Shot Put Circle Rules: Fair Throw or Foul

In groups, students draw a throwing circle and sector, learn what makes a shot put throw fair or a foul and apply it by throwing and judging with white and red cards. They work on pushing technique, modified rules and safety in the throwing area.

How to play

1. Groups of 5 at 5 stations at least 15 m apart; each group chalks a circle 7 feet across and marks the sector with two rows of cones opening out from the center (4 min).
2. Explain the rules: the shot stays tucked against the neck and is pushed, not thrown; do not step on the line or outside; it must land inside the sector; exit through the back half after it lands (3 min).
3. Roles rotate after each throw: thrower, circle judge with a white card (fair) and a red card (foul), sector judge, measurer and retriever (1 min).
4. Standing throws from the power position: 2 tries each; the judge shows a card and explains the reason for any foul (6 min).
5. Throws with a side shuffle: 2 tries each, measuring only fair throws from the inside edge of the circle (5 min).
6. Each group talks about the most common foul and how to avoid it (1 min).

Rules

• Throw only on the circle judge's signal and with the sector clear.
• Nobody retrieves until the teacher gives a shared signal; shots are rolled back or carried, never thrown.
• Waiting students stay behind the circle, never along the sides of the sector.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student throws a light medicine ball seated at the edge of the circle and serves as head judge.
• Hard of hearing: give every signal with the cards and a raised arm to start.
• Lower strength: use a lighter shot or a 1 kg medicine ball.

Learning goals

• Tell a fair shot put throw from a foul.
• Push the shot from the neck using the power position.
• Follow safety rules in a throwing area.

Equipment for a class of 25

• shot puts: 5
• chalk: 5
• measuring tape: 5
• cones: 30
• cardstock: 10

Teacher tip

Set the stations side by side, all throwing in the same direction, so nobody stands in a throwing line.

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