More on The Throwing Pope

Legendary coaches Pál Németh (L) and Anatoli Bondarchuk (R).

In a follow up to this week’s review of the documentary A dobópápa (The Throwing Pope), I wanted to mention that director Ágnes Sós has been kind enough to put the English version of the movie on her site now.  I also wanted to add a note about Coach Németh’s approach to coaching.  Throughout the entire movie, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities Németh has to my coach, Anatoli Bondarhcuk.  As perhaps the two most successful and legendary coaches in hammer throwing history, I guess it is not all that surprising that they have so much in common.  Nevertheless, it is intriguing.

First off, both coaches are very hands-on.  In the film, Németh is seen giving athletes advice after every throw.  Bondarchuk does the same.  Many coaches try not to overcoach and confuse the athlete or make them feel helpless, and opt to chime in less during practice.  I know from personal experience, that Bondarchuk is not reluctant to tell you that you are doing the same thing wrong twenty time in a row.  It may sound like a broken record, but at a certain point, all you can do is tell the athlete that they are still making the same mistake.  I personally like this approach.  I have taken so many throws that my tehcnique is engrained and I need someone with a good eye to tell me whether what I was trying was slightly better or not.  Both coaches also have the same matter-of-fact tone.  I can imagine both saying something like “it just isn’t possible to accelerate one leg, you might as well just stop turning.”

Perhaps the most unique thing they have in common is a love of other people’s trash.  Call it resourcefulness, but both will take another’s trash if it will make a useful training tool.  This means Bondarchuk will light tear up an old metal fence in an attempt to make hammer handles and Németh will grab discarded movie theater chairs to use as seats for watching practice.  This may seem funny, but it is a sign of two coaches that are willing to do whatever needed for their athletes to succeed.  This determination spreads over every aspect of their lives and is the reason both are legends in the event.