How to Compete in Javelin Throwing

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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The javelin has been around for thousands of years. It was first used as a weapon for hunting and warfare, but as sports developed, people saw its potential as an exciting spectacle and included it in their competitions. The Ancient Greeks held javelin throws in the earliest Olympic games. The sport managed to stick around and is now a standard field event.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Grip the javelin so that it runs down the length of your palm and not across it.

Step2

Lift the javelin above your shoulders and head so that it points forward and slightly downward. It should be resting naturally in the palm of your hand, and your right elbow should be facing forward, as well.

Step3

Make your approach run down the track. Let your free arm swing naturally across your body. Move your carrying arm as needed so that the javelin stays in its initial position.

Step4

Run on the balls of your feet as you approach the spot where you'll begin the "Withdrawal" phase. Don't run with more speed than you can handle. Your run should feel powerful and natural, not frenzied and chaotic.

Step5

Start the "Withdrawal" phase by bursting ahead of the javelin so that it shifts behind your body. As you do this, angle your hips away from the direction of your run so that they face either right or left (depending which arm holds the javelin).

Step6

Transition into the release by stepping in front of your center of gravity with your right foot. This causes you to lean back a bit and prepares you to plant your left foot for the throw.

Step7

Reach forward with your left leg and uncock your hips so that they face forward again.

Step8

Bring the javelin over your head and release it in an up-and-out direction. The javelin will travel the farthest if it's released at a 33-degree angle with the ground.

Tips & Warnings

In a competition, the entire field gets three throws. After this, the top eight competitors get another three throws. The winner is the competitor with the farthest distances as measured to the centimeter, foot or inch.
The tip of the javelin must hit the ground before anything else or the throw is a foul.