3. How else can we use this information?

All of the biomechanical principles that have been explained in this blog can be used and applied to many other sports such as basketball, soccer, European handball, touch football, rugby, football, and volleyball to improve performance. It is important for coaches, teachers and players to understand the biomechanical techniques used to perform the task correctly, through analysing human movement patterns, to reduce the risk of injury and to optimise the performers technique (Bartlett, 2007).

Principles such as tactical awareness can be applied to many team sports such as basketball, soccer, rugby and volleyball. For instance, when playing a game of soccer, tactical movement and reading the play, is used during a game when defending the opposition team. The player must be aware of their opponent’s movements on and off the ball, as well as the players around them. Mechanical energy is a vital principle during a game of soccer, as the defenders need to stay in their positions on their toes, and observe the game by anticipating where the ball will travel (potential energy), however, have the potential to move towards the ball or opposition, this movement is known as kinetic energy (Blazevich, 2014). When kicking in soccer or throwing in basketball, the Magnus effect plays a huge role in where the ball travels and at what speed. The Magnus effect describes the spin on the ball, as a soccer ball is kicked, the Magnus effect occurs when the acceleration on the front of the ball is greater then the acceleration on the back, therefore, causing the ball to curve while in the air (Blazevich, 2014).

Through understanding the principle of acceleration, coaches and teachers can apply the principle to a number of other sports, including, baseball, cricket, soccer, tennis and football. In a game of cricket the batter will move from stump to stump to complete a run. After hitting the ball the batter will accelerate leaning forward, the batters centre of gravity will move outside their base of support, therefore, causing a forward rotation of their body.

Newton’s three laws of motion can also be applied to many other sports such as, basketball, badminton, volleyball, and European handball. In a game of football, when taking a mark, the player will use all three of Newton’s laws to execute the mark. The player will apply a vertical and horizontal force to the ground, which will then create an equal, and opposite reaction with the earth (ground) (Blazevich, 2014) to accelerate the player in an upward direction. In order for the player to jump higher, the player will need to apply a greater force to the ground. When making contact with the ball, the player is using Newton’s first law of inertia, the ball will be in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force, in this case will be the player marking the ball (Blazevich, 2014).