Comparative Analysis of Instep Kicking Motion between Skilled Players and Beginners

Abstract

For the quantitative evaluation of soccer skills, a camera system that allows 3-D motion analysis has been used to date. In the quantitative analysis of kick motions, the movements of lower extremities are evaluated. In order to understand the kick motion in detail, it is necessary to evaluate not only the movements of the lower extremities but also those of the lumbar region. The aim of this study is to evaluate the difference in the movements of the lumbar region with respect to the instep kick motion between skilled players and beginners. The measurements of kick motion were obtained using a state-of-the-art motion capture system. The comparison revealed that the movements of the lumbar region play a role in the sharp movement of the thorax, transfer of energy from the lumbar region to the lower extremities, and posture stability.