title: The impact phase of drop punt kicking for maximal distance and accuracy.
abstract: Impact is an important aspect of the kicking skill. This study examined foot and ball motion during impact and compared distance and accuracy punt kicks. Two-dimensional high-speed video (4000 Hz) captured data of the shank, foot and ball through impact of 11 elite performers kicking for maximal distance and towards a target 20 m in distance. Four phases were identified during impact, with an overall reduction in foot velocity of 5.0 m · s-1(± 1.1 m · s-1) and increase in ball velocity of 22.7 m · s-1(± 2.3 m · s-1) from the start to end of contact. Higher foot velocity was found in distance compared to accuracy kicks (22.1 ± 1.6 m · s-1vs. 17.7 ± 0.9 m · s-1, P < 0.05), and was considered to produce the significant differences in all impact characteristics excluding foot-to-ball speed ratio. Ankle motion differed between the kicking tasks; distance kicks were characterised by greater rigidity compared to accuracy kicks evident by larger force (834 ± 107 N vs. 588 ± 64 N) and smaller change in ankle angle (2.2 ± 3.3° vs. 7.2 ± 6.4°). Greater rigidity was obtained by altering the position of the ankle at impact start; distance kicks were characterised by greater plantarflexion (130.1 ± 5.8° vs. 123.0 ± 7.9°, P < 0.05), indicating rigidity maybe actively controlled for specific tasks.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living , Victoria University , Melbourne , Australia.|b College of Sport and Exercise Science , Victoria University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living , Victoria University , Melbourne , Australia.|b College of Sport and Exercise Science , Victoria University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living , Victoria University , Melbourne , Australia.|b College of Sport and Exercise Science , Victoria University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies
keywords: Australian football; drop punt kicking; energy transfer; high speed video; rigidity