Tail-first troubles

[ivanpeacock]

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone can help me.

One of my younger, inexperienced javelin throwers is having real problems trying to get the javelin to land point first and I'm really struggling to help them fix the problem.

We're not talking about landing almost flat either. 95% of all throws are landing very noticeably tail first and some will stick in the ground, tail first and point straight up at the sky

It's easy to see the problem, but I'm failing miserably to help them fix it. There seem to be two main issues. First, a noticeably bent throwing arm (elbow drops, point goes up) and secondly a strange kind of wrist-whipping action at point of release which sends the javelin on a vey aggressive upwards path.

I have tried a number of remedies, so far to no avail. We have worked on getting the arm straighter and higher and also on point control, but nothing is working. We have tried 3 or 4 different grips. The problem happens on all throws (standing, short run up, full run up).

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can fix this?

Thanks in advance.........Ivan

[Morgan]

Hi Ivan,

a kid at my club has the same problem. and i am pretty sure it is because the point strays from his head. if it goes a tiny bit above his head the javelin will have a tail dragging effect.
tell him to con entrate on keeping the point around his mouth until he has sorted the problem, then gradulally move it up his head.

You may be thinking"then he wont get any height!" but there is a solution to that, get him to lean back but keep dont drop the arm! only the distance between the arm and the floor should change, NOT the arm to body. Also, the last thing, make sure he doesnt put the point above his head when his arm is coming through, he probably does that by the flick of the wrist you were talking about,

Reply and tell me if this helps!

Morgan

[Morgan]

Also, make sure he isnt throwing 20m with a 50m jav

that is just asking for probs if he drags the tail

[Administrator]

Point control would be the first thing to work on. Throwing off a short approach from 3 or 5 strides with the point fixed on the eyeline and then drilling the javelin out to 15-20 metres will help to give the feeling that is required. Even standing throws will help - just stabbing the javelin into the ground in front and then gradually increasing distance but keeping the same discipline with point control, and not allowing the wrist to go flexible at the last minute. A pronounced downwards slapping motion will also help to make sure the jav is delivered correctly and is easier also to manage from a short approach initally.

[ivanpeacock]

Mar 23, 2009 12:05:27 GMT 1 Administrator said:

Point control would be the first thing to work on. Throwing off a short approach from 3 or 5 strides with the point fixed on the eyeline and then drilling the javelin out to 15-20 metres will help to give the feeling that is required. Even standing throws will help - just stabbing the javelin into the ground in front and then gradually increasing distance but keeping the same discipline with point control, and not allowing the wrist to go flexible at the last minute. A pronounced downwards slapping motion will also help to make sure the jav is delivered correctly and is easier also to manage from a short approach initally.

Thanks Admin. Sounds like I'm on the right track at least, as we have worked on most, if not all the above. Stabbing to ground works, until we get to about 8-10 metres, which is when the flexi wrist comes back into play. I like your 'pronounced downwards slapping motion' suggestion - I'll give that a go tomorrow night.

The athlete in question has just turned 11, is quite tall and strong for her age, but is new to javelin. Throws around 15-18m at the moment.

Ivan

[sam]

look to see if she is ducking under the javelin also.. young girls have a tendency to duck because they don't want to get hit by it as they throw it.

[slinger]

oh no sam!

i'm sure sam means not only girls do this.....*i'll get you out of the hole sam, don't worry, just sending a rope down now...*

in all seriousness we've all done what sam is suggesting a possibility, as i'm sure we've all given ourselves a good "slap" with a javelin on the back aswell!

[ivanpeacock]

An update for you on Chelsea, my tail-first thrower that I wrote about at the start of this thread.

After Sam spent some time with her (and with Josh, one of my U13 year 6 boys) at JavFest, we have seen great progress.

Chelsea threw a PB of 20.76m yesterday in Birmingham and Josh recently threw 21.22m.

I have another two U13 boys who are currently on 27.70 and 28.23, which is really promising.

Ivan

[sam]

awesome news Ivan! hopefully we can sort out a date for me to come over and do a session with your kids!

[slinger]

^^ i think ivan would like his young learners to keep improving sam!! hehe!!