Mac Wilkins

Here are the key positions that you can copy from Olympic Champion, Ryan Crouser.

At the end of the day Ryan had great positions but it was his rhythm that made the difference.

RHYTHM IS KING!  Slow to Faster.

All of these concepts are covered in detail in the "Discus & Spin Shot Put Foundation Part 1" Course. 

1. Right Foot Flat at "top of Windup"

2. Unwind on Inside of the Big Toe or the Ball of the left foot

3. Left Thigh Verticle.   

4. Right Leg Wide at 9 o'clock

5. Right Foot Under or Behind Knee in  Middle of Circle.

6. Right Heel stays up off the ground in the midddle.

7. Soulders and Left Arm stay back and torqued (closed) in Power Position.

8. Turn right foot and Knee fully into throw before Straightening Right Leg 

9. Land with the Right Foot flat, heel down in the Reverse, Foot Perpendicular to the Line of the Throw.

Discus & Spin Shot Foundation

Olympian Mac Wilkens describes his process in helping athletes to develop the foundational skills in the discus and the spin-shot with in-depth video analysis. 

Back Yard Drills  -  A Consistently Correct Start Everytime!

Find the inside of the left Big Toe/Ball of the Foot in the wind up and unwind to 9 o'clock.

Drop at 9 onto the flat Left Fore Foot.

This happens naturally if you stay on the inside of the ball of the foot till then.

More details in the full propgrams.

Human performance is a combination of science and art.  Teaching performance requires knowledge and intuition.
Mac Wilkins delivers both science and art well seasoned with over 40 years of coaching experience to go with his 
athletic experience as an Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist, Four Time World Record Holder, and Eight Time U.S. National Champion.

My passion is sharing my passion for learning about the throws.
"Learning is Growth.
Growth is Life.
No Learning, No Life.
What did You Learn Today?"

Everyday I leave the training site I ask myself, "What did I learn today?"
That answer determines my satisfaction with the day.

Mac's philosophy of teaching is heavily influenced by his collegiate coach at the University of Oregon, Bill Bowerman.
"Question Authority", Always ask, "What is best for the athlete".
Over time, the best athletes gradually takes more responsibility for their development.  The teacher becomes more of a mentor/counselor.

This video sets the foundation for Mac's view on the technique and training keys in the other programs here on CoachTube.
Understand Mac's perspective and it will help you with the technical concepts that follow.

Getting to a Good Power Position

Olympian and Coach Mac Wilkens describes his views on the importance of a Good "Power Position" in the Track and Field Throwing Disciplines. 

Video Breakdown Included

Updated, broader and more detail than Gold Medal Discus or Basic 70' Shot Put.

Foundation I includes:

• New material from the summer of 2015
• Many Lessons from Mac's original web based course The Wilkins Review.
• How to Drills to help coaches teach and throwers learn the positions and the feelings of the throw.
• 31 Downloadable photos to print or share with your throwers.
• 27 separate Video Lessons, over 47 minutes for beginners and advanced throwers and coaches.

These drills will help the throwers...
Connect their hips to the implement
Move their hips & implement with RHYTHM

Print the photos for your throwers.
Best is to have them taped to a mirror where they can compare their positions in the mirror with those positions in the photos.

Some of the videos show throwers being led through learning progressions, changing their positions gradually until it all clicks.

SHOT PUT AND DISCUS
The rotational shot and discus are very similar in positions at the back of the circle.
There are some distinct differences however, in the timing due to the heavier wieght and shorter radius of the path of the shot.
This course will only focus on the similarities between the two.

Mac Wilkins, Olympic Gold Medal Discus Thrower. A student and a teacher. In this course, Mac will show you the skills you must learn and the attitude you must develop to become a winner in this demanding event. From beginners to advanced throwers, this course provides insight for throwers and coaches at all levels.

In all of sport, no discipline requires more explosive power than the shot put. Although some genetic gift is necessary to achieve world class results, anyone who studies the basics and makes a dedicated effort can achieve success. 

Glide and Spin, beginners to advanced, Basic 70’ Shot Putting covers the technique and drills, common errors and how to avoid them.  
Also includes Al Feuerbach singing his hit single, “Shot Put Blues”!

Al Feuerbach - Glide         
Al finished 4th in the 1972 Olympics and 5th in the 1976 Games.  In 1973 Al broke the World Record  with a throw of 21.82m, 71’ 7”.   
At 6’ 1” Al’s best competitive weight was 250lbs.
In 1971 he was US National Champion in the shot put and Olympic weight lifting in the 110kg, 242lb, class on the same weekend.

Over a career of 22 years he traveled nearly 1 million miles to compete in the shot over 500 times.  
Al Feuerbach knows how to put the shot and he's here to share his knowledge with you.

Dave Laut - Rotation                                                                                                                           
American Record Holder in the shot put, 22.02m, 72’ 3”, set in 1982.  At 6’3”, 245lbs,Dave won the Bronze Medal in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.  
Mac Wilkins, national indoor champion in the shot with a lifetime best of 69' 1", will show you how to master the rotational style of shot putting.
Learn shot put technique from two relatively “little guys”, Feuerbach and Laut.

These three essential elements of the throw can be taught the first day to beginners and must be mastered by professionals.
  
Over the years I have always looked for the common denominator for the throws.  What is true at all levels of throwing?  What is easy to understand for beginners and what the best in the world must do to achieve their best.  These three concepts can be the foundation of great technique with any personal style. They are the building blocks that need to be refined every year. They are also great high level concepts to focus on in the final phase of preparation for the "Big Meet" of the year.