You Will Need
- A Wellington/Welly boot (make sure to give it a good clean first!)
- A Start Line- this can be any household object like a piece of rope or a plank of wood.
- A Measuring Tape
- A Tester with a Marker- this can be any small, movable object like a stone or a pair of socks.
How To Set Up and Record Your Result
Start by holding the front side of your Welly boot in your strong hand,just below the ankle.
Place the boot onto your shoulder, with the sole almost touching theside of your face. This should look like you’re about to make a phonecall.
Stand sideways to your target with your feet shoulder-width apart. The Welly boot should be in the hand furthest from the starting line (Left foot on the start line, Welly boot in your right hand).
When you’re ready, quickly move your weight on to your back foot and throw the Welly boot as far as possible by extending your arm and moving your weight back onto your front foot.
Your chest should be facing the target once you have released the Welly boot, but you must not cross the Start Line after your throw or this will not count.
The Tester will then place the Marker where the Welly boot first made contact with the ground.
Using the Measuring Tape, the Tester will then check how far the Welly boot travelled and this distance (in metres and centimetres) can be recorded in the Healthy Kidz App under Sports Day>Welly Boot Toss.
Coaching Tips
- Try to keep your Welly boot close to the side of your head with your elbow bent, throughout the back and forward movement.
- Practice with some lighter objects like a pair of socks or a beanbag to get your technique right.
- Have a go with both hands to test out which side is stronger.
How to Prepare
Before throwing, get used to pushing your Welly boot up and down over your head to get a feel for the movement.
Squats will help with your lower body strength and balance.
Try some lateral/sideways lunges to get used to transferring your body weight backwards and forwards.
Tuck jumps will make you explosive and powerful to get maximum distance on your throw.
Take a look at this ‘Shot Put’ demonstration video on YouTube to see how it should be done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0auOolG6WU.