Self-coaching resources

The best way to learn the athletics events is with an accredited coach. They can introduce you to safe training methods and to handling equipment, and the jumping and throwing events require special staging. We do acknowledge, though, that not everyone has access to coaches in their local community.

Safety first

This probably does not need to be said, but we will say it anyway: you cannot throw a javelin, hammer, discus or weight at the local park.

Check with your local council what sporting facilities are available in your area. Make sure you are aware of the terms and conditions for using any facility, as there may be limitations on matters such as the times certain activities can be performed, self-supplied equipment, or the number of people that can be accommodated at one time.

All equipment used for athletics should be well maintained, correctly installed, and conform to the standards in the World Athletics technical guides and manuals.

As a guide to relative risk

Education Queensland's Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment guidelines are written for planning sport in schools, but they contain good information for adult athletes too. Their risk rating for the individual events:

• Medium risk Track running, shot put, long jump, triple jump
• High risk High jump, discus, javelin
• Extreme risk Pole vault, hammer throw

Read the CARA activity guidelines

Where to start