The document reviews the snatch weightlifting technique, emphasizing its importance in developing power in athletes and discussing coaching applications. It includes biomechanical insights and studies on effective teaching methods, highlighting factors like body type and foot placement that affect performance. Key recommendations for coaches involve ensuring proper technique, focusing on specific athlete needs, and progressing young athletes towards advanced lifting movements.

1. The Snatch
Literature Review
Technique and Coaching Application
Damien Gubler
(7)

2. The Snatch
(5)
• Variations used for power training in athletes
• Popular exercise to develop power through the
hips and knees
• Very technical, needs to be taught well before
execution

3. How to snatch
• Step by step guide from Andrew Tysz (4), head
weightlifting coach at the US Olympic Education
Center Northern Michigan University
• 6 phases
 Start
 1st pull
 2nd pull
 Drop
 Receiving
 Squat

4. (6)

5. Literature 1
• A biomechanical review by German coach Klaus
E. Bartonletz, PhD(1).
• Titled “Biomechanics of the snatch: Towards a
higher training efficiency”
• Designed to give coaches an understanding of
the biomechanical processes and training
approaches to increase efficiency

6. The Study
• Believed not to be and original idea for a
publication
• Shows importance in highlighting aspects of the
lift the coach should know of and ideas to teach
• Literature not a typical study with
participants, rather a collaboration of previously
found info
• Written as the equivalent of a background and
discussion

7. Limitations
• Technique will differ due to limb length
 Eg taller athletes will have smaller knee angles due
to the lower crouch
• Heavy weight athletes will need greater velocity
to the smaller classes
(8)

8. • Movement Pattern
• Movement of barbell
• Limb movements
(1)

9. Coaching help
• Determine movement path of bar by videotape
• find target bar velocity for max lift
• Calculate power at max velocity, will help to
conserve same energy for lighter weight training
• Snatch variety needs to have common grounds
with sporting movement
• 5-10% yearly power increase is an attainable goal

10. Conclusion for Coaches
• Continue with alternate max strength exercises
• Young athletes to work on overall
strength, progression into advanced movements
• Split leg lift for specific athletes
 Baseball pitchers
 Contact sports
• Squat snatch for high leg load sports
 Rowing
 Skiing

11. Literature 2
• Study by Schilling et.al titled “Snatch Technique
of Collegiate National Level Weightlifters” in
2002 (3)
“bar trajectory during weight lifting movements
is related to the position of the body during the
lift and the displacement of the feet during the
drop-under phase”

12. Research
• 25 male colligate athletes from 7 different weight
classes
• Camera placed on saggital plane
• Toes manually digitized at the end of 2nd pull
• 74 total lifts recorded, comparison between
regular and maximal lift
• Both foot displacement and bar trajectory were
recorded

13. Findings
• Type B trajectory of bar will
result in rearward foot
displacement
• Lighter lifters would stay
grounded for longer and use (3)
their body as a counterweight
• Not enough evidence to show a connection

14. Further Research
• 3D analysis for transverse plan
• Use elite performers instead of amateur
• Force plate, electromyography and ultrasound
for immediate feedback
• Incorrect technique for comparison
(9)

15. Coaching Uses
• Foot and bar displacement are closely related
• Rearward displacement used by elite lifters
• When coaching snatch, emphasize the foot
placements to make it become second nature

16. Summary of Coaching Implications
• Feet slightly turned out in starting position
• Body type will effect technique
• Body weight is related to velocity needs
• Hips to produce greatest power output
• Young athletes to progress into full snatch after
strength work
• Rear foot displacement believed to be optimal
technique
• Barbell should stay behind vertical line

17. References
1- Bartonletz, K. E. (n.d.). Biomechanics of the snatch: towards a higher training efficiency.
Olympic Training Center Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland, Schifferstadt, Germany ,Izquierdo,
2- M., Häkkinen, K., Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J., Ibáñez, J., &Gorostiaga, E. M. (2002). Effects of long-
term training specificity on maximal strength and power of the upper and lower extremities in
athletes from different sports. European Journal of applied physiology, 87(3), 264-271.
3- Schilling, B., Stone, M., O'Bryant, H., Fry, A., Coglianese, R., & Pierce, K. (2002). Snatch
Technique of Collegiate National Level Weightlifters . Journal of Strength and Conditioning
Research, 16(4), 551-555.
4- Tysz, A. (2010). Basic performance cues for teaching the snatch and clean to non-Olympic
weightlifting athletes. XXVIII International Symposium of Biomechanics in Sports
Pictures
(5) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-
JwbwAkwgHow/TdKxCaru8YI/AAAAAAAAARE/FC3mvjL_TLI/s1600/Power-Snatch-
Techniques.jpg
(6)http://coachesinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=223:strength-
weightlifting&catid=68:strength-generalarticles&Itemid
(7) http://www.bodytribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/snatch-1.jpg
(8) http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/6228829.bin?size=620x400s
(9) http://www.theentertainingelf.com/photos/Weightlifting-Ambition.jpg