BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS
Below is a summary only. The full analysis, 100 page book, is available for order.
The categories below provide a great insight to the importance of each body movement.
1) BALL GRIP
When considering the ideal position of the hands on the football it’s important to acknowledge the forthcoming body movements within the kicking action; such as, the ball lift, ball guide, and hand tilt.
During the ball lift the ball will need to be safely secured so that the ball can be elevated in a balanced manner ready for impending ball guidance. Therefore, the ball (being oval in shape) and the human hand, when positioned in a normal relaxed hand-shake manner, should have a conforming grip like relationship well suited to marry together.
2) BALL LIFT
One of the key principals addressed earlier references the significance of the torso being upright and stable at the point of impact. During a running kick, or even a stationary kick, the starting position of the body is forward of centre. Therefore, how does the player move the torso from forward of centre to upright at impact in an organic and natural movement pattern? One mechanism for achieving this movement is termed the ball lift.
​
The ball lift provides the following functions:
-
Assists the player move the torso from forward of centre to upright at the point of impact.
-
Assists the player release the non-guide hand to a position which can assist with aligning and stabilising the torso.
-
Sets the ball in position to commence downward movement during the ball guide.
-
Provides time, within the boundaries of the fluent running pattern, for the hips and legs to generate force.
3) BALANCE ARM
The purpose of the balance arm is to stabalise and balance the torso for impact allowing for force to be generated and for the kicking leg to be directed through to completion with a straight follow through.
​
The non-guide hand is released from the football early during the ball lift. This hand then works in conjunction with the arm to form a position that enables the torso to establish balance and alignment during the kicking action.
​
The balance arm serves to stabilise and align the torso during the kicking action. If the torso does not achieve stability then the torso can remain hunched forward, deviate to the side, or shift too far back from upright at the point of impact
4) BALL GUIDE AND RELEASE
The purpose of the ball guide and release is to direct the ball into position for the kicking leg to impact.
The ball guide is directly related to the previous elements of the kicking action. If a player has performed the previous actions with the ideal methodology, then the ball guide will begin from the apex of the ball lift and at the same time the balance arm is reaching its set position. As the ball reaches its vertical peak, the forces of gravity will enable the ball to start its descent.
The raised position means the ball begins its descent towards the point of impact with the hand still gripping the ball. The ball remains in the player’s grip for much of its descent giving a much more guided path until finally the ball is released and continues along the path it was already following towards the point of impact. Think of it like a gun barrel. If the hand releases the ball from a higher point, with no guide, it is like a pistol with a short barrel, resulting in reduced accuracy. If the ball is dropped from a low height, with no guide, it is like having the firing pin at the tip of a gun barrel. In this case, no matter how long the barrel, it is useless as it has very little guidance. In the Kick Builders guide, the ball is guided from the top to the bottom, and released at the last moment, resulting in the best possible accuracy, just like a long-barreled rifle.
5) HIP ROTATION
The hip rotation is placed under control by the adductor and the outer quadriceps muscles to guide the thigh in travelling the correct flight path.
​
The hips, knees and ankles all move together to produce the power of the kick. The pelvis rotates from anterior to posterior and helps the kick by giving the hip a greater range of motion, and putting the muscles of the hip and abdomen in the best position to produce maximum controlled force throughout hip flexion
6) KICKING LEG ARC & IMPACT
The purpose of the kicking leg arc is to build momentum leading into the impact position ensuring that arc is straight in preparation for impact, the lower leg straightens from the flexion position at the beginning of the arc, the ankle is in plantar flexion nand the follow through has the best chance of remain straight after impact.
The tilt & guide has brought the ball to where ball strike would normally occur. For a running kick, this is slightly anterior to the player’s centre of gravity to give the ball some elevation but a low trajectory. For long kick with high elevation the distance from where the ball impacts the kicking foot is of greater anterior to the player’s centre of gravity.
7) FOLLOW-THROUGH
The purpose of the follow-through is to continue the force generated through the previous elements of the kicking action as well as tend to the player’s wish of kicking the ball with a straight trajectory.
The player’s kicking foot swings through its arc where after impact the foot continues to swing upwards
After impact the kicking leg continues its trajectory upwards on a straight path with no lateral deviation. The kicking leg is in flexion at impact; however, must continue to straight in order to generate maximum force.
8) STRIDE-PATTERN
With respect to a running kick. The player landing on the kicking foot, after the follow through, is a great indication of the earlier components of the kicking action being completed with the ideal methodology.
The kicking foot should land in position as it would during a normal stride pattern. This indicates that the ball was guided close to the player’s centre of gravity which is a requirement for generating force.
​
If the player does not land on the kicking foot then the natural tendency of the ball during its flightpath will be elevated. This is because the follow through hasn’t used the player’s organically forced restriction incurred by the running movement.
