Meeting Abstract

115.2  Monday, Jan. 7  Can we improve a footballer’s kicking performance using optimisation theory? HUNTER, A*; WILSON, R S; The University of Queensland; The University of Queensland r.wilson@uq.edu.au

How much effort should an individual use when executing a physical task? And how much effort should one use if a physical task or skill relies on both accuracy and power? In this study, we explored the idea that individual animals possess the capacity to optimise their effort when performing a physical task and their effort is individual-specific. To achieve this, we used soccer players shooting a football at a goal as our model study system as this task simultaneously requires both power and accuracy; such that, the shooter needs to accurately kick the ball towards the corner of the goal and fast enough to beat the goalkeeper. However, when more effort is put into striking the ball harder it is likely to lead to a compromise in accuracy. Players of different skill level/experience were directed to kick balls at a target using different levels of effort. We used 3D-motion digital video cameras to record foot velocity at 100 Hz during each kick, which was utilised as our index of kicking effort. Based on these data, we could then determine each individual’s trade-off between accuracy and power so that we could calculate their optimal kicking effort for a given distance from the goal. All individuals also completed a game relevant task in which they were asked to kick the ball using a level of effort of their choice – with the aim to successfully hit the target and beat the goalkeeper. We then tested whether individuals accurately optimised their kicking effort by comparing their predicted optimum effort with their self-selected effort. We will discuss our results in the context of optimal performance theory and the application of these techniques for studying human performance and evolution.