Unveiling Athletics: Theory and Practice

Objectives

1. Recognize the main athletics events, such as sprints, race walking, throws, and jumps.

2. Understand the basic rules of each event.

3. Identify the impacts of these activities on the human body.

Contextualization

Athletics is one of the oldest and most complete sports in history. It involves a series of events like running, jumping, and throwing, which are fundamental not only for physical development but also for understanding the capacities and limits of the human body. For example, by practicing running, students learn about endurance and speed, while in jumping, they work on coordination and explosive strength. Athletics is also the foundation for many other sports and is widely used by athletes from various disciplines to enhance their performance. Professionals such as sports coaches, physical therapists, and physical education teachers apply knowledge of athletics in their work routines, whether in training athletes, rehabilitating injuries, or promoting health and wellness.

Relevance of the Theme

Studying athletics is important in the current context because it promotes not only physical health but also the development of essential skills such as discipline, teamwork, and respect for rules. Moreover, knowledge of the different events and their techniques can open doors to future careers in sports and health, a field that is constantly growing and in demand.

Sprints

Sprints are one of the most popular events in athletics. They can vary in distance, from short-distance speed events like the 100 meters to marathons. Sprints develop cardiovascular endurance, speed, and running technique. Additionally, they help improve motor coordination and respiratory capacity.

• Speed sprints: focus on explosiveness and speed over short distances.

• Long-distance runs: develop endurance and the ability to maintain a steady pace.

• Basic rules: proper start, staying in the lane (for track events), and crossing the finish line.

Jumps

Jumps in athletics include events such as long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vaulting. Each event requires specific techniques and works on different muscle groups. Jumps develop explosive strength, coordination, and balance.

• Long jump: involves running and jumping as far as possible.

• High jump: involves clearing a horizontal bar set at a certain height.

• Basic rules: perform the jump within the designated area and follow the specific techniques of each event.

Throws

Throws in athletics include events such as shot put, javelin, discus, and hammer throw. These events require strength, technique, and coordination. Throws mainly work on the muscle strength of the upper limbs and the trunk.

• Shot put: involves throwing a metal ball as far as possible.

• Javelin throw: consists of throwing a spear as far as possible.

• Basic rules: perform the throw within the designated sector and follow the specific techniques of each event.

Practical Applications

• Sports coaches use techniques from running, jumping, and throwing to enhance their athletes' performance.
• Physical therapists apply knowledge of athletics in the rehabilitation of sports injuries, helping patients regain strength and mobility.
• Physical education teachers incorporate athletics events in their classes to promote students' health and well-being, developing both physical and mental skills.

Key Terms

• Athletics: A set of sports that includes running, jumping, and throwing.

• Sprints: Athletics events that involve running at varying distances.

• Jumps: Athletics events that involve jumping for distance or height.

• Throws: Athletics events that involve throwing objects like shot put, javelin, discus, and hammer.

• Endurance: The ability to maintain physical effort over an extended period.

• Explosive strength: The ability to generate significant muscular effort in a short period.

Questions

• How can knowledge of the rules of different athletics events help prevent injuries during sports practice?

• In what ways can the skills developed in athletics events be applied to other sports or daily activities?

• Which athletics event do you consider the most challenging and why?

Conclusion

To Reflect

Throughout this lesson, we explored the vast and fascinating world of athletics, learning about its main events: sprints, jumps, and throws. We understood not only the basic rules of each event but also the impacts these activities have on the human body. Athletics, being one of the most complete and ancient sports, continues to serve as an essential foundation for many modern sports practices and physical development. We reflected on how the skills and knowledge acquired can be applied in other areas of life and how respect for rules and discipline are fundamental in both sports and everyday life. Practicing athletics not only strengthens the body but also promotes mental health and well-being, preparing us for the challenges of daily life.

Mini Challenge - Practical Challenge: My Athletics Circuit

Create an athletics circuit at home or at school using everyday objects to simulate the events of sprints, jumps, and throws.

• Choose a suitable space to set up your circuit, such as a backyard, an open area, or a gym.
• Divide the space into three areas: one for sprints, another for jumps, and the last for throws.
• For the sprint section, mark a distance of 10 to 20 meters and time yourself as you run it.
• For the jumps, use a blanket or mat as the landing area and practice long jump, measuring how far you can jump.
• For the throws, use a ball or any safe object and practice throwing it as far as possible, always being careful not to hurt anyone.
• Record your results and try to improve your performance with each attempt.