By Coach Donahue
Northeastern University

Some of the reasons throws technique "breaks down":

Go back to where your technique was together or congruent as they say in counseling. At that point work forward again until the technique begins to break down. Here is where you will find the key to begin the analysis. It is not always the most apparent and obvious part. There are 'parts' in a whole technique, but they work in conjunction with the other 'parts'.

If some parts are more advanced than others, the advancement may place too big a load on the weaker parts. The weaker part can be developed but only at the rate and load that the whole system can handle. Without seeing what you are 'doing' it is almost impossible to help without prior coach-athlete understandings.

If there are some general areas to be concerned about I would look at the speed of the movement first, and then balance; are you on balance throughout the movement?

Intensity of effort from throw to throw and practice to practice may also be a factor. Are you practicing too intensely for too many throws? This can lead to a breakdown in technique. If your technique deterioration continues, do you keep on throwing so as to reinforce the 'bad' technique?

Do you have a part of your body that is more advanced in strength than most other parts? If so, it will strain to be used at the expense of other parts.

And finally although not meant to be a complete conclusion, are you fit for what you are attempting and is the technique you have chosen fit for you?

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Joe Donahue rejoined the Husky coaching staff after a five-year hiatus from the program he helped bring to greatness. Donahue was the throwing coach at Northeastern from 1963-99, making NU the top throwing school in New England and one of the best on the East coast. From 1964-99, Northeastern throwers won 42 New England titles and 12 IC4A titles, helping Northeastern win 12 New England indoor championships and 11 outdoor titles. Donahue coached the only NCAA champion in Northeastern history, Boris Djerassi, who won the national hammer title in 1975, as well as several other All-Americans. As an athlete, Donahue set several NU throwing records, all of which were broken by athletes he coached. He was inducted to the Northeastern Hall of Fame in 1993.