Fundamental Skills of Sports – Athletics Chapter Notes | Physical Education and Well-being (Khel Yatra) Class 8 PDF Download

Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn about the basic and most important athletic skills used in sports. Athletics includes various events like running, jumping, and throwing. These skills help improve our speed, strength, coordination, and overall fitness. Athletics also teaches discipline, teamwork, and determination.

Athletics

• Also called Track and Field.
• Main types of events: Track Events, Field Events, and Combined Events.
• Helps develop strength, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility, and coordination.
• Important for growth of physical and technical skills.
• Encourages willpower, self-discipline, and team spirit.

Running

• A way of moving quickly on foot with both feet leaving the ground.
• Needs good technique, speed, endurance, and coordination.

Techniques to Start the Race

• Crouch or Sitting Start: Used in races up to 400 metres.
• Types of crouch starts:
  • Bunch or Bullet start
  • Medium start
  • Elongated start
• Standing Start: Used in longer races. Not covered in detail here.

Crouch or Sitting Start

Block Placement and Adjustment

• Blocks placed correctly behind the start line.
• Front block at 1.5 foot length from the line.

1. On Your Marks Position

• Runner gets into position with stronger leg in front block.
• Rear foot pressed against block, rear knee on ground.
• Hands shoulder-width apart, fingers forming a bridge.
• Relaxed head, eyes on ground.

2. Set Position

• Hips lifted, rear leg off the ground.
• Body weight balanced.
• Leg angles: Front knee ~90°, rear knee ~110°–130°.

3. Drive Phase

• Runner explodes from the blocks on "Go".
• Pushes strongly with both legs for speed.
• Arms swing with the legs to help speed.

4. Acceleration Phase

• Body leans forward after start.
• Stride gets longer and faster.
• Good lean gives better acceleration.

5. Finish Phase

• Maintain top speed till the finish line.
• Lean forward slightly to finish faster.
• Finishing Techniques:
  • Run Through
  • Lunge
  • Shoulder Shrug

Jumping

• Act of propelling body into the air using legs.
• Main goal: jump high or far.

Phases of Jumping

• Approach Run: Controlled running to gain momentum.
• Take-off: Push from ground with proper body position.
• Flight: Staying balanced in the air.
• Landing: Bend knees to absorb impact and avoid foul.

Long Jump

1. Approach Phase

• Beginners: 10 strides, Experts: over 20 strides.
• Speed increases gradually till take-off.
• Strides must be consistent.

2. Take-off Phase

• Quick foot plant with down-back motion.
• Minimal knee bend, full leg extension.
• Pushes up while keeping forward speed.

3. Flight Phase

• Maintain balance in the air.
• Two techniques taught: Sail and Hang.
• Sail: Legs stretched forward, trunk upright.
• Hang: Arms/legs go back, then forward, hips pushed forward.

4. Landing Phase

• Legs extended, trunk forward, arms pulled back.
• Land on feet, avoid falling backward.

Standing Broad Jump

• 5 players jump one by one, each from where the last one landed.
• Total distance of all jumps is measured.
• Team with longest distance wins.

Hopping

• Jump on one leg for 15 metres, then switch legs and return.
• Compare hopping barefoot vs with shoes.

Making an Arch

• Place a block a few steps ahead.
• Step on it with strong foot, jump in a backward arch.
• Repeat 10 times.

Landing

• Jump off from the take-off board into the pit.
• Stretch legs forward, lean body forward, and bend arms.

High Jump

1. Approach Phase

• J-shaped run: Straight part (3–6 steps), then curve (4–5 steps).
• Increases speed, lowers body slightly before take-off.

2. Take-off Phase

• Quick, flat foot plant with ‘down and back’ motion.
• Free leg goes up, body becomes upright.

3. Flight Phase

• Technique taught: Straddle.
• Jumper clears bar facing downward.
• Leading leg then trailing leg crosses the bar.

4. Landing Phase

• Land on back and shoulders, knees apart.

Heading Suspended Ball

• Hang balls at different heights.
• Run and hit each ball with head.
• Move to higher balls after each try.

Trikoṇa Kainchī Kūda

• Create triangle track (points A, B, C - 10m apart).
• Run from A to B: Jump on and off boxes.
• B to C: Jump over cones and hurdle.
• C to A: Sprint back quickly.

Putting Ball

• Stand behind lines 15m apart.
• Hold ball near neck and throw with leg push and chest lift.
• Partners throw the ball back and forth.