How Biomechanics Influenced FootballBiomechanics is the application of mechanical principles in the study of living organisms. (J. Hall, 1991, p. 524). For the purposes of this essay, I will focus on how biomechanics has influenced football. Football is a global sport played from the elite level all the way down to kids playing in the school playground just for fun. Football is a popular sport in most countries, but it is just considered a sport for most people, they do not focus on the real biomechanics related to it. Biomechanics plays an important role from the goalkeeper to the attackers. Throughout this essay, I will focus on biomechanical factors related to the skills involved in the game, the equipment used in football, the surfaces played on, and sports-related injuries. In KickIn football, the main action involved is the kicking of the ball. I have researched many journal articles, books, etc., but the main focus seems to be on the instep kick. According to Wickstrom (1975), the mature kicking movement involves four main stages: (1) The withdrawal of the thigh and shank during the backswing (2) The forward rotation of the thigh and shank, which produced following a hip movement. flexion(3) As the angular velocity of the thigh decreases, there is a corresponding increase in the angular velocity of the shaft until impact with the ball(4) Follow-through. The graphs in Fig. 3 can be interpreted in relation to the progression of flexion. kicking skill suggested by Wickstom (1975). During stage 2, the shank and thigh increase their angular velocity. At stage 3, just before impact, there is an increase in the angular velocity of the upper and a decrease in the angular velocity of the thigh. High angular velocity of the rod...... middle of paper ...... and sports injuries. London: Sports Council. Surve, I., Schwellnus, M.P., Noakes, T. and Lombard, C. (1994). A five-fold reduction in the incidence of recurrent ankle sprains in football players using the sports stirrup orthosis. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 22, 601 ± 606. Valiant, G. A. (1988). Ground reaction forces developed on artificial turf. In Science and Football (edited by T. Reilly, A. Lees, K. Davids and WJ Murphy), pp. 406-415. London: E & FN SponWickstrom, R.L. (1975). Developmental kinesiology. Exercise and Sports Science Reviews, 3, 163-192. Winterbottom, Sir W. (1985). Artificial turf surfaces for association football - Report and recommendations. London: Sports CouncilZernicke, R. and Roberts, E.M. (1978). Lower extremity forces and torques during systematic variation of movement without weight bearing. Medicine and science in sport, 10, 21±26.