Key Teaching Points

Sprints
- Start low, head over hands and bottom high – block start
- Push out of blocks hard and face
- Stay low to begin then gradually run tall
- Use of short arm levers
- Run through tall and with high hips
- Movement of feet and limbs in straight line

Middle distance
- Maintain steady running technique
- Head up and looking forward
- Establish effective running rhythm
- Long strides

Long Distance
- Maintain steady running technique
- Head up and looking forward
- Establish effective running rhythm
- Endurance and pace are key

Hurdles
- Run tall
- Pick knees up and pull toes back towards the knee
- Maintain an even stride length
- Make contact with the ground as quickly as possible after
clearing the hurdle
- Push off the balls of feet on landing
- Lead leg to clear hurdle
- Trail leg trailing behind the body

Long Jump
- Aim to achieve max speed in approach
- Take off foot landing in box
- Drive leg into air – bend at the knee
- Propel body up and forward
- Arms assist in propelling body forward

Triple Jump
- Achieve max speed in approach
- Sequence – step, hop, jump
- Drive knee and arms up
- Body upright in hop and step
- Propel body forward
High jump
- Fosbury flop or scissor
- Ensure run up if accurate and controlled
- Scissor: take off from leg closest to mat, pull body up and follow through with other leg
coming over in scissor action
- Fosbury: take off from leg closet to mat, bend knee up and propel shoulders over bar, follow
through with legs coming over, landing on back on mat
- Propel body over mat to avoid hitting

Shot put
- Shot put positioned between neck and shoulder
- Elbow bent behind body
- Bend knees to build up power
- Release with push motion rather than throwing motion

Discus
- Discus held with fingers on the edge of the discus, thumb
resting against the ‘back’
- Discus hand swings back with arm extended
- Build power through swinging arm
- Discus released from pinkie finger first
- Bend knees to build power

Javelin
- Javelin gripped at the back of the binding with thumb and index finger
- Alternative grip using two fingers as “bunny ears” grip
- Javelin arm extends backwards
- Effective movement to build up power and speed
- Throwing arm remains straight until released

(Queensland Little Athletics, 2006).