Influence of Instruction on Velocity and Accuracy in Soccer Kicking of Experienced Soccer Players

Abstract

The authors' aim was to investigate the speed-accuracy tradeoff in soccer kicking with the dominant and nondominant foot by using different types of instructions prioritizing speed or accuracy in experienced soccer players. Ten male soccer players were randomly given 1 of the 4 instructions that differed in aspects of the kick they should emphasize and what the secondary aim would be (speed or accuracy). It was found that ball velocity was affected by instruction in the expected way: emphasis on accuracy and ball velocity reduced for both kicking feet. In addition kicking accuracy increased when emphasizing this, but only with the dominant foot indicating that Fitts' law only was found in kicks with the dominant foot.

Velocidade da bola no chute no futsal: comparação entre garotos com diferentes níveis de desempenho e correlação de variáveis preditoras do desempenho

“…Os participantes foram orientados por uma instrução verbal idêntica para todos participantes, que foi: "chutem com o dorso do pé com a máxima força no alvo" 1,28 . Entre cada tentativa o participante teve liberdade de decidir o tempo de descanso e se o mesmo era necessário.…”

Effect of hamstring injuries on kicking in football = Efecto de las lesiones de los isquiotibiales en el golpeo del fútbol

“…Maximal kicking linear velocities for the ball, toe, ankle and knee in the present research showed substantial inter-limb differences in the previously uninjured limb for males and females, a finding concurrent to previously reported research (Barbieri et al, 2015;Nunome, Ikegami, et al, 2006;Sinclair et al, 2014;van den Tillaar & Ulvik, 2014). This difference was not found in previously injured limbs for males or females.…”

“…Previous research has shown the differences between the dominant and non-dominant limbs across either sex (Barbieri et al, 2015;Nunome, Ikegami, et al, 2006;Sinclair et al, 2014;van den Tillaar & Ulvik, 2014). However, this analysis shows that the difference tends to manifest itself in the uninjured limb.…”

“…In terms of females, a greater number of participants (26), a higher skill level of soccer players (Katis et al, 2015;Kellis & Katis, 2007;Nunome, Ikegami, et al, 2006) and the familiarity of the environment (artificial turf which best mimics the settings in which they train and play) could explain greater linear ball velocities in the present research. It is important to note that in this investigation, the players kicked the ball under instructions of accuracy (van den Tillaar & Ulvik, 2014), and a median of 5 kicks had been selected (not the kick with the highest velocity) in order to best represent the regular kick of the participants.…”

“…Therefore, the preparation of soccer players should develop a left-right symmetry in shooting (Starosta, 1988). Differences on the kicking technique between the dominant and non-dominant limb produce a greater ball speed when kicking with the dominant limb (Barfield et al, 2002;Dorge et al, 2002;Kellis & Katis, 2007;Nunome, Ikegami, et al, 2006;Sinclair et al, 2014;van den Tillaar & Ulvik, 2014). The differences were explained based on better inter-segmental coordination (Barbieri et al, 2015;Dorge et al, 2002;Nunome, Ikegami, et al, 2006;Sinclair et al, 2014) and greater moments (Nunome, Ikegami, et al, 2006) produced while kicking with the dominant limb.…”