Shot put and discus throw are two of the classic throwing events in athletics, along with javelin and hammer. Both test strength, speed and technique. Here are the main rules set by World Athletics.
Shot put
The shot is a heavy metal ball. The athlete puts, or pushes, it from the shoulder with one hand rather than throwing it like a ball.
- **Weight:** 7.26 kg for senior men and 4 kg for senior women
- **Circle:** about 2.135 metres in diameter, with a curved stop board at the front
- **Technique:** the shot must stay close to the neck or chin during the put and must not drop behind the shoulder
Throwers use either the glide technique, moving backwards across the circle, or the rotational technique, spinning like a discus thrower.
Discus throw
The discus is a flat, round disc thrown with a spinning motion.
- **Weight:** 2 kg for senior men and 1 kg for senior women
- **Circle:** 2.5 metres in diameter
- **Safety cage:** discus is thrown from inside a cage to protect officials and spectators
Common rules for both
- The athlete must start from a stationary position inside the circle.
- The implement must land inside a marked sector of about 35 degrees.
- The athlete must not touch the top of the circle rim or the ground outside the circle during the throw.
- The athlete must leave from the back half of the circle only after the implement lands.
Breaking any of these is a foul, and the throw is not measured.
Also Read: Javelin Throw Rules Explained: Weight, Runway, Valid Throws and Neeraj Chopra’s Record | Archery Rules Explained: Recurve vs Compound, the Set System, Target Scoring and India’s Archers
Measuring
The throw is measured from the nearest mark made by the implement to the inside edge of the circle, along a line to the centre of the circle.
Competition format
As in jumps, each athlete usually gets three throws, and the top eight get three more. The best legal throw counts.
Indian stars
- **Tajinderpal Singh Toor** won shot put gold at the Asian Games in 2018 and 2023.
- **Krishna Poonia** won women’s discus gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
- **Vikas Gowda** won discus gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and medals at Asian Games.
- **Seema Punia** won several Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medals in the discus.
Tips for beginners
- Learn the technique with light implements first.
- Build leg and core strength, not only arm strength.
- Always follow safety rules in training.
Bottom line
In both shot put and discus, a clean throw from the circle that lands in the sector is what counts. India has a proud record in these events in Asian and Commonwealth competitions.
Source / स्रोत: World Athletics, Athletics Federation of India
