Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze lower extremity movement strategies as defensive players prepare for the flag pull action. METHODS: Eleven female flag football players (minimum high school varsity level) volunteered to participate in this study. Participants were instructed to pull the flag of a stationary dummy placed 3 yards away as fast as possible. Trials were conducted in three directions: 45 degrees left from center (L), forward (F), and 45 degrees right from center (R). Motion capture (Vicon, 120 Hz) and video analysis were used to analyze technique. A repeated measures ANOVA test was conducted to determine differences in movement times and step times (ɑ = 0.05). RESULTS: There was no difference in total movement time between different directions (L = 1.22 s ± 0.06; F = 1.23 s ± 0.09; R = 1.22 s ± 0.08, p = 0.874). Players approached the flag pull head-on across conditions (F = 93.6%, L = 54.5%, R = 45.5%). No difference was found in prepenultimate to penultimate step initial contact (IC) time (L = 0.25s ± 0.1; F = 0.23s ± 0.07; R = 0.27s ± 0.06, p = 0.121), penultimate to final step IC time (L = 0.25s ± 0.06; F = 0.24s ± 0.05; R = 0.24s ± 0.05, p = 0.680), or final step IC to flag pull time (L = 0.03s ± 0.06; F = 0.03s ± 0.05; R = 0.07s ± 0.03, p = 0.207) across directions. At the penultimate step initial contact, hips were flexed (40.0 - 57.2°), knees were flexed (48.5 - 58.7°), ankles were dorsiflexed (1.2 - 4.2°). At flag pull, hips were flexed (55.0 - 64.9°), knees were flexed (60.2 - 77.2°), ankles were dorsiflexed (3.5 - 11.76°). CONCLUSION: Players took approximately the same amount of time to complete the movement regardless of direction. In forward trials, players moved directly towards the flag pull target which may force a change in movement strategy by the offensive opponent in game situations. In left and right trials, players used individual specific techniques to approach and complete the flag pull. Players had similar prepenultimate and penultimate step times leading into the flag pull, while the final step occurred just prior to, simultaneous, or just after the flag pull. The joint kinematics indicate that players moved into a more squatted position between the penultimate step and the flag pull to complete the movement.
Recommended Citation
De La Cruz, Claudia; Aguilar, Rianne L.; and Peterson, Travis
(2025)
"Lower Extremity Movement Strategies of Defensive Flag Pulling in Flag Football,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14:
Iss.
5, Article 43.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss5/43
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