Foot-to-ball interaction in preferred and non-preferred leg Australian Rules kicking

Kicking is an integral skill within Australian Rules Football (ARF) and the ability to kick with either foot is essential at the elite level. A principal technical factor in the kicking skill is the nature of impact between the kicking foot and ball (Ball, 2008a). This study compared characteristics of foot-to-ball interaction between preferred and non-preferred kicking legs in Australian Rules football (ARF). Eighteen elite ARF players performed a maximum distance kick on their preferred and non-preferred legs. From high-speed video (6000Hz), two-dimensional digitised data of seven points (five on the kick leg, two on the ball) were used to quantify parameters near and during impact. The preferred foot produced significantly larger foot speed, ball speed, work done on the ball, ball displacement while in contact with the foot and change in shank angle during the ball contact phase.