Identify & Correct Common Errors In Rotational Shot Put & Discus

Track & field athletes come in all shapes and sizes, especially in high school.  Training must be individualized to find what works best for each athlete.  

No single way or technique is the right way (only way) to throw.  The system presented here is yet another way to do it.  It is an exceptionally well-thought out and tested system of teaching the throws and correcting errors. 

Coach Ross Walker demonstrates a whole-part-whole approach to teaching the events.  He stresses teaching the big picture then detailing training to the individual.  By being adaptable, one can find a way to help develop their athletes.  And, as all good coaches do, Walker emphasizes knowing each athlete’s strengths and weaknesses to optimally train the athlete.

Progress from standing throw through full throw using multiple drills. 

Coach Walker’s system starts in the front of the ring and works to the back.  He teaches from the ground up.  Working from the standing throw though the wheel to the full throw entry (or South African) everything is broken down sequentially.  In each segment, he addresses common errors and solutions via drills.  He closes each segment by showing the ‘whole’ again.  

In the standing throw for example, perhaps the athlete finishes the throw too early.  This could be caused by incorrect footwork, weight transfer or even the athlete’s eyes/line of vision.  Walker offers several drills to try to fix the issue(s). 

To visually aid this, the standing throw is broken down into five positions.  Positions 1 through 4 have to be mastered first to maximize the generation of force resulting in the best throw.  Position 5 is the reverse and should be taught last, if at all.   

At each step, learn common errors and easily applicable solutions!

As Walker progresses through the middle of the throw, the wheel or 1/2 Powell, he covers incorrect foot placement (depending on whether the athlete is left or right handed) suggests many drills but favors using those performed against a wall.  These develop kinesthetic awareness which is often lacking in younger or inexperienced athletes.

A common full throw entry error is over-rotation to the middle of the ring.  Here again, we see some possible causes: shifting off of the left leg (for a right handed thrower)and/or loss of separation or right knee cutting the corner.  We see a number of possible ways to correct this, addressing both entry into the ring and the middle.  

Coach Walker has provided a valuable resource for fixing some of the most common problems in rotational shot put (and discus).  You will learn what to look for as errors, determine the cause and choose one of several ways to fix the issue.  The detail shown with the drills is outstanding.

And for times when weather precludes practicing outside for throws, there is a wealth of information available to practice with drills inside.  Through drill and repetition, athletes build correct muscle memory that will only help them perform in the ring!

Customer Comment: “Coach Walker says to never stop learning.  This video is an excellent way to keep learning. Sometimes the answer to a stubborn problem is something simple that we haven’t thought of before or more importantly, something we have not thought of in a different way. Walker provides a thorough breakdown of some common errors using a whole to part to whole approach that really helps the coach or athlete understand the problem and a solution. This is a great video!”

42 minutes.  2023.