Skill change in elite-level kickers: Interdisciplinary considerations of an applied framework

This chapter presents a change in emphasis from solely addressing mechanical aspects of football movements, to understanding how the biomechanist can usefully support and act within an interdisciplinary coaching team to bring about effective refinement of closed and self-paced skills. It addresses team dynamics and the important underpinnings for successful co-operation across support practitioners. The chapter highlights the most significant contribution offered by the biomechanist, and presents measures for both assessing and tracking athlete progress. It focuses on role clarity and the team dynamic. It also presents an overview of the Five-A Model designed to facilitate the dual outcomes of long-term permanent and pressure proofed refinement. The chapter offers new suggestions on how a biomechanist can act most efficiently within an interdisciplinary team when implementing technical refinement.