EFFECT OF PROJECTION VARIABLES ON THROW DISTANCE AND FLIGHT TIME IN AN AMERICAN FOOTBALL THROW

Authors

Nicholas P. Linthorne
Alessandro-Sky N. Modebe

Category

Implement sports

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

In American football the ball is usually thrown to the receiver with near-maximum speed and a low angle so as to minimize the flight time. In this study a player performed maximum-effort throws using a wide range of projection angles. The throws were recorded by a video camera and a 2D biomechanical analysis was conducted to obtain mathematical expressions for the relationships between the projection variables. These expressions were then inserted into a model of the aerodynamic flight of an American football, and the throw distance and flight time were calculated. We that found the relationships between the projection variables had only a small effect on the projection angle and flight time for a pass to a receiver at a given distance. Players probably get the projection angle in a throw very nearly right through trial-and-error practice.

Recommended Citation

Linthorne, Nicholas P. and Modebe, Alessandro-Sky N. (2017) "EFFECT OF PROJECTION VARIABLES ON THROW DISTANCE AND FLIGHT TIME IN AN AMERICAN FOOTBALL THROW," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 35: Iss. 1, Article 52.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol35/iss1/52