Date of Award
5-2024
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Exercise Science: M.S.
Department
Kinesiology
College
School of Health and Human Services
First Advisor
Kyle Reason
Second Advisor
Lori Ulferts
Third Advisor
Jessica Hartmann
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Free throw, women's basketball, joint angles, biomechanics
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to analyze the free throw shooting form of NCAA Division II women’s basketball collegiate athletes. Joint angles of the wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle were assessed in the sagittal plane to identify differences between proficient (³ 80%) and non-proficient (< 80%) shooters, along with differences between made and missed free throw shots. Fourteen healthy athletes (19.9 ± 1.5 yrs.) completed four sessions of 25 free throw attempts for a total of 100 attempts per athlete and video data on each of the six joint angles was examined in both the preparation and follow-through phases. Proficient (³ 80%) free throw shooters had more hip flexion, along with less wrist extension, elbow flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion than non-proficient (< 80%) shooters in the preparation phase. Proficient shooters also have more hip extension, and less wrist flexion, elbow extension, knee extension, and plantarflexion than non-proficient shooters in the follow-through phase. Greater shoulder extension at the preparation phase was found to be significant (p £ 0.014), and less knee extension at the follow-through phase approached significance (p £ 0.064) between made and missed free throw shots in this population. Results from this study have potential to be applied to coaching cues and form correction at the free throw line in basketball athletes.
Recommended Citation
Peplinski, Matelyn, "Optimal Joint Angles of a Free Throw Shot in NCAA Division II Women's Collegiate Basketball Players" (2024). Culminating Projects in Kinesiology. 26.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/pess_etds/26
Comments/Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my chairperson, Dr. Kyle Reason, for his guidance throughout this entire process. Completing this thesis was met with its challenges, but Dr. Reason was there to answer any questions or clarify any confusion I had. His passion for education and dedication to his students is second to none. Dr. Reason gave me the courage to learn and grow through this process, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with him.
I also want to thank Dr. Lori Ulferts for her knowledge of the thesis process and women’s basketball. Dr. Ulferts was a great resource to use, as she was able to help guide me to understand the practicality of this topic for coaches and athletes alike. Her experience in athletics and kinesiology has added immense value to my work.
I would also like to thank Jessica Hartmann for her expertise in athletics and women’s basketball. As a former player and current coach at St. Cloud State, Jessica added insight to the data collection process. Jessica is an incredible mentor and provided me with productive feedback on my work.
Finally, I would like to take the time to thank the St. Cloud State women’s basketball team members and coaches for allowing me to work with them. Because of their cooperation and excitement for this study, valuable information was found and can be applied directly to the future success of their program. Without their participation, this process would not be possible.