30-YO Rookie.

[HeathBar]

Well, a few weeks ago I was a 35 year old rookie. I guess I still am if you count the whole season and not just one game. Anyways, like Alan said in another thread, read the stickies in this forum. Lots of good info. Read the forums on www.nasgaweb.com. Since you are in the southeast, you should also check out www.thessaaa.org and highlandathletics.com. These are folks in the southeast region.

You look like a braw lad and have probably spent some time in a gym. So heavy things may not scare you. I need to get in a gym to add some strength. From what I read most of the lifts throwers do focus on quickness and multiple muscle groups. Such as dead lifts, clings, front and back squats, and dumbbell presses. And I think a high weight low rep is the usual routine. But you should find what works for you.

In most games you will usually do at least seven events. If anything is left out it is usually the stone put and the light hammer. Sometimes finding a field that the A's can safely throw a light hammer is hard to do. And yes, you will have to do the sheaf if you do games on the east coast.

There are lots of suggestions for making your own implements in other threads. Study them. Or find some guys in your area that are already throwing and work with them. Speaking of the guys, they are usually very welcoming of newbies. Anything that helps the sport to grow. And its better to learn your technique from an experienced thrower.

The next thing to do is watch the youtube videos. Hunt for ones of the pros like Larry Brock or Craig Smith. If you are going to watch someone, watch someone who knows what they are doing.

At the event... Get there early and get to know who you will be throwing with. You will likely be throwing with the B class. Not too many games around here have enough competitors to have a C class. Usually by the first event, you will know the guys names. And most important, don't forget to take your turn shagging the weights. Nobody likes the guy who thinks he's too good to shag. And by shagging I mean returning the weight to the throwing area for the next competitor. If you don't know how to do something, ask questions. There are no trade secrets. Everyone is usually happy to help. Don't worry if you can't pick the caber your first time out. Its harder than it looks. Don't wear your best kilt and most favorite kilt. Wear comfortable shoes. Don't go out and buy a lot of new equipment until you know you wan to do this more than a couple times. Bring a towel, bring two towels. Maybe bring an extra if someone forgets. You will make a friend that way. The 56lb weight is humbling. At my first games, there was a guy who owned a gym, was 290lbs and built like a brick ****house. He told me that the 56lb WFD scared him. I would stick to single spins on the distance throws. For my last throw on the 56lb weight, I walked up to the trig and did an underhand swing and let go. It went 15 feet. I was thrilled.

There is so much more I could tell you from my first experience. But I've already said enough. Hopefully you will find some of it useful.

Anything else you want to know that I didn't mention?