Weight Over Bar/Weight for Height

Tossing the Weight for Height. Yes, you read that correctly! This event is where the weight travels up and over a set of standards, much like what a high jumper would clear.

Weight over Bar

Women’s Standard weight: 28lbs

The weight is made of metal but can be of various shapes and sizes including spherical, bullet or box shaped. It varies for each game. The handle is either attached directly to the weight, or to a short chain attached to the weight. The implement shall not measure more than 18" in overall length but a weight shorter than this is normally used when thrown for height to avoid hitting the ground when swung between the legs.

Any throwing style may be used as long as the rules are followed and the style is deemed safe by the judge.

The weight will be thrown with one hand only, you pick! Typically, the weight travels between the legs and then up and over the bar behind the thrower. The stance is just slightly in front of or directly under the bar itself. The athlete generates a swinging motion between the legs (styles vary but the effect is the same) and then use the motion generated to get the weight up and over the bar above your head.

Each athlete is allowed three attempts at each height in a competition. Successful clearance of the height allows the athlete to advance into the next round at a greater height. The competition is determined by the highest successful toss, with fewest misses being used to break tie scores.

Currently, there are athletes that are using a spinning method, where they stand farther away from the standards, and spin to get the momentum to throw the weight up and over the bar.

Both are acceptable, although there is some debate about the traditional standing throw vs the spinning throw. However, we can talk about that on another post.

photo credits and information: http://www.bevanh.com/highlandgames/weightoverthebar.html