A practical method to integrate kinematic data with coaching observations in the discus throw

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how combining biomechanical data with coaching observations can be used to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners and build toward a better, shared understanding of competitive discus throw performance. Competition throws for a male discus thrower were recorded and analyzed during a World Athletics Bronze-level Continental Tour competition. The series of throws included a new world record and stands as the furthest-ever series of six throws in a competition. Synchronized digital videos from eight cameras were recorded for all throws. Videos were processed with markerless motion capture software and a rigid-link model was used to calculate relevant biomechanical variables. A qualitative analysis of a semi-structured interview with one of the thrower's coaches was carried out to ascertain coaching insights and technical observations on each throw. Notably, the world record throw exhibited a longer entry duration (+0.017 s; 5.2%) than the opening throw and longer delivery-phase orbital path (+0.18–0.31 m) relative to non-world record throws. Eight coaching observations were identified and matched with specific biomechanical data (e.g., phase-specific durations and discus velocities). Investigation of these “matches” across the series of throws, and in the context of the world record throw, confirmed that they were relevant to throwing performance. This cue to metric mapping offers a template for competition-based monitoring and rapid technical feedback.