Javelin Throw with a Strike Ball: The Practical Handbook with Exercises, Games, and Technique Cards

This practical handbook brings together exercises, games, and technique cards that allow the shot put with a shot put ball to be built up step by step in physical education. The learners can work their way from the throwing stance to the standing throw and the stem step, up to the throw with a run-up, for example with the party popper for the whip-like arm movement or with as loud throws as possible against the basketball backboard. Because the collection is designed as a building block set, exercises and games can be selected and combined to suit the learning group, for individual lessons as well as for entire series of lessons.

This is included in the material

• Handout with tips on teaching the shot put, on the step-by-step technical build-up and on performance assessment
• Exercise cards for warm-up with exercises for mobilization and activation as well as the throwing ABC
• General throwing games with a focus on the shot put throw, with game description, duration, material and usually with variants
• Exercises for shot put throwing with preliminary exercises, exercises for the shot put from a standing position and with a run-up, each with the focus of the exercise
• Worksheet "What flies how far?" for comparing different throwing devices, also with filled-in reasons, plus folding instructions for the party popper
• Games and competition formats for the shot put for application and consolidation, plus a scoring list for throwing into target zones
• Technique cards for shot put throwing from the throwing stance to the 7-step rhythm, without labels, with the most important technical features or with detailed features from the throwing stance to the catch, plus cards for gripping the ball
• Feedback cards and feedback sheets for every technique level, on which the features are assessed with Yes, Partially or No
• Assessment sheets from grade 3/4 to grade 11–13, in which best distance, technique and individual progress are assessed with stars, for the 80-g ball up to grade 6 and the 200-g ball from grade 7, plus evaluation lists for the distances at several dates

Tips for using the material

• Lesson structure: A lesson can start with mobilization, the throwing ABC or a general throwing game. After that, preliminary exercises or exercises for technical build-up are suitable, at the end game formats and competitions, in which the learners apply what they have learned.
• Rhythm in the run-up: The mnemonic "Am-ster-dam" can set the rhythm during the run-up, extended to the 7-step rhythm to "Come, we're going to Am-ster-dam". Clapping can make the rhythm audible additionally, floor markings can indicate the step sequence and step width.
• Image of the whip: The sentence "Your arm is like a whip." can make the movement chain of the upper arm, forearm and wrist vivid.
• Feedback in pairs: One person throws, the other observes with the feedback card and gives targeted feedback. After several throws, the roles can be switched.
• Differentiation: Ball weight and ball size, run-up, distances and target areas can be adapted to the learning level. At the beginning, it is advisable to only address a few technical features at the same time.
• Target throws and weaker arm: Throws at marked targets can complement far throwing without replacing it. Individual exercises can also be performed with the weaker arm.
• Assessment beyond distance: Willingness to exert effort and the ability to implement feedback can also be included in the assessment. This makes it fairer to the different prerequisites of the learners.

These competencies are promoted

• Throwing technique by practicing the throwing stance, whip-like arm movement and stem step
• Run-up rhythm through exercises for the 3- and 7-step rhythm
• Release angle through throws over the rope and through the slot forward-upward
• Dosing throwing power when throwing targeted into point zones
• Observing movements and giving feedback based on clear criteria

Organizational notes

Throws are only made in a designated direction, the balls are only collected on a signal and there is sufficient distance between the throwing lanes. For the shot put exercises, tennis balls are also suitable as an alternative.

Correspondingly, there are the practical handbooks for Sprinting and for Long jump as well as Technique cards for athletics.