SPIRE Institute coach Kibwé Johnson explains why he believes there is a puzzle to solve every single time an athlete performs a throw – and that conforming to one single technique can limit potential

After being in the world of throwing for many years, I have come to understand that, when it comes to technique, I am never finished learning. I have been mentored by some of the most influential North American and international coaches in the sport, and here are some of the key lessons they have taught me.   

What is “technique” and why is it so important? 

In track and field, the word technique carries a lot of weight and energy but, for me, it just doesn’t resonate. Initially, I never understood why such an important word had no real meaning for me but through the years I have come to realise the reason it doesn’t “click” in my mind is that I don’t believe that “technique” is an accurate or useful statement in something as dynamic as the movement of the human body in sport. 

I won’t argue that technique from the perspective of guidelines, especially for beginners, is very important. Instead, I mean to speak to the negative emotional charge of using one’s own objective idea about a particular technique as a means to downplay or condemn your own movement or that of another.

Reaching for specific technical models can lock the athlete in a mind loop that they might not have the skill or awareness to help themselves out of.  

What “technique” means to me

For me, the throw is a movement riddle. The goal of movement riddles is to master movement itself, not from the perspective that one day you will be a master, but rather from the perspective that the path itself is the goal.

In order to master movement, you cannot put it in a box and expect the same every time. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense for what throwers do in the ring and on the runway.  

I was the eighth athlete Dr. Anatoliy Bondarchuk had personally coached to throw over 80m. These eight athletes have all thrown this fantastic result but shared only one common denominator: Dr B himself.  

This was a very important shift in my philosophical development because, coming from my background in the sport, there is a very pointed opinion that this is the way to throw far, or that is the way to throw far.  

None of Dr. Bondarchuk’s athletes looked the same, we don’t have the same strength numbers, some are taller, some are shorter, some have long arms and others have a long torso or faster foot speed. We were all different and Dr. B coached everyone differently.  

So why does the idea persist that there are but few ways to throw? Certainty. The need for certainty is a sports coach’s kryptonite. We want to be certain that if we do X, then Y will happen. This, in turn, gives us the green light to feel good. 

In fact, there is nothing certain about throwing an implement. The desire for certainty has its roots in uncertainty; the more unsure a coach is in their own abilities, the more they apply the pressure of technique to their athletes. 

The movement riddle

Coaching a movement riddle means this: look at each and every throw as a new opportunity to solve the puzzle. In the case of a hammer throw it’s the orbit of the implement. The most efficient path is dictated by nature and consists of any variety of factors such as velocities, angles, height, air resistance, etc.  

Ultimately, what are we after? Long throws. These come from release velocity; there is no other variable which has a greater impact on distance. Release velocity is maximised by allowing the steady acceleration of orbit. Anything that affects this process is a deceleration.  

When I am coaching the movement riddle, I watch the orbit of the implement. Smooth, continuous orbit is what we try to see. When there is dissonance in the orbit, I then work to solve that puzzle. Only then is it relevant to bring in cues.  

No technique or idea works all the time for all athletes, so it stands to reason that there is much more nuance to how we move and how we coach movers. For success, we must first solve the riddle, while understanding and accepting that the riddle will be slightly different on virtually every throw. 

Technique presents itself as something that’s either attainable or unattainable, depending on your perspective. It’s no wonder that seeking something we so strongly desire often leads to frustration, anxiety and personal feelings of inadequacy.  

My personal aim is to challenge how we communicate with each other about throwing events as a means to a greater understanding of how to guide others to their greatest potential in the sport.  

I encourage everyone to consider looking at movement not just as a collection of static positions and so forth, but as a whole so that all cues are shared with the entire body movement in mind. 

Solving the movement riddle
There are a few key factors when it comes to solving the movement riddle. 

Adaptability 

Be adaptable in your coaching. Whether specific to technique or philosophy, it is the role of the coach to adapt to the athlete – not the other way around.  

Patience 

Take your time. This coaching style requires your full attention and awareness on both the athlete and yourself.   

Careful consideration  

Regularly consider what you think you know. What was true ten years ago, or even one year ago, might not be true for the throw you are observing right in front of you.

Flow 

When an athlete feels confident that they can move freely without fear of judgment from themselves, their coach or others, they will be free to flow through their movement. The main downside to cue and model-based coaching is that it focuses on big movements, body parts or a desired look. Flow is where the dots are connected and movement smooths out.  

Open source  

Be an open source as opposed to a closed source. An open source leaves the opportunity for information to be learned or considered, but a closed source has no room for new information because the knowledge is already fixed and unchangeable in your mind. Be open. As coaches, the second we close the door on being open to learning, we live on the brink of propaganda.  

Kibwé Johnson is a two-time Olympian and five-time American hammer champion. He is Director of Track & Field and Head Coach – Throws at SPIRE Institute & Academy in Geneva, Ohio