Technique 

• Enter circle (it is good to practice entering and exiting from the back). 
• Body position.
  • Stand tall. 
  • Body sideways with discus side backwards. 
  • Feet shoulder-width apart. 
  • Weight on balls of feet. 
• Hold discus.
  • Four fingers spread apart and thumb resting on top. 
  • End of fingers over the edge. 
  • Avoid “gripping” too hard. 
• Action.
  • Bend back leg. 
  • Turn backwards at hips so discus well behind body. 
  • Unwind lower body and then upper body. 
  • Discus arms follows last and then discus is released. 
• Exit out the back of the circle. 

• Adjust size or weight of discus to match the athlete’s upper body strength and control. 
• Use a modified training discus or frisbee (safety practice discus, foam discus). 
• Allow different throwing actions.
  • Underarm toss.  
  • Underarm roll. 
• Offer seated throws for relevant athletes. Seated athletes can complete multiple throws in a row to help with the functioning of the event.
  • Throwing frame preferred.
    • Ensure the chair is correctly secured to the ground. 
    • Use appropriate straps / postural anchors such as a pelvic belt and shin belt. 
    • Athlete may use a footrest or foothook. 
    • Chair is positioned facing sideways to the field. 
    • Swing arm in readiness prior to release. 
    • More or less trunk rotation depending on trunk strength. 
  • Can use own wheelchair or a heavy everyday chair.
    • Brakes on. 
    • Seat belt and chosen postural supports on. 
    • Chair or wheelchair can be anchored/held by a helper adult to prevent it from tipping/rocking – hold the back of the chair on the opposite side to throwing arm. Adult ducks down so they don’t get hit with arm on follow through. 
    • Low backrest if available. 
    • Non-throwing hand to brace on thigh or arm rest or top of wheel. 
  • Trial different rotational angles for the chair ie throwing side rotated slightly forward. 
• Use bright markers for the throwing and sector lines. 
• For athletes with vision impairment, use a guide athlete. See the sensory page for more information.

Before you Start  

• Correct weight of discus for the athletes age or athletes’ ability. 
• Throwing circle is clear of debris. 
• Waiting athletes stand behind the circle. 
• Officials face the circle. 

Safety  

• A cage or safety netting is in place. 
• Defined throwing and landing area.   
• Athletes throw when told to go. 
• After the throw, the discus is carried back to the circle not thrown or rolled. 

Measuring  

• Zero end of tape is placed on the nearest imprint made by the discus in the ground to the throwing circle. 
• Pull tape back through the centre of the circle. 
• Measure to the inside of the metal rim. 
• When is the discus a foul?
  • If the discus lands on or outside the sector lines. 
  • If any part of the athlete touches the ground outside of the circle during the throw (discus must land first before exiting the circle). 
  • If the athlete exits forward out the front half of the circle. 

Recording  

• Record the distance to the nearest whole centimetre below the distance measured.