High ball velocity in American football placekicking (PK) enhances the opportunity to score during competition. Insight into self-selected (SS) approach angle and whether an optimal angle exists for maximal ball velocity may improve performance. Methods: Three selected approach angles (30°, 45°, 60°) and a SS approach angle were assessed to analyze kicking velocity among 11 intercollegiate male kickers. Descriptive statistics analyzed SS angles, and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA with the significance level set a p < .05 compared maximal ball velocity between angles. Results: Mean SS angle was 37.25° ± 3.67, and the SS and 45° approach produced the highest maximal ball velocities; however, no approach angle (SS, 30°, 45°, 60°) differed significantly F(3, 30) = 1.869, p < .156. Conclusions: Approach angle did not significantly affect maximal ball velocity. However, future studies are needed with larger sample sizes and diverse placekicking populations who are participating in American football.
","abstract_html":"<p>High ball velocity in American football placekicking (PK) enhances the opportunity to score during competition. Insight into self-selected (SS) approach angle and whether an optimal angle exists for maximal ball velocity may improve performance. Methods: Three selected approach angles (30°, 45°, 60°) and a SS approach angle were assessed to analyze kicking velocity among 11 intercollegiate male kickers. Descriptive statistics analyzed SS angles, and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA with the significance level set a <em>p</em> < .05 compared maximal ball velocity between angles. Results: Mean SS angle was 37.25° ± 3.67, and the SS and 45° approach produced the highest maximal ball velocities; however, no approach angle (SS, 30°, 45°, 60°) differed significantly <em>F</em>(3, 30) = 1.869, <em>p</em> < .156. Conclusions: Approach angle did not significantly affect maximal ball velocity. However, future studies are needed with larger sample sizes and diverse placekicking populations who are participating in American football.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Lopata, Kristoph C."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Health Promotion and Human Performance","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Anthony Moreno, PhD","Andrew Cornett, PhD","Rebecca Moore, PhD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:47Z","subjects":["Angle","Approach","Football","Instep","Kick","Placekick","Kinesiology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1175","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Anthony Moreno, PhD","Andrew Cornett, PhD","Rebecca Moore, PhD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Lopata, Kristoph C."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2023-02-01T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health Promotion and Human Performance"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Angle","Approach","Football","Instep","Kick","Placekick","Kinesiology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1175"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["High ball velocity in American football placekicking (PK) enhances the opportunity to score during competition. Insight into self-selected (SS) approach angle and whether an optimal angle exists for maximal ball velocity may improve performance. Methods: Three selected approach angles (30°, 45°, 60°) and a SS approach angle were assessed to analyze kicking velocity among 11 intercollegiate male kickers. Descriptive statistics analyzed SS angles, and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA with the significance level set a p < .05 compared maximal ball velocity between angles. Results: Mean SS angle was 37.25° ± 3.67, and the SS and 45° approach produced the highest maximal ball velocities; however, no approach angle (SS, 30°, 45°, 60°) differed significantly F(3, 30) = 1.869, p < .156. Conclusions: Approach angle did not significantly affect maximal ball velocity. However, future studies are needed with larger sample sizes and diverse placekicking populations who are participating in American football.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Influence of approach angle on ball velocity during the American football instep placekick"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Anthony Moreno, PhD","Andrew Cornett, PhD","Rebecca Moore, PhD"],"dc:creator":["Lopata, Kristoph C."],"dc:date.available":["2023-02-01T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["High ball velocity in American football placekicking (PK) enhances the opportunity to score during competition. Insight into self-selected (SS) approach angle and whether an optimal angle exists for maximal ball velocity may improve performance. Methods: Three selected approach angles (30°, 45°, 60°) and a SS approach angle were assessed to analyze kicking velocity among 11 intercollegiate male kickers. Descriptive statistics analyzed SS angles, and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA with the significance level set a p < .05 compared maximal ball velocity between angles. Results: Mean SS angle was 37.25° ± 3.67, and the SS and 45° approach produced the highest maximal ball velocities; however, no approach angle (SS, 30°, 45°, 60°) differed significantly F(3, 30) = 1.869, p < .156. Conclusions: Approach angle did not significantly affect maximal ball velocity. However, future studies are needed with larger sample sizes and diverse placekicking populations who are participating in American football.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1175"],"dc:subject":["Angle","Approach","Football","Instep","Kick","Placekick","Kinesiology"],"dc:title":["Influence of approach angle on ball velocity during the American football instep placekick"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Health Promotion and Human Performance"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:47Z"}