REVIEW
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Mechanics of Sport -
A Practitioner's Guide
By Gerry Carr
There are many coaches and athletes who still fol-
low old. traditional methods in their workouts -
methods that demonstrate a lack of understanding
of mechanical principles. Some people are happy
using a trial-and-error method. Occasionally they
get good results. but more often they don't. Many
coaches will teach their ath-
letes a technique based on
that of a world Champion, Mechanics
without taking into account
differences in physique,
training. and maturity. Simi-
of Sport
larly, young athletes will
copy every action of a world- ; , _
elass performer. including
particular movements that
are mechanically ineffectual.
For example. Al Oerter. four-
time Olympic Champion from
1956 to 1968. frequently in-
verted the discus as he
swung his arm back during
his windup. This action was
simply a personal trait. which
added nothing to the me-
chanical efficiency of Oert-
er's throwing technique. yet
many young athletes copied
it. believlng that it would add distance to their
throws. Coaches and athletes who blindly mimic
the methods and techniques of others progress on-
ly so far. It's much better if they can distinguish
between mechanically correct movements and
those that serve no purpose.
Mechanics of Sport will help coaches eliminate this
haphazard approach. By developing a background
in mechanics coaches will be able to analyse Per-
formances and teach movement patterns that pro-
duce efficient technique. This will lead to better
Performances.
Gerry Carr is a professor of physical education at
the University of Victoria. British Columbia. Cana-
da. and also teaches sport mechanics to coaches at
the National Coaching Institute at the University
of Victoria. In his university courses. he found that
students responded better when he taught rela-
tionships and coneepts rather than formulas. This
approach forms the basis of this book. Gerry Carr
has not only simplified the mathematieal treat-
15:3/4; 115-116.2000
ment. but he has eliminated formal mathematieal
treatment entirely. The consequence is lhat there
are no confusing formulas or equations in Me-
chanics of Sport.
This book does not only help the reader distinguish
between efficient and inefficient movements in an
athlete's technique. but also gives the reasons why
one action is potentially dangerous and another is
not. Mec/ion/cs of Sport assists in understanding
the wide application of aerodynamic principles to
sports such as discus and javelin throwing among
others. Furthermore. the
book provides a knowledge
base that will help coaches
assess changes and innova-
tions that oecur continuous-
ly in the world of sporl.
After having read Mechanics
_ , of Sport one will also know
what to expect from differ-
ent body types and different
levels of maturity - why for
example young athletes who
are growing fast have a
tough time manoeuvring.
changing direction. and co-
ordinating their movement.
Mechanics of Sport is divided
into two parts. each with a
different focus.
Part I contains chapters 1
through 6. Chapter 1 is an
overview of what the reader
will find in Mechanics of Sport. It's titled "Making a
Smart Move" to express the idea that it is a smart
move to develop a background in sport mechanics.
The next five chapters get into the meat of sport
mechanics. Their titles are: "Starting With Basics",
"Getting a Move On". "Rocking and Rolling". "Don't
Be a Pushover". and "Going With the Flow." One
understands why these titles were chosen when
one reads about the various forces at work as ath-
letes perform in their sports. These chapters ex-
plain the interaction between an athlete. the ath-
lete's equipment. and the ever-present external
forces that assist or oppose the athlete during the
Performance of a sport skill. The reader learns what
forces are at work when Sprinters accelerate, gym-
nasts spin in the air. and pitchers hurl curveballs.
In part II. chapters 7 and 8 explain how one can
put to work the information presented in part I.
These chapters discuss why athletes must make
their muscles work as a team and why it's so im-
portant to synchronise and co-ordinate muscle ac-
115
 REVIEW: Mechanics ofSpon - A Practiiioner's Guide
tions. It is exactly this Synchronisation and co-or-
dination of muscle action that produces superior
technique.
Chapters 7 and 8 are particularly useful to coaches
and to physical educators because they explain
how to observe and analyse an athlete's technique
and how to set about correcting errors that are
found. Each chapter gives the reader a series of
steps to follow. He or she learns how to break a
skill down into phases and what to look for when
analysing each phase.
Chapter 9 deals with the technique and mechanics
in a wide ränge of sport skills that include sprint-
ing, jumping, swimming. lifting, throwing, and
kicking. First one reads descriptions of the most
prominent features in the performance of these
skills. Then the mechanical reasons are given to in-
dicate why the technique of the skill is best per-
formed in a certain way. The goal in this chapter is
to sho.. Mnique and mechanics are insepa-
rable, no matter what the sport.
Mechanics of Sport finishes with a glossary and a
list of references lhat help the reader to expand his
116
or her knowledge of sport mechanics. The glossary
avoids dull scientific explanations. Instead it re-
lates scientific principles to athletes and to the
movement of sport implements, like bats. balls. and
javelins.
To sum it up. then. this is a book for coaches and
athletes alike. presented in simple, non-mathemat-
ical terms and containing a host of interesting,
practical examples drawn from the literature and
from the author's own extensive background in
athletics. It is a book that is easy to read and
therefore makes the mechanics not only of athlet-
ics. but of a lot of sports available to a much wider
audience than has been reached by previous texts
in this field. •
Gerry Carr:
Mechanics of Sport - A Practitioner's Guide
Champaign (IL), 1997, 213 p.,
ISBN 0 - 8 7 3 2 2 - 9 7 4 - 6 . £ 1 9 . 5 0
Reviewed by Jürgen Schiffer