Investigative Study: Movement Analysis SAMPLE M Background Research Biomechanics can simply be described as the physics of sports. Biomechanics is the study of human motion. (Miller, Biomechanical Analysis ) Biomechanics are the fundamentals that form our human physiology. Can be defined as the sport science field that applies the laws of mechanics and physics to human performance, in order to gain a greater understanding of performance in athletic events through modeling, simulation and measurement. ("Biomechanics and Physiology Of Sport, 2017) The skill I have chosen to analyse is a foul shot in basketball. This skill is used in game play when a foul is drawn on someone while shooting, and they will receive two shots at the white foul line. Aim and objective of the skill The aim and purpose of a free shot in basketball, is simply to score a goal. A player may receive one or two shots in game play and the aim is to shoot a goal through the hoop. There is no time limit with this skill, but there are rules applying to rebounding etc in game play. which is irrelevant to the skill at hand. The skill is often learnt in a closed environment to perfect the technique of the skill through repetition. Movement patterns The movement patterns of a basketball free throw include standing, and throwing/catching. Motor Skills- type of movement, movement precision and environmental predictability The three categories of Kinematics that can classify a skill include, type of movement, movement precision and the environmental predictability of the skill. The type of movement for a basketball foul shot is discrete as the skill has a distinct beginning and ending and is not repeated like in continuous motor skills. Movement precision is classified into either fine motor skills or gross motor skills. A basketball free throw uses gross motor skills meaning the majority of the body is involved using larger muscles along with the fine movements of the hands. The environmental predictability of the skill is classified as a closed skill. There aren t any external factors such as defense or time limits that apply to the skill, the skill is performed individually and the focus is on the skill and no other environmental factors making a basketball foul shot a closed skill.
Factors affecting Skill Acquisition The factors affecting the acquisition of the skill include physical characteristics such as height, which can have an effect on the projectile motion and force applied to the ball to go through the hoop. Previous experience through repetition can also have an effect on the acquisition of a basketball free throw. Newton s 3 Laws of Motion Newton s first law, also known as the force of Inertia, states that an object will remain at rest or in constant motion unless an unbalanced force acts upon it. With reference to the basketball shot, the ball will not stop moving in its flight path unless the hoops ring, the backboard or another external factor interfere with its path. Newton s second law states the equation that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration (F=ma) meaning the force applied to the ball is equal to the acceleration applied to the ball multiplied by the mass of the ball, the heavier the ball is the more force is required for the ball to move. Projectile Motion- factors affecting projectile motion Projectile motion can be described as An object propelled into the air or water by an external force. A projectile can be an object (such as a discus, football or arrow) or the human body performing gymnastic, water skiing or diving skills. (Amezdroz, pg 155) There are two natural forces that act on a projectile, whether it be an object or the body and they are air resistance and gravity. The factors affecting projectile motion include: Height and angle of release, it s often said that tall basketball players need to apply much less force to the ball as their height is closer vertically to the hoop compared to someone shorter. Meaning they only need to apply relevant force horizontally and a smaller force to the height of the ring. The anatomical positions used in a basketball free shot include flexion of the knees when bending, and flexion of the elbows and wrists when preparing to shoot. The follow through of the shot or final position extends both the knees and elbows. Subroutines and components There are a few components and subroutines that make up the skill of a free shot. These, in order include Placement of feet, shoulder width apart on the foul line, both feet square to the basket Knee flexion and back extension
Short dribble (starter mechanism) Place elbow shooting hand (dominant hand) underneath the ball in an L Shape Non dominant hand on the side of the ball to maintain balance and guide the balls direction In a flow movement, extend legs, back and arms, fingers force the ball through the air ("What Is The Most Effective Way To Shoot A Free Throw In Basketball?") Starter mechanisms- dribble before shooting Starter mechanisms are used to create a feel for the skill and set the performer up to do the skill better. A starter mechanism for a basketball foul shot is a short dribble before the shot, it helps the performer grab a feel for the ball. Many skills use some form of a starter mechanism. It is used by many basketball athletes before a foul shot as a dribble or individual bounce before the player sets up to take the shot. This starter mechanism helps prepare the player for the shot, grasping a feel for the ball, especially the positioning of their hands around the ball to produce accurate force to the ball. The process of a basketball free throw can be summarised as: A Starter Mechanism of a short dribble or singular bounce Back Swing- flexion of the knees with the ball at waist level The force producing movements, the movements of knee extension and elbow flexion, the ball placed in front of body, with the shooting hand directly behind the ball and the non dominant hand guiding the ball on side follow through, elbow now at full extension, wrist flexion hand at pronation Method: For the recording procedure a camera recorded the basketball free throw from four different angles, capturing a front view, back view and left and right side views of the skill being performed. This footage was transferred to Hudl where it could be played back in slow motion and produced angles and highlighting to analyse the skill.
Results: Fig 1.1 Fig 1.2
Fig 1.3 Fig 1.4
Fig 1.5 Discussion (interpretation of data and theory) Why are we analysing performances? Skill analysis is used in many sporting industries. It can be used by professional athletes, sport scientists, coaches or people studying their own personal skill acquisition, and many more. Through video analysis we are able to detect errors and analyse our sill acquisition to further improve our execution of the skill. We are able to find errors in our movements of our joints, projectile motion and the factors affecting it such as, angle of release, height of release, velocity of release and spin. We are also able to analyse our movements of our levers consisting of our bones in the forms of joints and our muscles, we are able to analyse the amount of speed and force applied through our use of these muscles in a basketball free shot. Muscles used in a basketball free shot Shoulders Every time the upper arm is raised, the shoulder muscles are being used. Therefore when shooting a basketball, the shoulder muscles on the shooting arm are being more contracted than the muscles on your non-shooting arm. This is because the the large bone in your upper arm, the humerus, is being elevated higher. The anatomical names for these muscles being used are trapezius and deltoids. The trapezius is located on the top of the collar bone, and the deltoids are at the top of the arm covering the shoulder joint. Forearm muscles When following through the shot, the hand goes downward and this activates wrist flexors.
Pectorals The pectoralis major and minor (Pectorals) are the muscles in the chest. The pec minor is located under the pec major, and is used when your shoulder shrugs forward. This is the movement you would see when your shooting arm is going forward. The pectoral muscles in the chest are used in basketball to propel the ball forward. They provide a force through the chest towards the arms to push the ball into the air. Legs In a basketball free throw the muscles in the legs; the Quadriceps, Hamstrings and Calves are all used to produce the force to throw the ball into the air. The force comes from the muscles in the legs. Knee flexion provides a lower centre of gravity and increases the base of support, which produces more force on the ball. Steps in biomechanical analysis Determine the objective of the skill: The objective of a basketball free throw is simply to shoot the ball into the hoop to score a goal. The aim and purpose of a free shot in basketball, is simply to score a goal. A player may receive one or two shots in game play and the aim is to shoot a goal through the hoop. There is no time limit with this skill, but there are rules applying to rebounding, etc. in game play. which is irrelevant to the skill at hand. The skill is often learnt in a closed environment to perfect the technique of the skill through repetition. Using observation techniques Naked eye Analysis According to Amezdroz et.al (2010, p 183) when observing a skill for the first time, they suggest that it should be observed at normal speed in real time. This demonstrates the skill as it is performed naturally in real time, making it easier to analyse the timing, coordination, sequencing and spatial characteristics of the environment the skill is performed in. Video/Computer analysis techniques Slow motion Skill sequence Analyzing the body s movement of its centre of gravity Analysing the stability and base of support To analyse the flow of the skill it is better done in real time, to observe the skill as a whole. When wanting to analyse a specific moment and point within the skill such as the release of the ball, this is better analysed through slow motion and pausing of the video in the analysis software to look at an instantaneous point of the skill. Detecting Errors Through video analysis errors were able to be detected in the acquisition of the basketball free throw. These errors can be summarized through recognition of them happening in the different subroutines and components of the basketball free throw.
Subroutine Placement of feet, shoulder width apart on the foul line, both feet square to the basket Biomechanical analysis Feet were generally placed facing forward, approximately shoulder width apart as shown in fig 1.1, however position of the feet in relation to the court varied and shots were not consistent as a result To improve this, a certain spot in relation to the court and lines or the backboard box can be used as an indication of where to stand each time Knee flexion and back extension Knee flexion, at an approximate angle of 87 degrees and back extension could be further improved by shoulders being rolled back as opposed to crouching forward Short dribble (starter mechanism) Short dribble of two bounces helps with the feel of the ball, a short dribble is not always necessary it is an option. Place elbow shooting hand (dominant hand) underneath the ball in an L Shape Fig 1.4 highlights a blue circle around the dominant right hand which is positioned directly underneath the ball Non dominant hand on the side of the ball to maintain balance and guide the balls direction In a flow movement, extend legs, back and arms, fingers force the ball through the air Fig 1.4 highlights a green circle around the non dominant hand which is positioned directly on the side of the ball to guide the movement and direction of the ball Movement flows, guiding hand can be improved by holding onto the ball until follow through to improve the direction of the balls path Snap wrist when releasing the ball, follow through producing spin on ball Follow through was evident as shown in fig 1.5, and produced spin which prevented the ball moving around when it hits the ring
Important Anatomical Positions Knee Flexion Back extension Hand extension and flexion Shoulder movements Hand extension-flexion (follow through with wrist producing spin) Conclusion: Biomechanics can be used to analyse motion in our sports. Through video analysis on computer software (Hudl) the skill technique and position of the body can be analysed for further improvement of the skill. Biomechanical analysis is used to critique, and identify areas for further improvement in sport. Through the video analysis, areas of improvement were found which included the positioning of the feet in relation to the court and the hoop and the guiding hand to release only when the ball is released. The analysis software was effective in that, it included slow motion viewing to help with detecting errors at an instant point in time. The theory of the anatomical positions and muscles were evident in the practical and the results were able to back up the knowledge of factors that affect the technique of the skill.
References: Rail, Kevin, and Kevin Rail. "Muscles Used In Shooting A Basketball". LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Apr. 2017. http://www.livestrong.com/article/84389-muscles-used-shooting-basketball/ Gels, Dr. "Basketball Free-Throw Shooting, Coach's Clipboard Basketball Coaching And Playbook". Coach's Clipboard Basketball Coaching. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Apr. 2017. http://www.coachesclipboard.net/freethrowshooting.html "Mechanics Of The Basketball Free Throw". N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Apr. 2017. https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/hlhpri/media/free_throw.pdf "Anatomical Analysis Of Free Throw Shot In Basketball". Bobdimplesc24.blogspot.com.au. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Apr. 2017. http://bobdimplesc24.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/anatomical-analysis-of-free-throw-shot.html "What Is The Most Effective Way To Shoot A Free Throw In Basketball?". jackkowalick. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Apr. 2017. https://jackkowalick.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/what-is-the-most-effective-way-to-shoot-a-freethrow-in-basketball/ Wirhed, Rolf. Athletic Ability And The Anatomy of Motion. 1st ed. Edinburgh ; Toronto: Mosby Elsevier, 2006. Print. Amezdroz, G., Dickens, S., Hosford, G., Stewart, T. and Davis, D. (2010). Queensland senior physical education. 3rd ed. South Yarra, Vic.: Macmillan Education. "Biomechanics And Physiology Of Sport". Topend Sport. N.p., 2017. Web. 20 Mar. 2017. Anatomical Analysis Of Free Throw Shot In Basketball". Bobdimplesc24.blogspot.com.au. N.p., 2017. Web. 21 Mar. 2017. "Anatomical Analysis Of Free Throw Shot In Basketball". Bobdimplesc24.blogspot.com.au. N.p., 2017. Web. 21 Mar. 2017.
"The Biomechanics Of A Basketball Free Throw". prezi.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Apr. 2017. https://prezi.com/pu0sdxjuh1er/the-biomechanics-of-a-basketball-free-throw/ Amezdroz, Glenn et al. Queensland Senior Physical Education. 1st ed. South Yarra, Vic.: Macmillan Education, 2010. Print.