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Track and Field: Discus

Overview

Events

MetricAcronymDescription
Peak BackswingPBthe peak backswing position prior to the throw
Dominant Foot OffDFOthe instance when the dominant foot leaves the ground
NonDominant Foot OffNDFOthe instance when the nondominant foot leaves the ground
Dominant Foot DownDFOthe instance when the dominant foot touches the ground
NonDominant Foot DownNDFOthe instance when the nondominant foot touches the ground
ReleaseRrelease of the discus

Phases and Stages of the Discus Throw

PhaseStartEnd
PreparationPBDFO
EntryDFONDFO
AirborneNDFODFD
TransitionDFDNDFD
DeliveryNDFDR

Discrete Metrics

MetricUnitsDescription
HandednessN/ACalculated handedness of the athlete (‘right’ or ‘left’)
Preparation PhasesecondsTime between peak backswing and dominant foot off
Entry PhasesecondsTime between dominant foot off and non-dominant foot off
Airborne PhasesecondsTime between non-dominant foot off and dominant foot down
Transition PhasesecondsTime between dominant foot down and non-dominant foot down
Delivery PhasesecondsTime between non-dominant foot down and release
Speed at DFOm/sSpeed of the discus at dominant foot off
Speed at NDFOm/sSpeed of the discus at non-dominant foot off
Speed at DFDm/sSpeed of the discus at dominant foot down
Speed at NDFDm/sSpeed of the discus at non-dominant foot down
Speed at Releasem/sSpeed of the discus at release
Horizontal Release Speedm/sHorizontal component of discus speed at release
Vertical Release Speedm/sVertical component of discus speed at release
Hip-Shoulder Separation at DFOdegreesTransverse angle between hips and shoulders at dominant foot off
Hip-Shoulder Separation at NDFOdegreesTransverse angle between hips and shoulders at non-dominant foot off
Hip-Shoulder Separation at DFDdegreesTransverse angle between hips and shoulders at dominant foot down
Hip-Shoulder Separation at NDFDdegreesTransverse angle between hips and shoulders at non-dominant foot down
Hip-Shoulder Separation at ReleasedegreesTransverse angle between hips and shoulders at release
Arm Elevation Angle at DFOdegreesAngle of throwing arm relative to horizontal at dominant foot off
Arm Elevation Angle at NDFOdegreesAngle of throwing arm relative to horizontal at non-dominant foot off
Arm Elevation Angle at DFDdegreesAngle of throwing arm relative to horizontal at dominant foot down
Arm Elevation Angle at NDFDdegreesAngle of throwing arm relative to horizontal at non-dominant foot down
Arm Elevation Angle at ReleasedegreesAngle of throwing arm relative to horizontal at release
Shoulder-Arm Separation at DFOdegreesAngle between shoulder line and arm at dominant foot off
Shoulder-Arm Separation at NDFOdegreesAngle between shoulder line and arm at non-dominant foot off
Shoulder-Arm Separation at DFDdegreesAngle between shoulder line and arm at dominant foot down
Shoulder-Arm Separation at NDFDdegreesAngle between shoulder line and arm at non-dominant foot down
Shoulder-Arm Separation at ReleasedegreesAngle between shoulder line and arm at release
Base of Support WidthmetersDistance between ankles at non-dominant foot down
Relative Release HeightmetersVertical distance between discus and shoulder at release
Height at ReleasemetersAbsolute height of discus at release
Release AngledegreesAngle of discus trajectory at release
DistancemetersEstimated distance thrown
Trunk Flexion at ReleasedegreesTrunk sagittal flexion angle at release (forward = positive, backward = negative)
Release StyleN/AClassification of release style (‘Reverse’ or ‘Fixed Foot’)

Notes

  • Kinematic data typically captured at 240Hz