The shot put Info

The shot put is an athletics (track and field) event involving "putting" (throwing in a pushing motion) a heavy metal ball, also called the shot, as far as possible.

Shot put competitions are held at the Summer Olympic Games and have been since their inception, and is also included as an event in the indoor world championships. The shot put originated from Highland games stone put where Scottish people put a rounded cube stone or metal form of considerable weight from behind a given line.

The athlete must rest the shot in between the neck and shoulder and keep it tight to the neck while throwing.
At the end of the throw, the thrower must push the throwing arm straight from the neck, pushing the ball off the fingertips.
If the thrower does not push the ball out and throws it like a baseball, the thrower may incur an injury.

Foul throws are called when an athlete:

Does not leave from the rear half of the circle.
Steps out of circle before the judge calls the mark.
Allows some article of clothing to touch the top of the toeboard, the top of the iron ring or outside the circle.
Throws a shot which falls outside borders to the left and right.
While not requiring the same level of finesse as discus, shot put is not merely heaving a metal ball but requires immense strength, power, grace, and balance.

Each competitor receives a certain number of throws, usually 6 in elite competition, and the competitor with the farthest legal put is declared the winner. In men's competition, the shot weighs 7.26 kilograms. The women's shot weighs 4 kg. American high schools usually use 5.44 kg shots for boys and 4 kg shots for girls; these are sometimes used as practice shots as well. The weight of the ball differs depending on age group. Men over the age of 50 use a 6kg shot.

http://www.iaaf.org/ IAAF International Association of Athletics Federations

shot put training - shot putt-shot put- shotput -shot putting