Kinematic effects of a short-term fatigue protocol on punt-kicking performance

Abstract

The punt kick is a fundamental skill used in several team sports; however, there has been a lack of research on how fatigue affects its technique. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of short-term fatigue on punt-kicking performance. Eight elite and sub-elite Australian Football players performed maximal drop punt kicks on their preferred leg prior to, during and after a match-specific fatigue protocol. Optotrak Certus collected kinematic data from kick foot toe-off until ball contact. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant increase in 20 m sprint times after each short-term protocol, indicating fatigue. Foot speed did not significantly change with fatigue; however, increases in the range of motion at the pelvis and kicking thigh, along with increases in kicking thigh angular velocity, occurred. For the support leg, maximum knee flexion angular velocity increased while there was greater flexion found at the knee and hip, and greater range of motion at the knee. Players are able to make kinematic adaptations in order to maintain foot speed while punting for maximal distance after short-term efforts.

Relationship Between Repeated Kicking Performance and Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Elite Junior Australian Football

“…This increased physiological output during game-play may be explained by superior experience and physical fitness, with Lyons et al (13) demonstrating that physiologically superior elite soccer players were better at preserving technical and perceptual skills throughout the game, relative to their less physically able counterparts. The negative effect of central fatigue on AF maximal kicking distance kinematics (9), as well as kicking accuracy (28) supports the evidence found with soccer players (13). However, the use of field-based and functional kicking (speed and accuracy) tests in AF along with a comparison to kicking efficiency during competition, would have implications for both game and physical demands.…”

“…The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maximal aerobic fitness on kicking performance in elite junior AF, with results linked to actual game-play. Previous laboratorybased investigations have reported that cumulative loading of maximal aerobic capacity modifies the kicking kinematics, kicking accuracy, and number of disposals for AF players (9,15,28). Thus, based on this previous work, it was hypothesised that maximal aerobic capacity would impact both kicking performance and competition kicking efficiency.…”

“…Notably, Young et al (28) reported that elite midfield players were able to maintain a higher kicking accuracy than sub-elite players and non-nomadic position players (forwards and defenders) when kicking to a target on a projected screen either side of a 2x 2 min time trial. Coventry et al (9) reported that elite and sub-elite players modify their kicking kinematics to maintain foot speed, during incremented fatigue. However, despite offering insights into fatigue and its impact on kicking performance in AF, neither study examined the relationship between maximal aerobic capacity (as ascertained via the yo-yo IR2) and kicking performance measures.…”

Validity of an ultra-wideband local positioning system to measure locomotion in indoor sports

“…These include one or more automated algorithms, spectral analyses, visual inspection of time series data, the effect on parameter values using different cut-offs and previous literature (Coventry, Ball, Parrington, Aughey, & McKenna, 2015;Parrington, Ball, & MacMahon, 2014;Peacock, Ball, & Taylor, 2017). Based on these decisions, as well as considerations around the sample rate for Clearsky, 8 Hz smoothing was chosen for the original smoothing procedure.…”

Fatigue, complexity and technical execution in cheerleading

“…This study did not specifically look at deviation in technique just deterioration. A study analysing punt kicking technique after fatigue also found deviation in technique but not deterioration (Coventry, Ball, Parrington, Aughey & McKenna, 2015). A further explanation is that elite level athletes have a much higher resistance to fatigue effects (Spencer, 2016).…”