Dimensions for Athletics — throwing events

The four standard throwing events — shot put, discus, hammer, and javelin — all involve the use of implements of various weights and shapes that are hurled for distance. In all throwing events, the object being thrown must land in a specified landing area. White lines 5cm wide delineate the area.

Related topics: athletics,sport

Layout of a shot put circle The information in this guide is general in nature and cannot be relied upon as professional advice concerning the design of, or marking out for, sporting facilities and playing areas. No assurance is given as to the accuracy of any information contained in this guide and readers should not rely on its accuracy. Readers should obtain their own independent and professional advice in relation to their proposed sporting activity.

Shot put

The shot put involves ‘putting’ (throwing in a pushing motion) a heavy metal ball (called the shot) as far as possible. The shot put facility includes a throwing circle, a stop-board and a landing sector. Competitors take their throw from inside a circle 2.135m in diameter, with a toe board approximately 10cm high at the front of the circle. The distance thrown is measured from the inside of the circumference of the circle to where the shot lands at its nearest disturbance of the soil.

The throwing circle is made of bank iron, steel or other suitable material, the top of which is flush with the ground outside. The inside diameter of the throwing circle measures 2.135m (±5mm) and the rim at least 6mm in thickness, 70mm to 80mm deep and painted white.

The interior of the circle is constructed of concrete, asphalt or some other firm but not slippery material. The surface must be level and 1.4cm–2.6cm lower than the upper edge of the rim of the circle. A portable circle meeting these specifications is permissible.

The stop board is white and made of wood or other suitable material in the shape of an arc so that the inner edge coincides with the inner edge of the rim of the circle. It is placed mid-way between the sector lines, and constructed so that it can be firmly fixed to the ground. The board is 1.22m long on the inside, 11.2cm wide and 10cm high when firmly in position.

The surface of the landing sector must allow for the shot put to make a mark upon landing. It is made of natural grass or other suitable material. The landing sector must be laid from the middle of the circle with an angle of 34.92° and marked by 50mm wide white lines, the inside edges of which form the boundary of the sector. The length of the sector is 25m. The angle of 34.92° is attained if the two sector lines at a distance of 25m are spaced 15m apart.

The maximum allowance for the overall downward inclination of the landing sector, in the throwing direction, shall not exceed 0.1 per cent.

Discus throw

Discus throw is a throwing event where athletes throw a 2kg platelike implement from a 2.5m circle. The discus is launched after the thrower, starting at the back of the circle, has completed one-and-a-half turns. The facility for discus throw includes a throwing circle, protective cage and landing sector.

The throwing circle is made of bank iron, steel or other suitable material, the top of which is flush with the ground outside. The inside diameter of the circle measures 2.5m (±5mm) and the rim at least 6mm in thickness, 70mm to 80mm deep and painted white.

All discus and hammer throws are made from an enclosure or cage to ensure safety of spectators, officials and athletes. The cage shown in the following diagram is intended for use when the event is held in the arena with other events taking place at the same time or spectators are present. Where this does not apply, and especially in training areas, a much simpler construction may be satisfactory.

The cage is designed, manufactured and maintained to be capable of stopping a 2kg discus moving at a speed of up to 25m per second. There must be no danger of the discus ricocheting or rebounding back towards the athlete or over the top of the cage. If these requirements are satisfied, any form of cage design and construction can be used.

The cage is U-shaped. The width of the mouth is 6m, positioned 7m in front of the centre of the throwing circle. The end points of the 6m wide mouth are the inner edge of the cage netting. The height of the netting panels or draped netting at their lowest point is 4m. Provision must be made in the design of the cage to prevent a discus forcing its way through any joints in the cage or the netting or underneath the netting panels.

The netting is made from suitable natural or synthetic fibre cord or from a mild or high tensile steel wire. The maximum mesh size is 44mm for cord netting and 50mm for steel wire.

The maximum danger sector for discus throws from this cage is approximately 69°, when used by both right and left handed throwers in the same competition. The position and alignment of the cage in the arena is critical for its safe use.

The surface of the landing sector must allow for the discus making a mark upon landing. It is made of natural grass or other suitable material. The landing sector is laid from the middle of the circle with an angle of 34.92° and marked by 50mm wide white lines, the inside edges of which form the boundary of the sector. The length of the sector is 80m. The angle of 34.92° is attained if the two sector lines at a distance of 80m are spaced 48m apart.

The maximum allowance for the overall downward inclination of the landing sector, in the throwing direction, shall not exceed 0.1 per cent.

Hammer throw

The hammer throw is a throwing event where the object thrown is a heavy steel ball attached with a long wire (maximum length 122cm) to a handle. The facility for the hammer throw includes a throwing circle, protective cage and landing sector. It is usually combined with the facility for the discus throw.

The throwing circle is the same as for the discus and shot put throw but has an inside diameter of 2.135m (±5mm). The hammer can be thrown from the discus circle provided the diameter of this circle is reduced from 2.50m to 2.135m by placing a circular ring inside.

The surface finish to the concrete circle is slightly smoother for hammer throw than for discus. When a circle is used for both discus and hammer throw, a compromise finish is required.

The hammer throw cage is designed, manufactured and maintained to be capable of stopping a 7.260kg disc moving at a speed of up to 32m per second. There must be no danger of the disc ricocheting or rebounding back towards the athlete or over the top of the cage. If these requirements are satisfied, any form of cage design and construction can be used. Combined discus and hammer cage

The cage is U-shaped as shown in the following diagram. The width of the mouth is 6m, positioned 7m in front of the centre of the throwing circle. The end points of the 6m wide mouth are the inner edge of the cage netting. The height of the netting panels or draped netting at their lowest point are at least 7m for the panels/netting at the rear of the cage and at least 10m for the 2.80m panels to the gate pivot points. Provision must be made in the design of the cage to prevent a hammer forcing its way through any joints in the cage or the netting or underneath the netting panels.

Two movable netting panels 2m wide are provided at the front of the cage, only one is operative at a time. The minimum height of the panels is 10m.

The netting can be made from suitable natural or synthetic fibre cord or from a mild or high tensile steel wire. The maximum mesh size is 44mm for cord netting and 50mm for steel wire.

Where it is desirable to use the same cage for discus and
hammer throw, the installation can be adapted in two alternative ways. A 2.135m–2.5m concentric circle is fitted but this involves using the same surface in the circle for the hammer and discus throw. The hammer cage is used for the discus throw by fixing the movable netting panels clear of the cage opening.

For separate circles for hammer and discus throw in the same cage, the two circles are placed one behind the other with the centres 2.37m apart on the centre line of the land sector and with the discus circle at the front. In this case, the movable netting panels are used for the discus throw.

The maximum danger sector for hammer throws from this cage is approximately 53° when used by both right and left-handed throwers in the same competition. The position and alignment of the cage in the arena is critical for its safe use.

Javelin

Javelin runway and landing sector The javelin throw is a throwing event where the object to be thrown is a spear-like object made of metal, fibreglass and, in some cases, carbon fibre. The facility for the javelin throw includes a runway, a throwing arc and a landing sector. The minimum length of the runway is 30m and the maximum 36.5m. It is marked by two parallel white lines 5cm wide and 4m apart.

The throw is made from behind an arc of a circle drawn with a radius of 8m. The arc consists of a strip painted or made of wood 7cm wide. It is white and flush with the ground. Lines are drawn from the extremities of the arc at right angles to the parallel lines marking the runway. These lines are white, 75cm long and 7cm wide. The maximum lateral inclination of the runway is 1:100 and the overall inclination in the running direction 1:1000.

Floodlighting

Floodlighting of athletics venues is generally required to maximise the use of tracks and training areas. Where athletics facilities are to be used for non-televised activities, it is only necessary to provide a horizontal illuminance suitable for the required level of activity. An illuminance level of 100 lux is sufficient for an athletics training area. For club competition and regional events, 200 lux is sufficient and for national and international levels, 500 lux.

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