A Little Goes A Long Way: How To Be The Best Throws Coach

By Dave Hahn, on January 8th, 2012

This is a guest post from reader Isabella Woods.

So you’ve got a group of budding throws athletes, but while they might have the talent, as a coach, it’s up to you to bring out the best in them. And this goes for all sorts of sports – whether you’re getting a group of wannabe skiers through a rigorous list of ski exercises or you’re training a baseball team to win the next season – one thing’s for sure, a good coach is worth their weight in medals and trophies. So read on to discover what it takes to bring out the best in your athletes…

Enthusiasm
Pure and simply, there’s one thing coaches need bundles of and that’s enthusiasm. You’ve got to be the person who’s up when the rest are down, who’s still fighting when your team is losing, and who’s got a pep talk up your sleeve whenever one’s called for.

It’s a well-known fact that people respond better to those who are keen, energetic and enthusiastic over those who are de-motivated and bored. Whether your athletes are winning or losing, you’ve still got to find reserves within you to boost them on.
In the throws this is extremely vital – especially if you’re teaching a bunch of throwers who are just starting out. Pure and simply, throws don’t have the glamour associated with them like other more popular sports do (baseball for instance), so in order to keep your team on track it’s vital you keep up with the enthusiasm.

Know Your Stuff
He might have been a manager as opposed to a coach, but Brad Pitt as Billy Beane in Moneyball certainly knew his stuff when it came to his game. And to be respected and listened to, you’ll need to know your stuff, too. And if you’re coaching kids, one thing’s for sure, if you’ve got a weak spot where your knowledge is lacking, one way or another they’ll find out about it. So make sure you’re up on your throws techniques. Practice your throws yourself, keep up to date with technique, attend conferences and clinics, and read blogs like this. Basically the more you know, the more you’ll be looked up to.

Be Positive
This ties in with the enthusiasm point above, but it’s as important just the same. Whatever happens, you need to remain positive. If your athletes see you with your head in your hands, time watching, or looking like you’d rather be watching paint dry, then why would they go out onto the field to impress you?
Your athletes need to see you on the edge of your seat, cheering when they throw the best shot put of their lives, and clapping even if things aren’t quite going the way they’d hoped.
Positivity means being patient, not losing your temper, and praising the people you’re coaching whenever possible. If they see how keen you are for them to do well, they’ll want to do well, and will probably feel disappointed if they let you down.

Communicate
You don’t need to have a degree in communications to know that being able to engage with people around you matters a lot. But we’re not just talking words here. While, obviously, you won’t want to be a pushover, it’s important that you’re still approachable and your athletes know they can come to you if they’ve got any problems. And last but not least, don’t forget to smile!

Shot Put: Master the Basics
As with all sports, the basics must be mastered before anything else. So when it comes to shot put, it’s all about coaching the right grip and placement. When getting your athlete to concentrate on holding the shot put make sure their fingers are spread slightly and they hold the shot at the base of their fingers with their thumb for support.

Mix it Up
When you’re coaching your team or working on a one to one basis, it’s vital you keep things interesting. Like anything in life, throws coaching can become repetitive so make sure you’re up to speed on the latest coaching techniques and games to get your athletes moving.
When thinking of training exercises, remember everyone loves a bit of healthy competition and it ensures everyone is pushing to do their best. Also try and make sure your games are all inclusive. Even if you’re fully aware a certain kid isn’t going to be the best discus thrower out there, it’s important they don’t get left out. By doing this, not only will you be getting everyone to work together, you’ll also be setting a good example when it comes to team work.

Get Involved
Make sure you regularly have a go yourself. If you’re coaching how to throw the hammer don’t just talk about how to do it, get out there and show them. While it may not be a good idea to throw competitively in practice with your athletes, it is good to show your athletes that you can competently demonstrate drills and technical basics that you are working on. If the hammer isn’t your medium, don’t worry – just get someone in who is. And you’ll always gain kudos if it’s an athlete your team knows about. This is a great way to introduce current athletes to successful alumni who are still actively throwing.

And finally…
When it comes to throwing discus, consider these top tips to improve your athlete’s game –
• Move your left foot over at the back of the circle
• The right foot should always lead the throw
• Make sure the right foot moves constantly in the middle

And for shot put…
• To improve the block and arm strike at the end of the shot put throw, get your athlete’s practising chest passes with huge medicine balls. Make sure their elbows are out and thumbs down though.
• Shot putting isn’t just about upper body strength. Make sure athletes work on their leg muscles too in order to get good motion and be able to propel the shot put forward.
• Make sure the shot put is pressed hard into the neck until the final release – it can easily move away so focus hard on improving this.