Determination and kinematic assessment of the preferred free kick in soccer

Abstract

The technique of the Preferential Free Kick (PFK) in soccer and improving its performance are constantly studied by researchers in the field, as well as coaches and even the athletes themselves, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of these PFKs and converting them into goals. There are many variables that can influence the development of this technique, including neurophysiological aspects such as coordination and motor control, muscular aspects such as strength and power, and biomechanical aspects such as joint angles and motor momentum, among others.

The technique of the Preferential Free Kick (PFK) in soccer and improving its performance are constantly studied by researchers in the field, as well as coaches and even the athletes themselves, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of these PFKs and converting them into goals. There are many variables that can influence the development of this technique, including neurophysiological aspects such as coordination and motor control, muscular aspects such as strength and power, and biomechanical aspects such as joint angles and motor momentum, among others.

This research aims to identify the movement phases of the TLP in soccer in a select group of athletes from the soccer team of the University of Pamplona in the city of Pamplona, Colombia, with the aim of establishing kinematic parameters for these TLP shots. Initially, a general review of the state of research on kicking or impact in soccer is proposed, from which an evaluation protocol based on kinematic analysis is adapted. The Methodology for the Evaluation of the Dynamic Athlete (DD), developed by Acero 2002, establishes two stages: (1) a qualitative analysis of the movement by phases and (2) a quantitative analysis of these movement phases. Each player must take 10 TLP shots according to their dominance, at a distance of 25 meters from the goal, with an angle of 35º from the center of the goal to the ball and a barrier of four bodies with a height of 1.85 meters. The TLPs were filmed by two high-speed cameras and transferred to SC.PRO v.5 biomechanical software for two-dimensional (2D and 3D) biomechanical analysis by the Institute of Biomechanical Research & Solutions in Cali, Colombia, comparing effective and ineffective TLP movements and subsequently determining the phases of movement.