Plympton Flyers athlete competing in shot put
Officiating · Plympton Flyers Little Athletics

Shot Put

Putting rules, weights and colour codes for athletes from U6 to U17.

The event

About shot put

The following rules apply when putting the shot:

  • ›The shot must be put from the shoulder with one hand only
  • ›At the start of the trial, the shot shall touch or be in close proximity to the neck or chin
  • ›It shall not be dropped below this position during the action of putting
  • ›The shot must not be brought from behind the line of the shoulders
  • ›The athlete must exit the circle from the back, otherwise it is a foul
Standards

Weights and dimensions by age group

Age GroupsWeightColourDiameter Tolerance
U6–71kgBlue76 to 86 mm
U81.5kgYellow76 to 86 mm
U9–122kgOrange76 to 90 mm
U13–14B, U13–17G3kgWhite95 to 110 mm
U15–16B4kgRed95 to 110 mm
U17B5kgGreen100 to 120 mm
Watch for

What counts as a foul

A foul is recorded if the athlete's hand drops away from the neck during the putting action, if it is put from behind the line of the shoulder, if it is thrown like a ball, or if the athlete exits the circle any way other than out the back.

Watch and learn

Officiating and coaching

How to officiate

Coaching tips

Related events

Other throwing events

The other field throws are also covered in our officiating reference.

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