Athletics 101 – the disciplines
Athletics is an exciting sport which encompasses a wide range of disciplines. Whether you are new to the sport or already involved, this blog post will go through the many exciting different sports and activities you can get involved with as an athlete.
Running disciplines
There are five main kinds of athletics running disciplines: sprinting, middle-distance running, long distance running (or marathon), cross country and track and field.
Sprinting involves short distances, usually less than 400 metres. These races are generally over in under 10 seconds.
Middle-distance races cover distances between 800 and 3,000 metres (just under half a mile to just over two miles). These races typically take between 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
Long distance races cover distances between 5,000 metres (about three miles) and 42 kilometres (26 miles).
Cross country is a type of race that takes place on natural terrain rather than on a track or field. It’s often used as a way to train for other athletics running events because it requires strength and endurance – two things that are necessary in all types of athletics running events!
Jumping disciplines
The jumping disciplines are long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.
The long jump involves running down a runway and jumping as far as possible from a take-off board. It is considered to be one of the most important events in athletics because it measures speed, agility and jumping ability. It is also one of the oldest events in the Olympics having been competed at every Olympic Games since its introduction at the 1900 Games in Paris, France.
Triple jump involves running down a runway and jumping three times in succession with one foot touching each board before landing on the ground again after each jump. This event requires good technique because it requires great power as well as quickness to complete all three jumps.
High jump is similar to long jump except that instead of running down a runway, competitors must clear an obstacle placed at different heights depending on gender and age group (junior/senior).
Pole vault involves using a pole to propel yourself over an obstacle set up in front of you. To do this event properly you need great strength and flexibility since you have to run very fast in order to build up momentum before leaping.
Throwing disciplines
Here’s a quick rundown of the disciplines in athletics throwing:
A discus is a throwing event where you throw a disc (or weight) over your head. The discus is only allowed to be released by the athlete when their feet are behind the foul line.
A hammer throw is a throwing event where you throw a weight that looks like a hammer. The weight can be released at any point during the throw, but must land inside the circle marked on the ground.
A javelin throw is a throwing event where you throw a spear-shaped object over your head and as far as possible. You can release your javelin at any point during its flight and it must land within an area marked on the ground called “the landing area.”
