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During the ancient period communication systems existed among kings, rulers

and the rich community even though there were no proper communicating system.They

used people for the purpose as messengers. One such system adopted was to take

the message from one person to another. They ran the distance to reach the next

person. Depending on the distance to reach the next person, they had to travel, they

used many for the purpose to deliver the message. This process is considered as the

origin of the relay races in athletics.

6.1 Relay racing

Relay racing is a very interesting event at the school sport meet. A team of four

runners form a group per age limit represents the house, the school or the country.

Though the participants are the fastest four, the technique of changing the baton at the

three stations and maintaining the maximum speed through the race should be taught

LET US IMPROVE OUR

ATHLETIC SKILLS06

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and trained to win the race. It is a very skillful event.

There are specific rules and regulations pertaining to

the exchange zone and the baton.

Baton : length – 28 cm – 30 cm

Weight – Not less than 50 gm

Circumference – 12 cm – 13 cm

Techniques of baton change.

(i) Visual method

This method is used very often in 4x400 m

relay races. The receiver looks at the giver who is

running to the station with the baton (Fig 6.1,

Fig 6.3).

(ii) Non visual method is used in 4x100 m and

4 x 200 m races. The change is done without looking

at the giver. This is a very speedy change where the

two players train to harmonize their speed at the

changing zone so that the change of baton is done

without a break of speed. The variations of

implementing visual and non visual changes are,

20 m 10 m

Baton change zone

Fig 6.2

Fig 6.3

Fig 6.1

Fig 6.4

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v open arm method (downward pass) and

v under arm method (upward pass)

These can be applied for visual or non visual methods.

Open arm method

The action of the giver is a down sweep of the

baton to the open palm of the receiver. This is mostly

effective in the visual method.

Under arm method

The action of the giver is a up sweep movement

where the baton is swept up to keep it in between the

wide fork of the thumb and the first finger with the palm

facing the receiver and the fingers pointing down. This

is mostly successful in the non visual method. The open

arm method and under arm method of changing can be

done in three ways.

They are,

v inside change

v outside change

v mixed change

Inside Change

The change is done always by the

right hand of the giver to the left hand

of the receiver. The baton is changed

always to the inside of the lane and the

receiver stands towards the outside of

the lane.

Fig 6.7

Fig 6.5

Fig 6.6

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Fig 6.8

Fig 6.9

Fig 6.10

Outside Change

The change is done always by the

left hand of the giver to the right hand

of the receiver. Change takes place to

the outside of the lane. Receiver stands

towards the inside of the lane.

Mixed Change

The change is a mixture of

the inside and outside change.

The 1st runner takes the baton

on the right hand, he gives the

baton from the right to the left

hand of the receiver using the

visual or non visual method. Then

the second player carries it in the

left hand and gives it to the right

of the third runner and the third

runner carries it in his right to give

it to the left hand of the last player.

Other way is the starter starts with the baton on the left.The methods and ways

used depend on the skill of the players. While training the teacher and the students

decide on the most effective style of changing.The main purpose is to finish the race as

fast as possible.

The position of the baton at the start of a race

The position of players for a relay race

It is right left right left or it can be as left right left right

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Selecting Players – The runners at each station should possess the

following abilities

1st runner - A good start, reaction power. Speedy bend, sensible giver

2nd runner - Speedy straight run, efficient at receiving and giving, speed and

stamina.

3rd runner - Speedy bend runner, a good receiver and a giver, speed and

stamina

4th runner - good acceleration and ability to overcome challenge, an efficient

receiver, speedy straight run.

Jumps are of two kinds

You have learnt the basic points about jumps in grade 8. Recollect them. Let us

pay our attention on the triple jump, though triple jump is not an event for under 15

children, but in preparation for the future and improve rhythm in movement and de-

velop strong legs.

Triple jump consists of three leaps and three landings. You have to take off with

one foot (hop) and land on the same foot, step on the other and land on both. Let us

make the movement clear.

Activity 6.1

Mark on a track the position of the players for the 3 different ways of

changing the baton.

Activity 6.2

List down the rules of relay racing.

Jumps

horizontal jumps vertical jumps

long jump triple jump high jump pole vault

6.2 Jumps

Triple jump

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These movements should be done to a rhythm at each leap. You will understand

that you cover a distance with

1. a hop

2. a step

3. a jump

The total process consists of

1. approach run

2. take off and hop

3. step

4. jump

5. landing

After experiencing the total process you should

excel in the rhythm of this event. The distance

covered is measured from the landing to the take off.

1. Approach run

The distance of the approach run differ

according to the runner. It depends on the distance an

athlete needs to reach the maximum speed. To cover

a long distance an athlete needs to gain a high speed in

the approach run.

hop step jump

Rightleft

Take off

from the

left foot

both

feet

First leap

from the

right foot

land on

bothleftRightRight

hop step jump

Fig 6.11

Fig 6.12

APPROACH

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2. Hop – As the athlete takes off from the take off board the horizontal

speed is transformed to the leap.

v The take off foot is brought forward to land on the same.

v Body is balanced, slightly inclined forward.

v Swing the hands back and forward.

3. Step

Take off from the hopped foot.

Swing the hands.

Stretch and raise the hopped foot.

Land on the free foot carrying it forward

Maintain body balance.

4. Jump

With speed take off from the free foot and take off from it.

Swing the hands back and forward.

Carry the body in the air in the hang style or sail style.

Take both feet forward and land.

Fig 6.13

Fig 6.14

Fig 6.15

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5. Landing

Take the body forward.

Take both feet ahead of the body.

Take the body and feet in front together.

The back of the foot touches the ground.

The knees, should bend and push the body

forward curled in a sitting position.

Hands should swing forward.

The jumping area

Pole vault is a vertical jump. It is a very admirable event as the jumper reaches a

height with the help of a pole. The latest pole used is made of fiber glass. But earlier it

was made of bamboo or wood. To plant the pole as a support to go up with its

support a trapezium shaped box is planted on the ground.

Fig 6.16

Fig 6.18

3.00m

Fig 6.17

Minimum

20 cm

wide

minimum40 m

13 m

11 m girls

boys

2.75m minimum

3.00m maximum1.22 m

21mmaximum

Pole vault

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scissor western

roll

fosbury

flop

straddle

jump

Fig 6.19

eastern

cut off

Pole vault event consists of

1. an approach run

2. plant the pole in the box and go up.

3. clear the cross bar

4. land

Causes for considering jumps as unsuccesful

1. Falling of the cross bar immediately after a jump.

2. Touching the area beyond the cross bar with any part of the body, before the

jump.

3. Changing the grip by taking the hand of the lower grip above the hand of the

higher grip or taking the hand further up the pole.

4. While jumping holding the cross bar to steady it or replace it.

5. Bandaging or taping the hand.

6. Delaying the jump purposely by not attending to the call by the judge.

Let us further our knowledge about high jump. You have already learnt about high

jump in grade 8. Let us recollect it.

There are 5 techniques of high jump. They are,

1. scissors

2. eastern cut off

3. western roll

4. straddle jump

5. fosbury flop

High jump

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Fig 6.21

Fig 6.20

Out of these jumps the scissors jump you

learnt, will help you to learn the techniques of

fosbury flop.

This jump can be segmented into 4 stages.

1. Approach run

2. Take off

3. Clearing the bar

4. Landing

Approach run

Some of the jumpers who use this method approach in a curved path. Some

jumpers do a straight run and take a curved path at the last few steps.

v To take a good start and a good speed one should start running on the balls of

the feet.

v The first part of the run is used to gain speed.

v Second part of the run is to get ready to take off for the jump.

v When the player is running on a curved path the body is inclined about 300.

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At the last step of the run the jumper’s body is slightly arched back.

3. Take off

v The take off begins when the take off foot is grounded to take the push up.

v The foot is slightly stretched ahead of the body.

v Some players swing both hands up. Some players swing the hand opposite the

take off foot back and the other front.

v Those who swing both hands up get ready by swinging the hands back the

moment the take off foot is grounded.

v Free foot is bent and swung towards the body.

v The body straightnes, take off foot is pressed to the ground, the jumper reaches

the air.

Clearing the bar

Fig 6.22

Fig 6.23

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v At the start of the take off the player turns his back to the cross bar.

v As he reaches the cross bar he bends his knees and keeps the thighs parallel

to the ground.

v The body is arched back.

v When the buttocks go over the cross bar the hips drop down and the feet

straightens rapidly. This enables him to carry his body over the bar safely.

Landing

After clearing the bar the upper part of the body is parallel to the ground and the

feet are raised up. The body is “ L ” shaped.

The body should be relaxed and should land on the shoulders first and then the

hands. You will be able to learn, the other techniques of high jumps in the future years.

You should never try to practice this technique without the necessary equipment. Spe-

cially the facility to land.

Fig 6.24 Fig 6.25

Activity 6.3

Write down the rules of high jump in your exercise book.

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Fig 6.26

Throws are of 4 kinds. They are

1. shot put

2. discuss throw

3. javelin throw

4. hammer throw

You have learnt in grade 8 the Shot put, Discuss and Javelin throw. The basic

skills of these events are handling the equipment and releasing the equipment in a

standing position. Following are the various stages of throwing events.

Stages of throws

6.3 Throws

shot put

Discuss throw

1. ready position

2. starting position

3. rotation

4. power position

5. release

6. follow through

Shot put

1. preperation and stance

2. Rotation

3. Power position

4. Release

5. Follow through

Javelin throw

1. Ready position

2. Approach run

3. Pushing the Javelin back

4. Crossing the feet

5. Power position

6. Release

7. Follow through

Illustrations of throws

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Fig 6.27

Fig 6.28

Fig 6.29Fig 6.30

Fig 6.31

Let us study the javelin throw in its stages

Discuss

Javelin

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1. Power position

(a) Body is inclined back (fig 6.29).

(b) Left leg is stretched (right handed thrower).

(c) The right hand with the javelin is stretched back.

(d) As the right foot is brought forward hand with the Javelin comes forward

to release the javelin.

(e) The hip is turned forward.

(f) The right elbow is brought forward to release the Javelin (fig 6.30).

(g) As the Javelin is released the right foot is brought forward to balance the

body and to control the speed.

(h) The upper part of the body is bent forward.

(i) The left foot is up at the back, the thrower is watching the movement of

the equipment (fig 6.31).

You will be able to learn the technique of discuss and javelin in grade 10.

A beginner who wants to learn throwing events should first learn the correct

posture of throwing.

The position of the feet

The position of the trunk

The position of the hands

Activity 6.4

Making use of the raw materials available prepare equipment that can

be used to learn the techniques of throws.