Kicking foot swing planes and support leg kinematics in rugby place kicking: Differences between accurate and inaccurate kickers.

Place kicking is a complex whole-body movement that contributes 45% of the points scored in international Rugby Union. This study compared the kicking foot swing plane characteristics of accurate and inaccurate kickers, underpinned by differences in their support leg and pelvis kinematics at support foot contact, to identify key technique characteristics. Motion capture data (240 Hz) were collected from 33 experienced kickers, and distinct groups of accurate (n = 18) and inaccurate (n = 8) kickers were identified based on their performance characteristics.