| Good kicking technique is an important aspect of a soccer player.
Therefore, understanding the biomechanics of soccer kicking is particularly
important for guiding and monitoring the training process. The purpose
of this review was to examine latest research findings on biomechanics
of soccer kick performance and identify weaknesses of present research
which deserve further attention in the future. Being a multiarticular
movement, soccer kick is characterised by a proximal-to-distal motion
of the lower limb segments of the kicking leg. Angular velocity is
maximized first by the thigh, then by the shank and finally by the
foot. This is accomplished by segmental and joint movements in multiple
planes. During backswing, the thigh decelerates mainly due to a motion-dependent
moment from the shank and, to a lesser extent, by activation of hip
muscles. In turn, forward acceleration of the shank is accomplished
through knee extensor moment as well as a motion-dependent moment
from the thigh. The final speed, path and spin of the ball largely
depend on the quality of foot-ball contact. Powerful kicks are achieved
through a high foot velocity and coefficient of restitution. Preliminary
data indicate that accurate kicks are achieved through slower kicking
motion and ball speed values.
KEY
WORDS: Soccer, biomechanics, kicking, football, sports, technique
analysis.
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