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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Optimizing American Football Kickoffs

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The kicker's goal during a kickoff is to strategically minimize the starting field position of the opposing team. This gives his team an advantage by making it less likely for the opponent to score. To determine the initial velocity and angle that minimizes the field position, an aerodynamic model for the ball trajectory and a biomechanical model for running players was used. The model confirmed that kicking the ball at a higher angle and at a higher velocity is better as long as the ball doesn't go into the endzone for a touchback. Analysis of a specific player revealed that he typically kicks the ball at an angle that is lower than optimal.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Bachelor
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Wichman, Claire B.
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Hosoi, Anette

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
  • Copyright MIT

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/144659
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/144659

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Wichman, Claire B.. Optimizing American Football Kickoffs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2022. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/144659