ABSTRACT
This chapter estimates the effectiveness of a Technique Refinement Intervention designed to produce pronounced extension of the support leg knee and vertical displacement of the kicking hip joint during the kicking stride. It highlights the dynamic interaction between support and kicking legs during the maximal instep kick. Greater active contraction and extension of the support leg musculature during the kicking stride may facilitate power flow across the pelvis and passive acceleration of the lower leg to maximize foot linear and angular velocities at ball impact. The intervention aimed to produce pronounced extension of the support leg knee and hip and vertical displacement of the pelvis and hips during the kicking stride. Kicking performance was enhanced following the Technique Refinement Intervention since peak ball velocities and kicking knee angular extension velocities at ball contact were significantly faster during the INT condition.
