How Basketball is Affected by Biomechanics

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How Basketball is affected by Biomechanics
According to the oxford dictionary Biomechanics refers to “the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms”, while McGinnis (2005) defines biomechanics in exercise as the study of forces and the effects of these forces on humans in exercise and sport competition. The objective of this essay is to examine how an in depth knowledge of the biomechanical principles that exist in basketball can be utilised to enhance an athlete’s performance and prepare them for competition in elite basketball. McGinnis (2005), in the objectives and applications of biomechanics in exercise and sport included the following; technique, equipment and training improvements to enhance performance as well as technique modification and equipment redesign to prevent and rehabilitate injury. In the following essay the validity of those techniques in basketball as well as various sectors of biomechanics and how they can have an effect different stages of the sport will be examined. Also, several aspects of a typical basketball player’s dynamic will be assessed. Basketball consists of two phases; Offense and Defense. Each of these phases are made up of several components, i.e. defensively in basketball you are required to take charges, slide laterally in a crouched position, jump to block the ball and to catch a rebound, dive on a loose ball and sprint to position to help out other defenders. Each of these movements or counterparts of defensive basketball can be biomechanically analyzed. This is important, as improvements to technique of these actions or movements, as stated earlier can result in enhanced and optimum performance (Bartlett, 1999). Also, in this essay, the effect...

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.... In order for an athlete to contain the offensive opposition, they must remain between the player and the basket at all times. This task’s difficulty depends on the level of offensive ability of the opposing player. Defending is especially difficult when guarding the ball handler who will be dribbling from side to side frequently, spinning, crossing over and doubling back. To remain on basket side, lateral agility is vital. According to Shimokochi, et al (2013), a low body centre of mass and fast hip extension motions to kick the ground are vital for improved lateral acceleration-deceleration movements. This information can also be applied to dribbling drills as the stance and movements are quite similar. Training drills could be implemented to improve technique and to enhance the teams ability to perform on defense.
Effect of Elastic forces and Stability/Balance

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