Coaching Young Athletes

The Best Place To Start With Young Shot Putters

You are given the job of helping absolute beginners learn the shot put.

Where would you start? What is the very first thing you would do?

In this situation, you would need to think about what will:

• Have the biggest impact
• Lay the best foundation for the learning to come
• Attract a learner’s attention
• Ensure some early success

Check out below to see what I would do.

I would love your feedback about what I have chosen.

Where to Start With the Shot Put

Shot putting is considered a pushing action. So before becoming proficient at shot put, a child needs to learn how to effectively push an object. Trying to teach the shot put prior to the child having developed a basic pushing action –  that finishes with an acceleration of the object off the fingers – is putting the cart before the horse.

Trying to teach the shot put prior to the child having developed a basic pushing action is putting the cart before the horse.

An effective push involves the full extension of the arms, wrists and fingers, with as much of the body as possible kept behind the implement. This includes the elbows, which need to be kept up to side, away from the body. A push is doomed as soon as the elbows drop and get in front of the hands, which is a common fault in novice shot putters.

Two-Handed Push From Chest To A Target

Start by teaching kids to push a ball or modified shot from in front of their chest to a target.

Why two-handed? If they can’t do it effectively with two hands they certainly won’t be able to do it with one.

Set Up

Place a target, such as a hoop, at an appropriate distance from the throwers. The distance of the hoop from the thrower will depend on the age of the athletes and the implement being used. I like the idea of using a target to emphasise accuracy. It usually results in a tidier technique. It also dresses up the activity into a bit of a game.

Description

Standing front-on to the target, with feet parallel, the athletes attempt to land the shot on the full in the target, using a strong two-handed push from the chest.

Instruct the kids to:

Starting position

• Position the ball in front of their chest, under their chin.
• Hold the ball in two hands – on the base of their fingers, off the palm.
• The thumbs point down, the palms face outwards and the fingers are behind the ball i.e. “elbows up, thumbs down, palms out”.
• Lift their elbows up to the side, away from the body, “like wings on a plane”.

Pushing Action

• Push the implement keeping the elbows up and the thumbs down.
• Push the implement off the fingers.
• Finish in a “thumbs down” position with fingers outstretched.

Skill Extension

Push a variety of balls over various distances and heights.

Push from a variety of starting positions: standing with feet in various positions, kneeling and sitting.

Create a series of activities, games and challenges that use a two-handed pushing action.

Work on hitting that sweet spot of challenge in which the kids are really engaged. Allow the kids to pick the distance and size of the target.

Summary

To give kids a chance at having some success with the shot put, first help them to become proficient at a fundamental pushing action where they:

1. Fully extend their arms, hands and fingers
2. Keep their elbows up and behind the object
3. Propel the object off their fingers

The best place to start  is the two-handed chest push.

Would you use this activity as your shot put starting point?

What are your thoughts of this as a shot put starting point? Let me know by leaving a comment/reply or by using the contact details below.

Further reading

E- Book:

How To Teach Shot Put To Young Athletes E-Book (plus bonus cheat sheet) 

Articles:

An Elbow Cue That Will Make You A Better Shot Put Coach

Use Ice Cream to Help Young Athletes Learn the Shot Put Grip

An Athletics Throwing Game That Kids Will Love

Where To Start With Complete Beginners In The Discus

---

If this post helped you please take a moment to help others by sharing it on social media. If you want to learn more I encourage you to leave questions and comments or contact me directly.

---

Click here to subscribe for free to the Coaching Young Athletes email list and receive a complimentary mini e-book!

Do you want that little bit extra? Learn about Coaching Young Athletes membership HERE.

---

If this post helped you please take a moment to help others by sharing it on social media. If you want to learn more I encourage you to leave questions and comments or contact me directly.

---

Click here to subscribe for free to the Coaching Young Athletes email list and receive a complimentary mini e-book!

Do you want that little bit extra? Learn about Coaching Young Athletes membership HERE.