COORDINATION CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH PRACTICE OF A SOCCER KICK

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in coordination a ssociated with practice of a soccer kick. Video records were collected on 6 novice, right-footed soccer players prior to and after 2 0 regul arly scheduled kicking practice sessions. Three experienced players we re also videotaped for comparison. Movement of the right leg was digit ized and analyzed using motion analysis software. As a result of pract ice, subjects were able to significantly increase the maximum resultan t linear velocity of the foot, and these increases were accompanied by changes in the pattern of coordination underlying the movement. These changes were assessed qualitatively through the topological character istics of the relative motions of the hip and knee and quantitatively through three different timing variables. The results provide some sup port for Bernstein's (1967) ideas on the acquisition of skilled behavi or as well as for the two-stage model of motor learning proposed by Ne well (1985).