ABSTRACT
Multi-articular, or multi-joint, actions are integral to all sports. The purpose of this chapter is to critically evaluate the literature and provide a summary of the technical features that distinguish experts from non-experts performing multi-articular sport actions, specifically throwing, kicking, and hitting actions. The biomechanics of these sport techniques, and the theoretical principles governing them, have been well documented in the scientific literature (see Atwater, 1979; Putnam, 1993; Fleisig et al., 1996; Bartlett, 2000; Elliott, 2000; Kellis & Katis, 2007; Bartlett & Robins, 2008; Elliott et al., 2008 for comprehensive reviews) and we draw upon this body of knowledge to focus our analysis on particular aspects of technique that are known to be linked to fast, accurate, and consistent performance outcomes. Although we limit our summary to the biomechanical aspects of expertise in throwing, kicking, and hitting actions, we recognize the important role that perception plays in the successful execution of these multi-articular actions, and that perception and movement cannot, and should not, be considered independently of one another (see Savelsbergh & Bootsma, 1994; Williams et al., 1999; Davids et al., 2002; Warren, 2006; Fajen et al., 2008; Zelaznik, 2014). Accordingly, we recommend that this chapter be read in conjunction with others in this book, specifically Chapter 5 by van der Kamp and Renshaw and Chapter 12 by Davids, Araújo, Seifer, and Orth.
