Foam discus: sling and turn
Ready when: Overarm throw (b3) done.
What you are learning
The discus throw with a soft discus: held flat, swung back at shoulder height, the hips turn first and the discus slides off the first finger so it flies flat. Turning while staying balanced is the skill.
Words on this card Discus, Sector, Throwing line, Side-on
- Discus
- A flat disc thrown with a turn.
- Sector
- The marked area a throw must land in.
- Throwing line
- The line a thrower stays behind.
- Side-on
- Standing with a shoulder, not the chest, toward where you aim.
Set up
A foam discus (under 350 g) or a rubber ring; a throwing line; a 90-degree landing sector marked with cones.
Weather: dry grass, nobody in the throwing direction
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand side-on, the discus flat in your hand, fingers curled over its edge, arm long.
- Swing it back at shoulder height 2 or 3 times.
- Turn the hips toward the throw first, then let the arm follow.
- Let it slide off the first finger so it flies flat.
Your part while they practise
Stand behind and to the side of the thrower, out of the line; say "throw" only when the sector is clear.
Step by step
- Side-on, discus held flat, arm long.
- Swing back at shoulder height 2 or 3 times.
- Turn the hips toward the throw and let it go off the first finger. 6 throws.
- Then 6 from a half turn: step round with the back foot before the throw.
How much: 6 standing throws, then 6 from a half turn 12 min a session 1 day a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Sector points
A throw inside the sector scores, and beyond the far cone it scores double.
Who plays: 1 to 4, taking turns.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- One throw each, only on "throw"
- When everyone has thrown, walk out together to fetch
- 6 throws each
- Fair play
- A younger thrower stands 2 m in front of the line.
- Points
- 1 point inside the sector; 2 points inside the sector beyond the far cone; 1 extra point if it flies flat without wobbling.
- Fouls
- No points for that throw
- It lands outside the sector
- Stepping over the line
- Throwing before "throw"
- Winning
- The highest total from 6 throws.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 7 points for 2 stars
- 10 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A bowling-style roll along the ground first.
A full turn, only at a club.
What you will see, and what to say
- the discus wobbles
Flat hand, let it slide off
The palm faces down and the disc rolls off the first finger. - the arm leads the hips
Hips turn first, arm last
The arm is like a long rope pulled by the hips.
Self-check
4 of 6 throws fly flat and land inside the sector.
Stop and get a coach when
Before a real discus; the child loses balance and falls.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains turning, balance, the order hips then arm.
Intermediate is done when the child can do the whole sequence of one event from a short approach.
awiseathlete.com/sports/athletics/athletics-i11