Javelin Throw, the athletics (track-and-field) sport of throwing a spear for distance, was included in the ancient Greek Olympic Games as one of five events of the pentathlon competition. The javelin that is used in modern international men’s competitions is a spear of wood or metal with a sharp metal point.
History of Javelin Throw
Throwing the javelin as a sport evolved from the everyday use of the spear in hunting and warfare. It was widely practised in Ancient Greece and incorporated into the Olympic Games in 708BC as part of the pentathlon. It has been part of the modern Olympic Games programme since 1908 for men and 1932 for women.
In 1986 the men's javelin was redesigned; its centre of gravity was moved forward by four centimetres. This shortened throwing distances by approximately 10 per cent by bringing its nose down earlier and more steeply. This move was made because the men, following a world record of 104.80m by East Germany's Uwe Hohn in 1984, were in danger of throwing the javelin beyond the space available in normal stadiums. In 1999, the women's javelin was similarly redesigned.
The women’s event was first recorded in Finland in 1909. Usually at that time the women threw the Javelin of same kind as men’s but later on shorter and lighter Javelin for women was introduced in the 1920s. The women’s event made its debut in the 1932 Olympic Games, Los Angeles in which Mildred “Babe” Didrikson of the United States became the first champion.
The Javelin throw later became part of the Decathlon since its introduction in the early 1910s.
Javelin Throw Rules
1. The weight, size, shape, & centre of gravity of the javelin sport are all defined by IAAF rules.
2. The javelin must be held from the grip & thrown overhand i.e over the athlete’s upper arm or shoulder.
3. Athletes are prohibited from turning completely around such that their back faces the direction of the Javelin throw.
4. A javelin throw is considered legal only if the tip of the javelin lands within the sector of the javelin throw. Also, the tip of the javelin must strike the ground before any other part of the javelin.
5. The athlete with the longest single legal throw (over all rounds) is the winner.
Equipment recommended for Javelin Throw
1. Shoes: Leather or nylon shoes with a maximum of 11 front and rear cleats (12mm long) are worn during Javelin throw.
2. Clothing: Athletes wear lightweight sleeveless or short-sleeved T-shirts or top. The shorts may be tight fitted to support the thighs.
3. Javelin: It is a light spear which is divided into three parts - tip, shaft and cord grip. It is designed to throw as a sports event but earlier was used as a weapon in war and for hunting purposes. Its overall length must be at least 260 cm (102.4 inches) and its weight at least 800 grams (1.8 pounds).
The women's Javelin is somewhat shorter and lighter—a minimum 220 cm (86.6 inches) long and 600 grams (1.3 pounds) in weight.
Game play step by step Javelin Throw
1. First hold the Javelin at a height above the head firmly such that it is parallel to the ground.
2. Place both your feet close to each other in the direction of throw and the other palm under the tip of the Javelin.
3. Pull the Javelin back with the shoulder as far as possible. Now the position of the Javelin should not be parallel but it should be facing straight towards the direction of the throw. This position is commonly known as the T position.
4. If you are a right-handed thrower, then step forward with your left foot and throw the Javelin.
5. During the seventh stride, make sure that the Javelin is back fully.
6. During this period the hips turn in a clockwise direction and the right leg crosses over the left leg. This stride is commonly known as Crossover.
7. Now, at the last stride, throw the Javelin with full impulse to cover a larger distance.
Playing Area
1. The Runway
The minimum length of the runway should be 30 meter (98.42 ft.) and maximum it should be up to 36.50 meter (119.75 ft.). It is marked by two parallel lines whose length is approximately hundred meter (328.08 ft.) and they are separated by a distance of four meter (13.12 ft.). Javelin throw is the only sport in which the competitors are not confined to a circle but have to run along the runway to throw the Javelin.
2. The Throwing Arc
This is a curved arc of a circle having 8 meter (26.24 ft.) of radius and is located at the end of the runway. The strip is made up of white paint with a width of 70 mm (2.75 in.). The athletes should not step on or beyond the arc at any point while throwing the Javelin or after the throw.
3. The Landing Sector
The landing sector is also known as the throwing sector. It is the wedge-shaped area with a soft, even surface, upon which the Javelin lands. For the Javelin throw, the landing sector covers an angle of 28.96 degrees extending outwards from the arc at the end of the runway.
