cinder, some are combination of asphalt
and synthetic rubber. The modern running tracks are made out
of synthetic rubber like materials.
Running Event Body Position of a
Sprinter
Running Event Body Position of Distance
Runner
 The Hurdles

Hurdling is a sport in athletics(track and field) in which a

runner sprints and leaps over a series of hurdles, which
are set on a track with specific distance apart. Runners
must stay in their respective lanes throughout the race. If
the runner knocks the hurdles down while leaping, a
runner who trails a foot or leg alongside a hurdle or
knocks it down with a hand is disqualified. The Winner will
be the first player who been complete the course without
violation.
Dimensions: The standard heights of the
hurdles shall be:
 What Is A
The relays involve four runners per team. There are two
Relay?
standard events, the 4 × 100- and 4 × 400-meter relays.
They are both included in local meets, in Olympic Games, and
IAAF World Championships. The first runner in the 4 x 100-
meter relay begins the race in starting blocks. The next three
runners receive the baton in the 30 meters passing and
receiving zone. The receiver begins running in the
acceleration zone within the exchange zone (30m). In the
relay, runners should not switch hands when carrying the
baton. Therefore, if the first runner will carry the baton in his
right hand, the receiving hand of the second runner will be
Rules of a Relay
A team may be disqualified from a relay for:
•  False Starting
•  Incorrect baton passing
•  For 4 x 400m illegal switching
•  Passing of the baton outside the takeover zone
•  During the race an athlete takes or picks up the
baton of another team
•  Deliberately impeding, improperly crossing the lane,
or in any other way interfering with another
competitor
Jumping EventsThrowing
Events
Long Jump Shot
Put
Triple Jump Discus
Throw
High Jump
Javelin Throw
Pole Vault
Jumping
Events
 Jumping Events

Similar to running races, jumping games seem to be

part of our childhood life. We tend to see how far and
high we can jump and who can do it best. There are four
athletics jumping events
 High Jump

In the high jump event, the athlete must run in the start and
must jump over a bar without knocking it over. They land on
a big soft cushion. Being able to jump high without knocking
the bar is an advantage to winning the game. In this event
technique is important, there are many techniques used for
a high jump, but the current, and most successful, is called
the Fosbury Flop. The Fosbury flop technique involves an
approach from almost straight ahead, then twisting on take-
off and going over the head first with the back to the bar.
 Long Jump

Long jumping, is the least complicated of all field events. It

is formerly called broad jumping. The long jump has been a
popular athletics event since the Ancient Greece Olympics.
In the long jump, speed is the most vital ingredient for a
successful jump. Jumpers make their approach down the
runway at almost top speed, plant a foot on the take-off
board, and leap into the air. Jumpers must plant the forward
foot not beyond the take-off board to become legal. The
most popular long-jumping style is “Hitch-kick,” where the
 Pole Vault

The pole vault may be the toughest to master of all field

events. Pole vaulting is quite similar to the high jump.
Vaulters attempt to vault over a crossbar placed on uprights,
each height. They are given three tries, then they land on a
large soft mattress for safety.
The vaulter runs down the track holding a pole at one end.
After planting the end of the pole in a metal box at the
ground level, the vaulters propel themselves up and over a
high bar using both a jump and the spring to gain height.
 Triple Jump

The triple jump is similar to the long jump, it is known as

the hop, step, and jump. The jumper will first run down the
track gaining speed; at the start of the jump or take off
point they will jump or spring from one foot and land on
that same foot (hop); next they jump again, at this time
landing on the opposite foot (step); lastly they jump as far
as they can and land on both feet (jump) into the sand pit
or landing pit.
Throwing
Events
 Throwing Events

It's always fun to see who can throw something the farthest,
whether it's a ball or even a rock. These events necessitate
explosive movements. Power is the component to be
considered. Athletics is the place where you can throw stuff
for distance as a real sport. There are four major throwing
events outlined below.
 Discus

A discus is plate like or round disc (implement), typically

made of plastic with a metal rim. It is thrown from a
concrete circle that is about 2.50 meter in diameter. The
thrower’s feet cannot leave the circle unless the discus
lands on sector area or else the thrower will be at fault, and
the throw will not be counted. To achieve maximum
distance in the discus, the thrower shall maintain these
three components - speed, technique, and strength. The
thrower that throws the farthest inside the sector area and
 Javelin
The javelin is something like a spear (implement). It was
introduced in the Olympics of 708 BC. This event should be
supervised at all times to be sure no one is hurt. Javelin
throw does not use a circle when throwing. The thrower
must hold the javelin at the grip part and should always be
maintained above the shoulder level. The javelin must lie
before the specified zone and its tip should hit the ground to
become valid. The thrower should maintain his balance until
the javelin lands on the ground. Once the competition has
started, the athletes cannot use the perimeter for practice
 Javelin

The throw will be considered as foul in the following cases:

 Improper throw of the javelin in the attempt.
• The thrower goes out of the marking line while throwing
(continuous motion)
• The tip of the javelin lies outside the edges of the landing
sector.
• The thrower who throws farthest inside the landing
sector and didn’t commit any violation wins
Javelin
 Shot
Put
The shot is piece of spherical iron ball that is thrown from
a concrete circle that is seven feet in diameter. The front
of the circle has a metal board called a toe board or stop
board. The thrower
 Shot
Putboard or step over it during the
cannot touch the top of the stop
throw. The thrower holds the shot close to his/her neck in one
hand.
There are two common throwing techniques:
1. Slide or "glide"
2. Spin or rotational

The goal is to build momentum and finally push or put the shot
inside the sector landing area. The thrower must stay in a circle
until the shot has landed or else their throw was invalid. The
Shot
Put
 Hammer Throw
Hammer throw does not actually involve throwing a usual
hammer like you think. In this athletics throwing event, the
thrower throws a metal ball attached to a handle and a
straight wire about three feet long. The hammer is thrown
from a concrete circle 2.15 meter in diameter (just like the
shot put) but there is no toe board or stop board. Like the
discus and the shot put, the thrower must stay in a circle
until the hammer lands. The thrower rotates several times to
gain momentum prior to releasing and throwing the
hammer. Maintaining balance is important due to the force
generated by having the heavy ball at the end of the wire.
Hammer Throw
 Official
Only IAAF certified Implements
implements may be used. The following table
shows the implement to be used by each age group In all
International Competitions, the implements used shall comply with
current IAAF specifications.: