Throwing Rules and Safety

Competition Procedures

The thrower can enter the circle from anywhere; before the trial starts, the thrower must pause and start the attempt from a stationary position. The thrower cannot leave the circle or runway before the implement has landed.

The thrower must exit through the rear half of the circle after the implement has landed. The first contact with the top of the rim or the ground outside the circle is considered exiting. The implement must land within the designated sector; if it lands on the sector line, it is considered a foul or failed attempt.

Throws are measured from the front edge of the circle, toeboard, or foul line, closest to the landing point of the implement.

Attempts

Each thrower is allowed three preliminary attempts with a predetermined number of competitors; typically, the top 8 to 9 performers receive three more attempts in reverse order, with the best thrower from the prelims competing last.

If an equal number or fewer than the number of throwers that are predetermined to compete in the finals, then it is not required to have a fair attempt in the preliminary rounds.

The thrower’s best mark of the competition determines the place; if there is a tie, the second best throw is the tie-breaking performance.

Recommended Competition Procedures

Officials use the calls ‘up’ when it is the current athletes turn, ‘on deck’ for the next thrower in order and ‘on hold’ for the competitor that has two throwers competing before their attempt. The thrower will get 60 seconds to start an attempt after their name is called ‘up’. An official will raise a yellow flag with 15 seconds remaining to start the attempt.

During the competition, the only athletes allowed with an implement in-hand are either called 'up' or 'on deck' during competition by the officials.

If there are more than 15 competitors, it is recommended to break the throwers up into flights, with the top 8-9 seed marks competing in the last flight.

Personal implements may or may not be used in major competitions depending on the federation or meet. If personal implements are used, the implements may become available for all throwers or remain the exclusive use of the implement’s owner.

Tape and Substances

Throwers are not allowed to tape two or more fingers together. If the tape is connected between the hand and fingers, it must be continuous, and each finger must move independently. Athletes should show the tape on their hands and fingers to the head official before the event.

Throwers can use substances on their hands or neck to better grip the implement; the substance needs to be easily removed with a wet cloth and not leave a residue on the implement. Throwers often use chalk to better grip the shot or discus. It is not recommended to use chalk during wet conditions.

Safety

Although all throwing events present the danger of serious or even fatal injury, the impact from an in-flight implement will almost certainly result in severe or even fatal injury.

Officials and athletes should always check the landing and call out 'heads up' before entering the competition ring.

Retrievers and officials should stand at least 20 feet from the likely impact area due to the high velocity of the implements; it is easier and safer to see the landing of an implement by moving forward versus moving backward to mark a throw. With right handed discus throwers, in headwinds and crosswinds, the implement typically rotates from right to left sector in the air when facing the circle; officials should move away from the rotation of the implement as it approaches.

Officials and retrievers in the field should always remember never to turn their back or look away from the circle or throwing area while in the field. Always assume someone is or could be entering the ring to throw at any time. After bringing an implement to the athlete area, retrievers should walk backward or to the side with their heads turned when returning to their position next to the sector line.

Officials seated or standing around the ring should be well back of the net. Seated positions are preferred, but some venues do not allow the official on one side of the ring to be far enough back from the ring in a seated position, such as when the cage is located near an embankment or building. The ring official may have to use a standing position in these situations. Understand all nets have some amount of stretch.

During warm up throws, officials and athletes should not be standing near the cage, especially with their backs turned. Always error on the side of caution. Officials should ask nicely but need to be direct and uncompromising when addressing an obvious safety risk.