Javelin Throwing for Kids

It's very important in any sport when dealing with children to keep them interested and keep it enjoyable. The more children enjoy a particular sport, the more motivated they will be to do it. They don't need pressure just encouragement and help to develop the right habits.

Javelin throwing is no different. Thankfully there are children's javelins out there which are made in bright colours and often from foam as opposed to metal so they are unlikley to hurt themselves. See below for items available on ebay at the moment for example. They are usually called foam javelins, Turbo Javs or bull nosed javelins.

As the child/ your child grows there are different weights that they can work up through. The lightest Turbo Jav available weighs 260 grammes and you can also get them in 300gr, 400gr, 500gr and 600gr weights.

Also available are coloured targets to give children focus when throwing.

Javelin throwers usually wear spiked footwear for grip during the run up, however these are not necessary for children. Only when they have reached adolescent stage will they need these.

The Javelin throw technique for kids is the same as for an adult except for one thing - kids will naturally pick it up! Also there is no need to explain to them how to do it exactly just help them to get into the right position.

Children as young as 1 year old can throw. Not necessarily a javelin but a ball. The focus with young or developing javelin throwers is to encourage a natural throwing ability and movement appropriate for their age and ability. The older and more experienced a child gets the more complex the training can become i.e. from very basic throwing a ball to a javelin with targets.

HOLDING A JAVELIN: Many athletes have a tendency to hold javelins how they hold a dart. What they have to do is actually grip the Javelin which means it is pressed against their palm and their fingers are wrapped around it.

TARGET PRACTICE: Getting a child to throw towards a target whether with a ball or a Turbo Jav will help with their ability to direct a javelin. This is very important for keeping a javelin within the sector when throwing in competition.

BODY PARTS: The javelin is a fairly technical event and requires the use of pretty much every body part. By gradually introducing a body part into the mix you are pre-programming the child to be able to combine mutliple movements required to throw effectively. e.g. moving from a forward standing throw to a sidewards throw your bring in the hip, going form a standing throw to a running throw you introduce the legs.

COORDINATION DRILLS: Following on from above coordination drills involve using different body parts at the same time. One very simple drill is star jumps - you get the child to jump and land with legs slightly apart and hands raised and out so they look like a star. This is a very basic example but it teaches a kid to use their arms and legs at the same time. A more complicated running drill involves jogging but raising one leg every few steps and also swinging the arms at the same time.

Children are naturally fit creatures who naturally develop muscle and naturally grow etc. Introducing too much weight too early in a child's development can stunt growth.

Many javelin throwers spend a lot of time in the gym but with child athletes, the exercise at the track or indoors with balls and the javelin is sufficient.

What I mean is there is no need for weight lifting.