Discus Skills

Technique 

• Enter circle (it is good to practice entering and exiting from the back). 

• Body position. 

  • Stand tall. 

  • Body sideways with discus side backwards. 

  • Feet shoulder-width apart. 

  • Weight on balls of feet. 

• Hold discus. 

  • Four fingers spread apart and thumb resting on top. 

  • End of fingers over the edge. 

  • Avoid “gripping” too hard. 

• Action. 

  • Bend back leg. 

  • Turn backwards at hips so discus well behind body. 

  • Unwind lower body and then upper body. 

  • Discus arms follows last and then discus is released. 

• Exit out the back of the circle. 

Modification Options 

• Adjust size or weight of discus to match the athlete’s upper body strength and control. 

• Use a modified training discus or frisbee (safety practice discus, foam discus). 

• Allow different throwing actions. 

  • Underarm toss.  

  • Underarm roll. 

• Offer seated throws for relevant athletes. Seated athletes can complete multiple throws in a row to help with the functioning of the event.  

  • Throwing frame preferred. 

    • Ensure the chair is correctly secured to the ground. 

    • Use appropriate straps / postural anchors such as a pelvic belt and shin belt. 

    • Athlete may use a footrest or foothook. 

    • Chair is positioned facing sideways to the field. 

    • Swing arm in readiness prior to release. 

    • More or less trunk rotation depending on trunk strength. 

  • Can use own wheelchair or a heavy everyday chair. 

    • Brakes on. 

    • Seat belt and chosen postural supports on. 

    • Chair or wheelchair can be anchored/held by a helper adult to prevent it from tipping/rocking - hold the back of the chair on the opposite side to throwing arm. Adult ducks down so they don’t get hit with arm on follow through. 

    • Low backrest if available. 

    • Non-throwing hand to brace on thigh or arm rest or top of wheel. 

  • Trial different rotational angles for the chair ie throwing side rotated slightly forward. 

• Use bright markers for the throwing and sector lines. 

• For athletes with vision impairment, use a guide athlete. See the sensory page for more information.

Before you Start  

• Correct weight of discus for the athletes age or athletes' ability. 

• Throwing circle is clear of debris. 

• Waiting athletes stand behind the circle. 

• Officials face the circle. 

Safety  

• A cage or safety netting is in place. 

• Defined throwing and landing area.   

• Athletes throw when told to go. 

• After the throw, the discus is carried back to the circle not thrown or rolled. 

Measuring  

• Zero end of tape is placed on the nearest imprint made by the discus in the ground to the throwing circle. 

• Pull tape back through the centre of the circle. 

• Measure to the inside of the metal rim. 

• When is the discus a foul?  

  • If the discus lands on or outside the sector lines. 

  • If any part of the athlete touches the ground outside of the circle during the throw (discus must land first before exiting the circle). 

  • If the athlete exits forward out the front half of the circle. 

Recording  

• Record the distance to the nearest whole centimetre below the distance measured.