Application of Biomechanical Analysis in another Sport

The biomechanical findings presented within the blog include a smooth shot sequence, angle of knee flexion, height of ball release, projectile angle of release, ball velocity and magnus force, which all influence the projectile path of the ball, ultimately effecting a player's shooting accuracy.  Such biomechanical findings can certainly be applied to other sports, one in which being netball. Shooting a netball and a basketball involves similar fundamental principles, however; due to variations in equipment, rules and techniques, there are biomechanical differences.  

Within netball, the shooting area is a lot smaller, which means the maximum shooting distance is a lot shorter compared to basketball. The reduced shooting distance equates to less force needing to be applied to the ball. Image 1 demonstrates the various phases of a netball shot in comparison to basketball. During the force production phase, the decreased angle of knee flexion and reduced shooting space results in less force ground reaction force needed to generate the necessary power and vertical velocity to achieve optimal shot projectile. In comparison to a jump shot, if a netballer were to apply more ground reaction force during their shot, it could lead to increased error, which provides reason for why netballer's do not jump in the release phase.  

 

Image 1: Comparison of a netball and basketball player’s technique, highlighting the reduced production of force required in comparison to a basketball shot. 

 

 

 

 

While some of the technical elements of shooting are similar, the requirements for achieving good shooting accuracy differ. Miller (1996) highlighted that “the diameter of a basketball ring is at least 80% greater than that of the ball, whereas that of the netball ring is only 65% larger than the ball.” This indicates that when shooting from the same distance, greater shooting accuracy is required in netball rather than basketball. Regardless of the distance, there are various biomechanical elements that evidently impact one's accuracy, some of which include the speed and angle of release as well as the ball’s angle of entry into the ring (Hay, 1985). Basketball and netball require a steep angle of release to ensure a higher parabolic trajectory which allows for a greater entry angle into the hoop and increased room for error. From a coaching perspective, the fundamental shooting principles of basketball and netball can certainly be transferred, however; when the biomechanical principles are applied comparably to both sports, it should be noted that netball requires greater refinement of technique to achieve good shot accuracy.