Physiology and development The kick skill in soccer lasts only for not longer than 5 seconds depending on the approach length. The distance and the speed of the ball can determine the kick intensity. Pure anaerobic system is used to produce the energy which is needed to perform the kick.(1) The elite player performs consistent biomechanical movements, where inconsistency of the movement pattern is present in novice.(13) Therefore, they elite player consumes the optimal required energy for the action.
Components of the kick To analyze the kicking activity in details, we can break the kick action into six stages: the approach, plant-foot forces, swing-limb loading, hip flexion and knee extension, foot contact, and …show more content…
The player eyes focus on the ball; the opposite arm is raised and directed toward the kicking direction.(15) The kicking leg moves backward with hip extension. The hip starts slowly to be externally rotated and adducted. This hip action contributes in the early stage of force production of ball kicking.
4. Hip flexion and knee extension In this stage, the hip is flexed to produce the swing downward and forward to lower and rotate the kicking leg and foot. The thigh movement becomes slow and the leg and foot become accelerated due to the effect of the transfer of momentum and the release of the elastic stored energy of the hip extensors. The knee extensors are powerfully contract to swing the leg and foot forward toward the ball. When the kicking ball passes the ball, the knee is fully extended and the foot is forcedly planter-flexed. The hamstring is maximally active eccentrically to slow the leg (this is called soccer paradox).(18) In some studies, it was shown that the skilled players generate high kicking force which less quadriceps activity when measured by EMG, where it was higher muscle activity is unskilled player.(19) This support the idea of utilizing the advantage of the biomechanical control of the motor system by the elite player during