KINEMATICS OF LOW, MIDDLE AND HIGH VOLLEY KICKING IN SOCCER

Abstract

The present aimed to clarify the three dimensional kinematics of soccer volley kicking, and to demonstrate how players change their motion to balls in varied heights. Fifteen experienced male university soccer players were participated. To mimic the situation of the volley kicking, the ball was set on paper pipes with different heights (25 cm, 50 cm and 75 cm). Thought a comparison with normal instep kicking, the volley kicking motion was characterized: 1) significantly smaller knee joint angle, 2) significantly larger hip joint axial rotation, 3) significantly larger trunk lean angle and 4) significantly larger pelvis horizontal rotation. These motions were emphasized systematically with the increase of ball heights. It can be interpreted that these characteristic motions enable players to adjust their volley kicking motion to varied ball heights.