Teaching the Glide Shot Put Drill Sequence

When beginning to teach the glide technique, the first thing I like to do is show the kids videos of some gliders and point out some of the key phases of the glide. I think they need to know the big picture of how the glide should look before I can break it down into individual pieces for them. Then, when I teach each individual drill, I can explain where and how it fits into the larger scheme of the throw.

I like to use John Brenner’s technique as a model. I also show them David Storl’s and Al Feurbach’s techniques because I want to expose them to different styles. As a coach, you need to remember that once the basic pattern for the throw is established, it’s OK to let the athlete experiment with some variations that may work better for them. You never know until you try.