Technique 

• Enter circle (it is good to practice entering and exiting from the back). 
• Body position.
  • Stand tall. 
  • Body sideways with shot side backwards. 
  • Feet shoulder-width apart. 
• Hold shot.
  • Four fingers together and supported by the thumb. 
  • Back of fingers against neck in the hollow of the neck. 
  • Elbow high and pointing backward. 
• Action.
  • Bend back leg. 
  • Turn hip and shoulder forward as weight shifts forward. 
  • Push shot forward and upward with “proud chest”. 
• Exit out the back of the circle. 

• Adjust size or weight of shot to match the athlete’s upper body and core strength and control. 
• Use a modified training shot or tennis ball (safety practice shot, foam shot, bean bag). 
• Allow different throwing actions.
  • An underarm toss or roll. 
  • Two-handed chest push. 
  • Use a ramp or gutter device to roll the shot. 
• Offer seated throws for relevant athletes. Seated athletes can complete multiple throws in a row to help with the function of the event.
  • Throwing frame preferred.
    • Ensure the frame is correctly strapped to the ground. 
    • Use appropriate straps / postural anchors such as a pelvic belt and shin belt. 
    • Chair is positioned facing forward to field. 
    • Hold upright pole for stability and power. 
    • Three main techniques to power the movement – trunk rotation, lean directly backward and forward, trunk rotation with backward and forward motion. 
    • Technique
  • 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 putting arm. 
    • Non-throwing hand to brace on thigh or arm rest or top of wheel. 
    • Low backrest if available. 
  • Trial different rotational angles for the chair ie putting side rotated slightly backwards. 
• Use bright markers for the throwing and sector lines. 
• For blind and low vision athletes, use a guide athlete. See the sensory page for more information.

Before you Start  

• Ensure correct weight of shot for the athletes age OR athletes’ ability. 
• Throwing circle is clear of debris. 
• Waiting athletes stand behind the circle. 
• Officials face the circle. 

Safety  

• Defined throwing and landing area. 
• After throw, the shot is carried back to the circle not thrown or rolled. 
• Athletes must not put until told. 

Measuring  

• Zero end of tape is placed on the nearest imprint made by the shot in the ground to the throwing circle. 
• Pull tape back through the centre of the circle. 
• Measure to the inside of the stop board or metal rim. 
• When is the shot a foul?
  • If the shot lands on or outside the sector lines. 
  • If the athletes hand drops away from the neck during the putting action. 
  • If the shot put is behind the line of the shoulder. 
  • If the shot is thrown like a ball. 
  • If an athlete leaves the circle in an uncontrolled manner. 
  • If any part of the athlete’s body touches the outside of the circle during the putting action. 
  • 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.