"The Ring" archive entries from Jun 17th 2009

    published at Jun 17th 2009 3:13am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    published at Jun 17th 2009 6:53am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    Quote from Kap

    I think that at altitude the thinner air is a wash with the new spear. While less "wind" on the tail would lessen the pitching action the lack of "wind" also lessens the effect of lift from the front surface. Even with the design of the current spear to limit distances it's still an aerodynamic implement and needs something to "work" against for maximum distance potential, so I think that you'd still loose distance with identical throws at sea level vs 6-7,00 ft.
    I got a very informative email from Mohamad Saatara, the throws coach @ Northern Arizona, telling me of his experiences with wind, thin air (they are at 7,000 ft) and various implements. There seem to be needs different than what most throwers are used to at lower levels when up in the thin air..... he could explain better than I but his points, beside wind direction/implement, was the need to really hit the throw (faster flight = more contact w/ air) and for the athletes to be aerobically fit. Hard to go with big efforts if you can't breathe :-)
    Thanks, Mo...... I'm sticking closer the the earth's core: my aerobic fitness is a bit lacking.

    published at Jun 17th 2009 8:22am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    published at Jun 17th 2009 11:27am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    Quote from ryoung

    I just wondered what some of you think about how starting age affects high school performance and if someone starts later at what point would the catch up?

    Let me elaborate a bit: I have a son who is about to turn 16 and started throwing 15 months ago. I read information about Vena, Finley, Ryan Crouser and a few other kids around the same age and see that they started throwing in 5th or 6th grade. If a kid starts in 9th grade that seems like a huge disadvantage. Now I also believe tht there is a point in time where they can catch up. I susoect that is probably around second year college but that is purely a guess on my part. I just wondered what some of you think.

    My son is blessed with good size, strength and very solid coaching at this point. I suspect he will go 220' in discus in high school (three years of high school left and is about 185' now) and hopefully over 70' in shot. He is about 6'7 and 250lbs. He has chosen only to throw and to throw and/or lift 4-5 days a week in an effort to become Canada's best high school thrower ever.

    published at Jun 17th 2009 9:06pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    published at Jun 17th 2009 10:11pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    Quote from Kap

    Considering your son's discus mark, he's pretty damn good now. While throwing is an apprenticeship, there are some kids that just have "it": the kinesthetic feel for slinging something heavy far. For those athletes, less years of reps can produce very good improvements given they are already ahead of the curve when they've started and have a natural "groove" or pattern of movement. An example: Russ Francis (former NFL great TE) first touched a javelin in Feb/March his senior year in HS. He threw 79m 3 months later, a record that lasted decades. I've seen video of your son.... he has "it". And he has physical structure to maximize his skills as they become more fluid and natural from lots of correct reps as well as a great support system. There's less guesswork or trial and error so sessions are more productive.
    My guess is that your son will be on par with the young men you mentioned when his HS career is done and he's off to university.

    published at Jun 17th 2009 10:23pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    Quote from ryoung

    Brad, interesting that you mention the bodyweightthing. His coach commented just yesterday that the plan for the next 12 months for bodyweight will be to maintain about the same weight and maybe lose 10lbs while putting on another 10-15 of muscle mass hopefully. The discussion was around not becoming a 310+ lb kid coming out of high school, but more like 270.

    published at Jun 17th 2009 10:25pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    Quote from ryoung

    I read the Vena has gotten to a point where his coaches suggest he knows as much as them. Perhaps they are just being politically correct or perhaps they really believe that. My question is, what does an athlete do when they reach a point where their understanding of what they are doing matches or exceeds that of their coach? I realize that an extra set of knowledgeable eyes is crucial. But how does a kid like Vena then find a college coach who will advance his throwing? Is there really such a thing as being that advanced? Just something I have wondered.

    published at Jun 17th 2009 10:50pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

    published at Jun 18th 2009 12:54am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

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