Introduction to Athletics: Running, Jumping, and Throwing

Relevance of the Theme

Athletics is the basis of almost all physical activities. The actions of running, jumping, and throwing are natural movements of the human being and, as such, have been perfected and transformed into competitive sports. This theme is crucial because without a full understanding of the fundamentals that make up athletics, the understanding of other sports and even everyday skills, such as locomotion and motor coordination, becomes limited. Explore this vast universe with open legs, arms, and mind!

Contextualization

As part of the Physical Education curriculum, Athletics marks the beginning of a deeper study of human movement activities. The discipline of Athletics provides the foundations that will support the understanding of future studies in team and individual sports. This is where we learn the value of training, resilience, and competitive spirit. In addition, athletics is a modality that can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age or physical condition, allowing the active and inclusive participation of all.

Theoretical Development

Components of Athletics

• Running: Comprising various types (sprints, hurdles, relays, and steeplechase), running is the soul of athletics. It explores the athlete's speed and endurance to the maximum. Each type of race has its specificities, with factors such as the number of obstacles, distance, and the presence of relay runners differentiating one type from another.

• Jumping: In this category, we have high jump, long jump, and triple jump. The focus in each one is different. In high jump, the goal is to clear a bar without knocking it down, with the fewest attempts possible. In long jump, the aim is to cover the greatest distance possible from the starting point. In triple jump, athletes make a sequence of jumps before landing on the ground.

• Throwing: Includes javelin throw, discus throw, hammer throw, and shot put. Each one requires different techniques, and the goal is to throw the object as far as possible.

• Combined Events: Encompasses the decathlon, for men, and the heptathlon, for women. Both events combine elements of the three main components of athletics - running, jumping, and throwing.

Key Terms

• Speed: Measure of how quickly an object (or person) moves in a certain period of time. In Athletics, speed is a crucial aspect in races and is also present in jumps and throws.

• Endurance: An athlete's ability to sustain physical effort for a long period of time. Emphasized mainly in long-distance races and decathlon/heptathlon.

• Technique: Set of movements and skills necessary to perform a certain action efficiently. In Athletics, technique is fundamental in all components.

• Barriers/Obstacles: Elements that the athlete must overcome or navigate during a race. They can be physical, like track hurdles, or symbolic, like the difficulties we must face in life.

• Marking: In Athletics, marking refers to the starting point the athlete must use to begin a race or jump. This is especially important in high jump and triple jump.

Examples and Cases

• Jesse Owens: American athlete who, during the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, broke world records in four athletics disciplines (long jump, 200 meters, 4x100 meters relay, and 4x400 meters relay). His story is an example of overcoming physical and social barriers.

• Usain Bolt: Jamaican sprinter considered one of the greatest athletes in Athletics history. Bolt holds world records in the 100 and 200 meters sprints and the 4x100 meters relay. His career is an example of how far the combination of speed, endurance, and technique can take an athlete.

• Jackie Joyner-Kersee: American athlete who excelled in heptathlon and long jump. She is considered one of the greatest female athletes of all time, and her career demonstrates the importance of versatility and mastering various athletics skills.

Detailed Summary

Key Points

• Athletics as a Foundation: Athletics is considered the foundation of all physical activities. The actions of running, jumping, and throwing are inherent movements of the human being and have become competitive sports. It directly influences the development of locomotion and motor coordination skills.

• Components of Athletics: Athletics comprises four main components - running, jumping, throwing, and combined events. Each of these components requires specific skills and techniques from the athletes.

• Running: Races are the foundation of Athletics and encompass various types that vary in distance, presence of obstacles, and applied techniques.

• Jumping: The jumping category consists of three modalities - high jump, long jump, and triple jump - each with its own technique and focus, whether in overcoming obstacles or covering the greatest distance possible.

• Throwing: Throwing events involve the launch of different objects - javelin, discus, hammer, and shot put - with specific techniques and the goal of reaching the farthest distance possible.

• Combined Events: The combined events, Decathlon (for men) and Heptathlon (for women), are a synthesis of the components of Athletics and test the versatility and endurance of the athletes.

• Key Terms: Speed, endurance, technique, barriers/obstacles, and marking are key terms in Athletics that describe vital aspects of Athletics competitions.

• Examples and Cases: Names like Jesse Owens, Usain Bolt, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee demonstrate in practice the power of Athletics and how the combination of strength, speed, endurance, and technique can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Conclusions

• Athletics provides an essential foundation for the physical and cognitive development of individuals and is the basis for understanding other sports.

• Athletics is a global and inclusive sport that can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age or physical condition.

• The components of Athletics - running, jumping, throwing, and combined events - require a combination of physical strength, speed, endurance, and technical skills.

• Athletics athletes are examples of overcoming obstacles, resilience, hard work, and dedication, and their stories can be a source of inspiration for all.

Exercises

1. Obstacle Race: Describe the distance and the number of obstacles that athletes face in this type of race. Identify the main techniques involved.

2. Difference between High Jump and Long Jump: Explain the main differences between these two jump modalities, including the devices used and the dynamics of each jump.

3. Decathlon Event in Athletics: List the 10 events of the Decathlon, in the order they are performed, and explain why this combination of events tests the versatility and endurance of an athlete.