Re:Training Framework Discussion - Throwing Events Discussion

Please utilize this discussion area to post your questions, comments and suggestions related to the ThrowFarther Training Framework or any of it's published content. Please feel free to offer your own suggestions on how to implement training aspects of each of the building blocks.

In reference to monitoring and evaluation, over the years I have used one simple alternative method of looking at throws progression throughout the year. Instead of just looking at a throwers PR, I think throughout the season it is more important to monitor their consistency. I record all of their meet performances. All 3,4 or 6 throws and then average them for each individual event each meet. As a coach it is more important for me to know that an athletes average throughout a meet is increasing as opposed to simply worrying about them increasing their PR. I have found for my athletes as well, it helps them to keep motivated if their PR did not increase, but their average over 6 throws increased by a half of a meter. Going into the conference, regional or national meet, it is confidence boosting to know that you may be throwing 3 meters further in recent weeks than you were in earlier meets.

When I was training in college we used the Quadrathon system of testing for monitoring your overall athletic performance and power. In the beginning of the season we would perform the tests and score them, we would then perform one or two tests a week over the course of the season and update our scores, etc. It was nice to be able to see improvement in overall power and strength throughout the season and I felt the Quadrathon tests were great for this. I used this similar approach while coaching high school athletes as well and I felt that it worked great, it also had additional benefits for athletes at that level in that it promoted more competition amongst themselves and gave them the opportunity to see improvements they were making even if the improvements weren’t yet transferring over into throwing distances.

The Quadrathon is one method of addressing the Monitoring and Evaluation component of the ThrowFarther Framework and more information including scoring, etc. will be published on the site in the near future. The Quadrathon essentially consists of four tests including:
30 yd sprint
Standing 3 hop jump
Standing long jump
Overhead shotput throw

Each of the athlete’s performances are scored on a standard scale to come up with a composite score for the events. We also utilized the performance data to calculate a Body Power Index score.

Tracking average throws sounds like another good way to monitor performance. I'm sure that most of us do not have PR's that are near our average throw but it can be a great indicator of overall performance increases as the season progresses. I agree with this post in that it is wise to find other ways to monitor performance other than just by your PR.

Hi! I am a high school throwing coach. I am new to the boards but I have a question. I was reading about the PUDS that are used for training and I was wondering if anyone has used them in their training and where can I get them?
Thanks!

We have an article posted in the articles section by Dennis Kline related to PUDS, you can get a decent overview of using PUD throwing in your training from this article. There are videos too.

www.throwfarther.com//index.ph...33&Itemid=57

The above URL should go to the article. Also, stay tuned to the site, we are working on developing another guide to using medicine balls for PUD training.