Effect of speed or accuracy focus on kinematics and kicking performance in soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to investigate what the effect is of prioritizing kicking velocity or accuracy upon kinematics and kicking performance in soccer. 13 male soccer players performed penalty-kicks with prioritising velocity or accuracy. 3D kinematics, together with maximal ball velocity and hitting accuracy, were measured on all kicks. The main findings were that when the main aim was accuracy, accuracy increased, while the velocity reduced, and vice versa, which supports Fitts’s law. In addition, kicking accuracy was higher when kicking to the contralateral side. The slower ball velocity was caused by lower maximal knee extension and pelvis rotation and in run velocities during the accuracy priority kicks.