Throws Safety
Again we have heard of an injury at a track meet, and again it involves a throwing event (the discus). And yet again, it is an injury that was completely preventable.
First, what was this parent doing on the infield to begin with? why wasn't he in the stands where he should have been? I know that I like to be close to the action, but standing ON the sector line is not exactly the best place to be.
Second, what was the meet administration thinking by allowing this obviously ignorant parent to be out there? didn't they have any rules in place for where spectators can be? This is akin to allowing parents to stand at the hash marks to watch a football game, or place a chair on the third base line to see the batter better. What were they, the administration thinking?
Third, where were the officials and why did they allow this to happen? We don't know from t he information what role, if any, the officials took, but SOMEONE should have been looking around and seen this.
For the past 2 years, I have been doing a throws safety course for anyone who wants to participate. Obviously, these folks need help when it comes to throws safety.
If there is enough interest, I would be glad to present this to an officials association, or at the national meeting (sorry, I won't be in Hawaii, for I have neither the time nor the money). the National Throws Coaches Association, of which I am the vice-president, feels that this is a VERY important issue for the future of our sport, and for the future of the throwing events.
What do you think? Is there any interest out there in a throws safety seminar? If so, where and when?
First, what was this parent doing on the infield to begin with? why wasn't he in the stands where he should have been? I know that I like to be close to the action, but standing ON the sector line is not exactly the best place to be.
Second, what was the meet administration thinking by allowing this obviously ignorant parent to be out there? didn't they have any rules in place for where spectators can be? This is akin to allowing parents to stand at the hash marks to watch a football game, or place a chair on the third base line to see the batter better. What were they, the administration thinking?
Third, where were the officials and why did they allow this to happen? We don't know from t he information what role, if any, the officials took, but SOMEONE should have been looking around and seen this.
For the past 2 years, I have been doing a throws safety course for anyone who wants to participate. Obviously, these folks need help when it comes to throws safety.
If there is enough interest, I would be glad to present this to an officials association, or at the national meeting (sorry, I won't be in Hawaii, for I have neither the time nor the money). the National Throws Coaches Association, of which I am the vice-president, feels that this is a VERY important issue for the future of our sport, and for the future of the throwing events.
What do you think? Is there any interest out there in a throws safety seminar? If so, where and when?
posted by Hammer at
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
5 Comments:
I am amazed that folks are not afraid of flying objects at a track meet. Surely they see the cage constructed around the discus ring and should stand clear. I have taken many great photos from a safe distance away and behind the cage with my telephoto lens. One of the officials should have observed this dad and ordered him to leave the area. We can now hope for his full recovery and lessons learned by everyone.
Al Minturn from Southern California has done a clinic on 'dodging the missiles' at the annual meeting. Maybe the printed info from that clinic could be posted on our website?
Recent experience has shown me that it is necessary to follow the rules as they are written and disregard entirely any perception that by doing so would put the athletes at a disadvantage. During an indoor weight throw, the gate was not properly closed perpendicular to the foul line and an errant throw rolled across the track just a couple of seconds in front of runners finishing a track event. The feeling was that closing the gate properly, with the curved overhang of the upper portion of the cage would interfere with throws that may otherwise be within the sector. Safety must be the priority.
Good post.
http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/SHS/throwsafety/safetyinthethrows.htm
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