Matt Horneman / Mick Poulton Hammerfest - February 2011

1. A Vision for Hammer & Virtual Networks Matt Horneman / Mick Poulton Hammerfest - February 2011

2. A Vision for Australian Hammer • What is our Goal ??? • Records • International Medals • Competitions • Facilities • Coaching Development • Beginners and Promotion • High Performance – Camps / Support • Resources – Technical / Support • Funding / Financial Support • Better Administration / Coordination

3. The Problems / Questions with Hammer • Facilities & Equipment – Across the country • Throwing areas / Hammers • Concrete pad / circles • Olympic Lifting Equipment • Competition • Before / End of Interclub • Throwers Clubs – The way to go ?? • Profile • How to increase recognition, awareness & opportunity • International Opportunities • Becoming more challenging (refer Dob Babbitt’s feedback) • Financial support • Becoming more challenging (refer Dob Babbitt’s feedback) • Lack of a Structured program • Who / Which entity is best placed to manage

4. The American Resurgence(Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Over the past decade, American hammer throwing has grown rapidly. Before 2000, young hammer throwers were primarily concentrated in Rhode Island, where the sport is an official high school event. Now, they are spread across the country from California to Florida and all areas in between. Much of this increase has been because the hammer throw is now included in the USATF’s popular Junior Olympic program for 15 to 18 year olds. In December, the USATF will vote on whether or not to expand the hammer throw to 13 and 14 year old age group. (Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Harold Connolly World Junior Champions Conor McCullough (2010) and Walter Henning (2008),- USA

5. The American Resurgence (Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Back in 2000, the national rankings listed just 5 high school boys over 200 feet and 19 over 175 feet. This year, there were 17 boys over 200 feet and 51 over 175 feet. The girls have improved even more rapidly, tripling the number of throwers over 140 feet from 12 to 36 kids over the last ten years. In 2010, athletes from more than 25 states were represented on Bob Gourley’s national rankings of the top 100 throwers and the top six boys came from six different states. Also, 19 state records were bettered this year alone. The last two world junior men’s champions, Conor McCullough (2010) and Walter Henning (2008), were both from America. In 2008, they swept the first two spots. After 50 years without an international gold medal, this is an amazing accomplishment for America and a testament to how the event has grown. Harold Connolly

6. The American Resurgence (Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Lesson learned A growing number of hammer throw knowledgeable parent coaches and motivated youth club and high school coaches who teach youth how to throw the hammer; Parent and youth hammer throw coaches who are introducing 7th and 8th grade children to the fun and challenge of hammer throwing. See the following chart: Nationally Ranked Hammer Throwers Starting in Seventh and Eighth Grades. The inclusion of hammer throw coaching at influential and motivational summer throws camps - Ironwood, Carrie Lane’s, Pete Kell’s, John Powell’s, Larry Judge’s, Mike Judge’s, Jud Logan’s, and Don Babbitt’s summer throws camps; USATF began regularly offering youth and Junior Olympics hammer-throwing competitions in 2003 and began including qualified American youth hammer throwers on their World Youth Track and Field Championships Teams;

7. The American Resurgence(Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Lesson learned The readily available and more widely disseminated digitized and printed hammer throw coaching materials; Growing interest in the event particularly among girls; The increasing awareness and motivational impact of Bob Gourley’s lists (national boys and girls high school hammer throw performance rankings) and Martin Bingisser.s high school hammer throw web site (www.hshammer.com); Mike Holman’s USATF Emerging Elite Coaches. Camp during the summer at the U.S. Olympic Training Center; The national outdoor scholastic track and field competitions that include the hammer throw;

8. The American Resurgence(Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Lessons Learned Enlightened state high school track and field federations that have changed their policies to permit high school athletes while competing on their school’s track and field teams to also compete in USATF youth hammer throw competitions when the hammer throw is not offered by the athletes schools track and field program. (Rhode Island is the only state that offers the hammer throw as a regular part of its interscholastic track and field program); The gradually expanding and improving hammer throw training and competitions offered by the USATF youth clubs program. * The data for The Evolution of American Youth Hammer-Throwing 1997 . 2007 compiled by Bob Gourley can be found on www.HShammer.com.

9. The American Resurgence(Ref.http://hammerthrow.org) Conclusions The statistics indicate a significant advantage in higher hammer throwing results for seniors in high school who began learning the event in grades seven and eight (ages 12 - 13) under the guidance of knowledgeable hammer throw coaches. Youth throwers annual throwing results progress may be an indicator of the effectiveness of the coaching strategies. Training opportunities (like that of the USATF Emerging Elite Coaches. Camp) should be initiated for USATF youth club throws coaches who provide 12 - 14 year olds ongoing hammer throwing and Javelin throwing coaching. USATF level 1 and level 2 Coaches. Training program might consider offering separate training courses in hammer throwing and javelin throwing for beginners, designed for coaches working with 12 – 14 year old throwers.

10. International Perspectives • Babbitt’s perspectives… • Hammer seen as an Occ. Health & Safety risk at big European meets • Financial incentives poor for athletes from Developed Countries, but reasonable for some Eastern European • Profiles of Koji and Primoz an exception • Challenging sport for prospective full time athletes IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge Awards 2010 For each meeting, the Organisers will provide the following prize money (US$7500 for each event, Men and Women):  1st place: $2000 - 2nd place: $1500 - 3rd place: $1000 - 4th place: $800 - 5th place: $700 - 6th place: $600 - 7th place: $500 - 8th place: $400

11. Virtual Networks

12. Virtual Networks

13. Support Networks Youtube - Sample Play Video

14. Coaching Development • AA Perspectives • ATFCA Perspectives • AA Throws Coaches Conference • Hammerfest • Networks and Mentoring

15. Thoughts and Ideas ??