Overview:
Understanding Athletics helps you unpick the complex rules, structures and jargon of the sport. It is packed with information to help you, or anyone with an interest in athletics, quickly demystify the sport and make learning about it fun.
This great book, suitable for adults and children, players and fans, features:
an introductory quiz to assess your existing knowledge and help you zoom into the right sections to help you improve your game
chapters on what you need to compete in athletics, the rules of athletics, positions on the track and field, skills and much more
interactive tasks to test your understanding and progression as you work through the chapters
relevant websites to visit to further your knowledge of athletics
profiles of great athletes to inspire you to keep practising.
Foreword
Athletics is a sport of great variety and one that offers something for everyone, from javelin throwing - the event that inspired me - to running the marathon. It is an extremely popular sport throughout the world, with enthusiasts becoming involved as athletes, technical officials, teachers and coaches, specialising in events such as sprinting, hurdling, relay and distance running, steeplechase, throwing events, jumping events, combined events and off-track events such as road running, cross-country and mountain and fell. Athletics is also a great spectator sport and can be enjoyed as part of a showpiece occasion, like the Olympic Games, in Grand Prix events and international fixtures, as well as being enjoyed domestically through competition designed to meet the needs of young, developing and club athletes.
Understanding Athletics will benefit anybody wanting to get involved in the sport. It offers a fresh approach to introducing people to the range of events. The resource identifies the questions that may be asked by someone who knows little or nothing about athletics, before providing the answers in a simple, easy-to-follow format. It also offers valuable guidance on how to get started in the sport, as well as offering advice on what you need to succeed in athletics, no matter what the event.
In addition to providing an overview of the main rules governing competition, Understanding Athletics covers the coaching points for each event and gives valuable information for those wanting to become involved. Cutting through the jargon and removing complications, it not only improves understanding of the sport, but is also enjoyable to read.
I wanted to write the foreword for Understanding Athletics to share with others the enjoyment that athletics has given me, in the hope that it may inspire them to become involved. My participation in the sport at the highest level of competition, and my subsequent roles in athletics as a coach, development officer and, at present, working with UK Athletics to develop future talented athletes, would not have been possible without having a thorough understanding of the sport. I needed to know all about the sport, about my event and about myself before I could become a high-level performer. I hope that Understanding Athletics will inspire young people to learn as much as they can about athletics, athletics events and about their own needs as participants, with a view to them reaching their full potential in whichever part of the sport they wish to pursue.
Mick Hill, International Athlete, Olympian and Talent Development Manager for UK Athletics |
Contents:- Chapter 1 - Getting the Most Out of Understanding Athletics
- Chapter 2 - Athletics Through the Ages
- Chapter 3 - Getting Started
- Chapter 4 - The Basics
- Chapter 5 - Field Events - The Ingredients of Jumping
- Chapter 6 - Field Events - The Ingredients of Throwing
- Chapter 7 - Track Events - Sprints, Relays and Hurdles
- Chapter 8 - Track Events - Distance Running and the Steeplechase
- Chapter 9 - Combined Events
- Chapter 10 - Finding Out More
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About the Author:
Julia Hickey is an associate lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University with responsibility for Adult Basic Education. She is also author of the other titles in the Understanding Sport series.
Maggie Still works with UK Athletics, directing the education and training programmes. Maggie has a Masters degree in Leisure and the Development of Human Potential; is a former athlete, PE teacher, and development officer. She is also a UKA Level 4 Coach. Look out for other titles in this series, covering football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, tennis, hockey and netball. |
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