Athletics throwing events
The four standard throwing events — shot put, discus, hammer, and javelin — all involve the use of
implements of various weights and shapes that are hurled for distance.
Discus throw
Layout
The discus throw includes a throwing circle, protective cage and landing sector. They are
located near the ends of the back straight and the landing sector is located in the grass area
inside the track.
The facility for discus throw, near the 1500m start, is usually combined with a facility for
hammer throw. Discus-throw-circle-facility. The only difference is the diameter of the
throwing circle is 2.50m for discus throw and 2.135m for hammer throw. The protective cage
must meet the more stringent requirements for hammer throwing. If two separate discus and
hammer circles are placed within the hammer protective cage then the discus throw circle is
the circle closer to the landing sector.
Throwing circle
The throwing circle is made of band iron, steel or other suitable material, the top of which is
flush with the ground outside or the synthetic surface or concrete surround. The interior of the
circle is constructed of concrete and must not be slippery.
Further information on the construction of the throwing circle is in Section 2.4.1.2 of the
Manual, page 59.
Safety cage
Frequently discus and hammer are thrown from a combined facility. In those instances the
higher standards required for hammer throwing apply to the protective cage design. To
provide greater safety it is desirable to extend the netting on the side of the cage nearer to the
track further than 7m from the centre of the circle and/or increase the height of the netting for
the last 2m.
Landing sector
The landing sector consists of cinders or grass or other suitable material with an even surface
soft enough to ensure that the place of the initial fall of the implement can be clearly
established by the judges. The landing surface must not allow the implement to bounce
backwards, thus creating a risk that the measuring point is obliterated.
The landing sector is laid from the middle of the circle with an angle of 34.92 degrees and
marked by 0.05m wide white lines, the inside edges which form the boundary of the sector.
The length of the sector is 80m. Its angle of 34.92 degrees will be attained if the two sector
lines at a distance of 80m are spaced 48m apart.
Hammer throw
Layout
The hammer throw facility includes a throwing circle, a protective cage and a landing sector.
It is usually combined with the facility for discus throw.
Throwing circle
The circle for the hammer throw is slightly smaller than the discus throw. The surface finish
to the concrete circle is slightly smoother for hammer throwing than for discus throwing.
When a circle is used for both discus and hammer throwing a compromise finish is required.
See section 2.4.2.2 of the Manual for further information.
Safety cage
Hammer and discus must only be thrown from an enclosure or cage to ensure the safety of
spectators, officials and athletes. Cages specified in the manual are intended for use in major
stadia in high class competition when the event takes place outside the arena with spectators
present or when the event takes place in the arena and other events are taking place at the
same time. Simpler and smaller cages may be adequate for competition of lower standard and
for well regulated training facilities. Further information is available from section 6.3.2 of the
Manual.
Combined discus and hammer throw cage
Javelin
Layout
The javelin throw facility includes a runway, a throwing arc and a landing sector.
Since the length of the runway exceeds the space available in the segment, it is
usually extended across the track and track border.
It is necessary to have a removable kerb and the height of the surfaces of the oval
track and the segment must be the same along the track border. For a runway in
either segment, the landing sector is located in the grass area inside the track.
The runway is 30m minimum long and measured from the beginning of the runway
to rear edge of the side markings outside the runway at the same level as the
throwing arc. It is marked by two parallel white lines 0.05m wide and 4m apart.
The runway is covered with the same surface as the track.
Throwing arc
The throwing arc is situated at the end of the runway. It is painted or made of wood
(3 to 5 weatherproof, bonded layers) or a suitable non-corrodible material like
plastic. If not marked with paint, it must be installed flush with the surface of the
runway.
The throwing arc is 0.07m wide, white and curved with a radius of 8m from the
centre point in the middle of the runway, in the throwing direction. It is advisable
that the centre point is marked with a synthetic plug of a different colour to the
surface, with a diameter and surface thickness of 20mm-30mm. Lines are drawn
from the extremities of the arc at right angles to the parallel lines marking the
runway. These lines are white, 0.75m in length and 0.07m wide.
Landing sector
The sector lines are laid from the centre point on the runway through the
crosspoints of the throwing arc and the lines of the runway. The length of the
sector is 100m. At this distance the inner edges of the sector lines are 50m apart.
The marking of the sector lines extends to a distance appropriate to the
competition.
Shot put
Layout
The shot put facility includes a throwing circle, a stop board and a landing sector.
The landing sector is usually located in the grass area inside the track.
Throwing circle
The inside diameter of the throwing circle is 2.135m ± 0.005m.
Stop board
The stop board is painted white and made of wood or other suitable material in the
shape of an arc so that the inner edge coincides with the inner edge of the circle. It
is placed midway between the sector lines and firmly fixed to the ground. It
measures 1.21m ± 0.01m long on the inside. The width at the narrowest point is
0.112m ± 0.002m and the height is 0.10m ± 0.002m measured above the adjoining
surface of the circle when the stop board is firmly in position.
Landing sector
The length of the sector is 25m. The angle of 34.92 degrees is attained if the two
sector lines, at a distance of 25m, are spaced 15m apart.
References
IAAF Track and Field Facilities Manual 2008 (PDF 5.6 MB)
EQUIPMENTS
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 sport event but earlier was used as weapon in war and for
hunting purpose. 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.
Discus Throw
1) Discus Disc
Usually, the Discus Disc sides are made of plastic, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber or metal
with a metal rim in the boundary and a metal core to attain the weight. The more rim
weight, the greater the angular momentum that increases the stability and distance.
According to the International Association of Athletics Federations (“IAAF”) the weight
of the discus for Men should be 2kg (70.54 oz.) with 22 cm in diameter and for Women
it should be 1kg (35.27 oz.) with 18 cm (6 inch) in diameter.
2) Discus Shoes
The Discus Shoes are made of leather or suede with smooth and flexible soles. Cleats are
not present over the outer sole.
3) Discus Clothing
Throwers wear lightweight vests and shorts. The shorts may be tight fitted to support
the thighs.
Shot Put
1) SHOT PUT TOE BOARDS / STOP BOARD
These are made of cast aluminum and are commonly four inches high boards.
The dimensions of the board are in length: 1.21-1.23 m (121-123 cms.), width: 11.2-30
cm and height: 10cm that is higher than the inside of the circle.
2) SHOT (BALL)
The shot is a spherical ball made of cast iron, brass and stainless steel with smooth
surface. The Shot (ball) for men weighs 7.26 kg (16 pounds) and is 110-130 mm (4.3-
5.1 inches) in diameter whereas for women the Shot (ball) weighs 4 kg (8.82
pound) and is 95-110 mm (3.7-4.3 inches) in diameter. The Shots are of two types:
(a) Outdoor shot-put and (b) Indoor shot put that are available in different sizes and
weights.
3) THROWING CIRCLE
It is a circle of 2.14 m (7 feet) in diameter into a 34.92° sector as measured from
the center of the circle. Usually this is made on the ground for outdoor shot
put competitions and for indoor competitions the ring is made of high-resistance multi-
layer plywood on a metal surface that makes it stiff and strengthens the components.
In 1908, the throwing area was changed from a square to a circle. In the following year,
a stop board was added to give shot putters a point of support for their foot.
4) SHOT PUT SHOES
The Shot put Shoes are made of leather or suede with smooth and flexible
soles. Cleats are not present over the outer sole to provide maximum adherence to the
athlete on the surface of the throwing circle.
5) SHOT PUT CLOTHING
Throwers wear lightweight vests and shorts. The shorts may be tight fitted to support
the thighs.
Hammer Throw
1) Hammer Throw - Clothing
Throwers wear lightweight vests and shorts. The shorts may be tight fitted to support
the thighs.
2) Hammer Throw - Shoes
Shoes with no cleats are worn by throwers to allow maximum adherence and to make
the rotation easier.
3) Hammer Throw – Gloves
Throwers wear a leather glove with thick fingers to ensure a solid grip on the handle.
4) Hammer Throw - Hammer
A hammer used in hammer throw is equipment with a steel wire adjoined to a metal
ball at one end and a handle at another. The metal head should be of solid iron, brass or
any other metal but not softer than brass. In this athletes throw a metal ball weighing
around 7.26kg (16 lbs.) for men and 4kg (8.8 lbs.) for women attached by a steel wire
(no longer than 1.22m) to a grip.
