THREE DIMENSIONAL KINEMATICS OF THE DIRECT FREE KICK IN SOCCER WHEN OPPOSED BY A DEFENSIVE WALL

Abstract

The subjects for this study were four highly skilled soccer players who were on scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport. In a laboratory setting, each player took ten kicks on goal using balls place 20 yards from the near left goal post. A 70 degree angle was formed by a Line connecting the placed ball and near goal post and the goal line extending to the left of the near goal post. A two by two foot square in the top left corner of the goal served as a target for the subjects' free kicks. Standard three dimensional cinematography techniques were used to record the kinematics of selected kicks when opposed by a defensive wall. In addition, one video camera was used to obtain accuracy data on each player's kicks and another video camera, placed overhead, was used to obtain approach and foot pattern characteristics.