The effect of using the instructional package on learning the technical performance of the discus throw event and achievement

Abstract

The discus throw is an event that requires continuous training, both physical and technical, focusing on precision in movement and the integration of mechanical and technical elements. This is due to its multiple phases, such as holding the throwing iron, standing, starting forward, rotating around the body's axis, and maintaining balance. These phases must be executed smoothly to achieve a long distance. This has led to many people neglecting to learn the sport, and consequently, the event has begun to decline due to the lack of practitioners and the continued weakness of the regional performance compared to neighboring countries and the rest of the world. This regional reality, reflected in administrative offices, indicates a weakness among middle school students. This research aims to investigate the impact of an educational kit on the technical performance of the discus throw among first-year intermediate students at Jaafar Al-Sadiq Secondary School for Boys. A two-group experimental design was used, with a randomly selected sample of 40 students. The researcher relied on the educational kit as a comprehensive teaching tool, employing it according to its user guide. The kit provides an analytical framework illustrating the correct technical performance of the discus throw, focusing on common errors and their correction. The experiment lasted for eight weeks, with two instructional units per week, based on the curriculum prepared by the Iraqi Ministry of Education. The pre- and post-test results showed statistically significant differences favoring the post-test, indicating the effectiveness of using the training kit in improving students' technical performance. This improvement is attributed to the significant role of the precise use of the training kit, visual, auditory, and sensory perception, the consolidation of motor information, and the provision of immediate feedback, which helped students grasp the finer details of their performance and avoid errors.  The researcher recommends the necessity of employing modern training kits in physical education classes due to their positive impact on accelerating the learning process and improving students' motor skills.