EFFECT OF SHOE MASS ON SOCCER KICKING VELOCITY

The aims of this study were to establish whether soccer boots mass has an effect on ball velocity in maximal instep soccer kicks. Ten male semi-professional soccer players participated in the study, performing several maximal instep kicks in three different boot weight conditions. Kinematic variables such as joint angles, joint angular and linear velocities and ball-to-foot linear velocity ratio were collected at 200 Hz in Peak Motus and processed in Visual 3D. The increase in boot mass mainly affected the knee and hip joints. Slower speeds of the centre of gravity of the kicking foot were recorded with heavier boots, however no significant differences in ball speed were found. It was concluded that the increase in mass must has acted as a compensating mechanism, transferring energy more effectively during impact, despite the slower speed of the foot