Medical Research

Scientific evidence suggests that the Dave Alred way is the best...

Kicking the Dave Alred way = MORE POWER, MORE ACCURACY, LESS INJURY!

The result of the research into the Dave Alred Coaching System concluded there was

• a reduction in adductor muscle activity, (which decreases injury risk).
• an increase in ball speed.
• an improvement in accuracy (increase in 18.45%).

Research Findings

Research into the effects of Dave Alred’s C- Shape© and J-Shape© Kicking.

A biomechanical, functional and physiological investigation into two types of kicking of a soccer ball was completed at the Centre of Scientific and Cultural Research in Sport, School of Human and Life Sciences at Roehampton University in 2006 as part of MSc Sports Medicine by J. E. Hawkes.

These findings were produced as a result of two coaching interventions with a group of elite soccer players, who predominately exhibited a C- Shape© swing path, and who, as a result, moved towards more of a J-Shape© swing path.

The tests and coaching sessions were conducted at Loughborough University in February 2006. The specific areas were analysed:

1. muscle activity on both the kicking leg and plant legX pre and post intervention
2. ball speeds from kicks pre and post intervention
3. testing shooting accuracy pre and post intervention

Results

1. PHYSICAL ANALYSIS

Kicking Leg

• 80% of subjects showed an increase in medial quads activity which is involved in knee extension and knee stabilisation.

The amount of medial quads activity is often used as an indicator of the level of skill of the player, more skilful players have the ability to increase their rate of activity which impacts directly on producing increased foot speed.

• 60% of subjects showed a decrease in adductor (groin) activity
• 70% of subjects showed a decrease in hamstring activity

This is consistent with DA’s hypothesis that an action that is more J-Shape© is more efficient in terms of power generation and decreases both adduction and hamstring activity, which are potential sources of injury in the kicking leg.

Plant Leg

• 70% of subjects showed a decrease in adductor activity (groin)

This is consistent with DA’s hypothesis that an action that is more J-Shape© has a decrease on adduction action in the plant leg, which is a potential source of injury.

2 & 3. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

Power

These results are important, especially as there are decreases in muscle activity.
80% of subjects had an increase in ball speed in post intervention kicks when compared with their pre intervention (coaching sessions) kicks.
Therefore it confirms the trend will be that J shape© kicks are more powerful than C shape© kicks with less muscle activity.

Accuracy

J shape© kicks are more accurate than C shape© kicks as demonstrated by the following kick distributions during the accuracy study.

C shape© distribution on target
6 8 14 22 13 6 10

J shape© distribution on target
2 1 19 26 16 10 4

Of the 79 shots recorded, the total number of shots hitting the target and one deviation either side were: Pre intervention 62.03%; Post intervention 78.48%. This shows an increase in accuracy of 18.45%.

Summary

When players develop their kicking technique from a predominately C-Shape© swing path to more of a J-Shape© swing path there is a reduction in adductor, quads and hamstring activity which decreases the likelihood of injury. There is an increase in speed and accuracy is improved (increase in 18.45%).