| Many studies have investigated the kinematics of sports skills
with the majority describing the kinematics of the technique or investigating
significant kinematic variables that affect performance. Many sports
skills are complex three-dimensional movements involving many joints.
However, few studies have investigated the relationships between kinematic
variables during performance of such skills. The aim of this study
was to investigate the inter- relationships among three-dimensional
kinematic variables during performance of a lofted instep soccer kick.
A motion analysis system was used to collect kinematic data for 13
skilled amateur soccer players attempting a standardised lofted instep
kick. Three-dimensional angular displacement patterns were reported
for the thoracolumbar spine and right hip joints. Two-dimensional
angular displacement data was reported for the right knee and ankle
joints. An exploratory rather than confirmatory factor analysis was
applied, as there is currently no established theory regarding the
kinematics of a lofted instep kick. Factors were extracted using the
Maximum Likelihood Solution and orthogonally rotated using Varimax
with Kaiser normalisation. The inter-relationship among biomechanical
variables within the seven extracted factors was analysed with each
factor revealing previously unknown inter-relationships among variables
for different aspects of the kick. The use of exploratory factor analysis
has shown the complex three-dimensional kinematic inter-relationships
for a lofted instep kick. An understanding of these relationships
could prove useful to coaches when instructing, and in the development
of coaching programmes related to the lofted instep kick.
KEY
WORDS: Soccer, kicking, three-dimensional kinematics.
|
