Coach David Parker on How to Train For the Javelin Throw

The throwing of the javelin can engage your entire body, from your fingers to your toes. A good training program for javelin involves performing half-hour aerobic exercises six days a week. Here’s how to train for the javelin throw.

Stretching

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and bend at the knees. Lower your back toward the ground and stretch your middle and back. Repeat the exercise to lengthen the entire body.

Overhead Basketball

This drill aims to prepare the throwers for carrying the object’s weight behind the head. With the ball behind your head, lean back as far as you can while keeping the body extending from the knees. Pull the ball forward as you go through with the arms and shoulders, and release it when you’re leaning toward the ground at 45 degrees.

Throwing Drill

The thrower should stand with the left foot forward and the right shoulder extended behind him. As the right foot moves forward, twist the body so that the throwing arm extends fully as you release the ball. This move is designed to teach the fundamentals of throwing. Continue this exercise until the throw is smooth.

As the right foot moves forward, twist the body so that the throwing arm extends fully as you release the ball. Continue this exercise until the throw is smooth. For the last five steps, the thrower should take a couple of steps each to improve their throwing technique.

Rhythm

To prepare for the throw, line up in the throwing area and practice without the aid of the javelin. For each pass, alternate the rhythm of your steps so you can get the most out of your move. After finding your rhythm, add the object to your practice.

Scratch Line

The throwers run the entire throwing area for this exercise and end their throw at the scratch line. The competition’s goal is to see who can get closest to the line without stepping on it. During this period, the coach will watch the throwers to know if they have the proper technique.

Drawback Drill

The throwers run the entire throwing area for this exercise and end their throw at the scratch line. To improve this technique, start throwing the javelin at a 45-degree angle with the point at eye level. After a couple of strides, draw the object back to its starting position. Then, repeat the exercise until you reach the scratchboard. As the thrower approaches the scratch line, the coach will keep an eye on the object’s extension and the shoulders parallel to the ground.

ABOUT COACH DAVID PARKER

Coach David Parker is a dedicated javelin and conditioning coach that places a high value on his athletes’ growth as athletes and their physical strength and stamina. For many years, David has been in charge of overseeing the expansion of national programs and the physical development of national program athletes in Shanghai, China. David is always looking for new ways to help his athletes improve, and he does more than just teach them the rules of a sport; he also focuses on their body movements. With this approach, David is able to aid in the development of his athletes while maintaining a safe and regulated training environment. Known for his innovative and practical training methods, David helps his athletes improve their dynamic stability, reduce the risk of injury and be ready for anything that may come their way.

As a successful entrepreneur, China’s National Men’s Javelin Coach, and the Head Performance Javelin Coach for the Shanghai Track & Field Team, David Parker has a wide range of responsibilities. Sightline Performance and The Javelin Throw, of which he is a co-owner and director, are also under his direction. Coach David Parker formerly worked for British Athletics as the National Performance Institute Coach for Throws and as the Lead Throws Coach at Loughborough University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

In his spare time, when he isn’t relaxing with his family, David plays football for two separate teams in Shanghai and enjoys skiing and golfing whenever possible. While it may seem like David’s life is centered solely around athleticism, he is a big advocate for conservation on a global scale. His aspirations include reaching a point in his career where he can lend his voice to some of the world’s challenges. His dream is to retire from coaching one day and launch his own bee farm, a hobby that has long been his passion. In addition, David hopes to grow and maintain an apple orchard and manufacture his own cider.