Introduction to Sports Biomechanics: Analysing Human Movement ...

INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
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more than 1000 words, the main features of the movement that you would use in
a qualitative analysis of your chosen performer. From Appendix 2.1 (pages 76–8),
identify the universal and partially general movement principles that are most, and
those that are least, applicable to your chosen activity; include also two activityspecific
movement principles.
Hint: You are advised to reread the long jump model above (pages 62–71), read
carefully the sources of information you use, and pay careful attention to the points
in Appendix 2.1 and Boxes 2.3 and 2.4.
6 Use a deterministic model to identify about six observable critical features for
performance of your chosen activity. You will need to develop fully, and represent
diagrammatically, levels 1 and 2 of the model, but you should not need to follow
every branch down further levels (as we did in the long jump example); you should
focus on developing the boxes in level 2 that most affect performance.
Hint: You are advised to reread the subsection on the long jump model above
(pages 62–71) and, when developing your deterministic model, to pay careful attention
to the relevant principles that you have identified as relating to your chosen
activity in Study task 5.
7 Devise a systematic observation strategy for your chosen activity, including
recording location, number of cameras, their positions, any auxiliary lighting,
camera shutter speed, performer preparation, and the required number of trials.
Set out an instruction sheet for conducting an initial pilot study. Outline, briefly,
how you might ensure validity, reliability and objectivity while minimising observer
bias.
Hint: Before undertaking this task, you may wish to reread the section ‘Observation
stage – observing reliably’ (pages 51–4) and, if necessary, read Chapter 5 in Knudson
and Morrison (2002; see Further Reading, page 76).
8 Decide which approach, from the five outlined in the section on ‘Evaluation and
diagnosis stage – analysing what’s right and wrong in a movement’ (pages 54–6) you
would use to prioritise, for intervention, three from your set of critical features from
Study task 6. Explain why these three were chosen, and their order, and outline
briefly how you would provide performance-improving feedback for each of these
three critical features, including verbal cues.
Hint: Before undertaking this task, you are advised to reread the section on ‘Evaluation
and diagnosis stage – analysing what’s right and wrong in a movement’ (pages
54–6). You may also wish to read Chapters 6 and 7 in Knudson and Morrison
(2002; see Further Reading, page 76). You might also find that the feedbackoriented
chapters (1 to 3) in Hughes and Franks (2004; see Further Reading, page
76) contain useful information].
You should also answer the multiple choice questions for Chapter 2 on the book’s
website.