Benefit Of the Doubt....

[beepee]

The rules have always stated that there must be at least one graded official on each event and unfortunately they usually take care of marking the card leaving volunteers to do the other duties such as the flag person so I do not think that much will change for the better. There will always be arguments over flat landings but once again volunteers are just that, for the love of it and we would be lost without them, bless their sox.

[willow]

School officials have no idea, I think I'm more trained than they are! I've seen some appaling decisions! And as everyone is saying, its down to the officals at the end of the day. Do teacher count as graded officials?? Sometimes, we have about 5 judges, but have to still go and collect out own javs - how does that work?! I feel its a shame really, that people have to put up with that standard of judgement, if I were to throw, and it landed tail first in an U15 comp, they would give a red flag, just because I look like I can do it, and I can throw it 30 odd. But in the same competition, if someone weaker were to throw and it were to land tail first, or flat, it would be acepted with a benifit of the doubt...is that not biased? It sure is unfair.
Quick question - on the line - or over? is it a no throw if your foot touches the line or if it goes over it?

[slinger]

if your foot touches the line, even with a shoe lace then it's a foul.........hence raymond hecht's big throw being a foul at the atlanta olympics that would have been gold - barely his shoe lace touched and tbh in slow mo it's hard to see what does touch if anything, in the same comp kimmo kinuenen does the same would have been a pb of around 85/86m and he toes the line on that one.

[frankplunkett]

I used to enjoy Flagging the Javelin until I got to slow to move and one homed in on me every which way I went.

As a rule of thumb I allowed schoolchildren (who have had very little tution) a throw if it lands between tip and handle but not fully flat, U13s club athletes one chance tip and handle, then get meaner (technically correct)as they get older. (all low level comps of course, as I see these types of meetings as educational.)

Lets not lose them before they get they get the throwing bug!

[slinger]

i agree, more common sense should be used when officiating young 'uns.....like frank mentioned they could be put off for life by 3 no throws!

[robyn06]

I will agree that school officials have no idea. I went to a school comp and a girl threw and her foot was on the line and they gave it a throw. Then she walked over the line to collect her javelin straight after!!!!!!!

[willow]

If 3 no throws in their first comp is going to make a difference, will they really stick it out to get the 'throwing bug'?! It's unlikely - dedication shows from the start. And anyway, most schools around that I know of (and some clubs) teach to stick one in the groud - to get points, then go for the 'big' throws.