Analysis of the Basketball Free Throw

Analysis of the Basketball Free Throw Analysis of the Basketball Free Throw Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyze free throw shooting in basketball and to demonstrate the relationship between structural and functional anatomy and movement performance. This paper will discuss the muscles and actions that are important for the movement and how these muscles relate specifically to the movement outcome, limiting/facilitating joints and associated structures. Also discussed is the combination of muscle and joint motions important for movement success. We also briefly discuss the sources of movement failure. The final section of this paper will discuss how this movement is critical for success in sport and what happens with aging, disease, or injury that can compromise function and ability to perform the movement. Introduction The free throw shot is one the most important shots in basketball. In fact, around 20% of all points scored in the NCAA Division 1 are from free throws shots (Kozar, Vaughn, Lord, Whitfield, & Dve 243-248). The importance of this shot increases later in the game, because free throws tend to comprise greater percentage of the points that are scored in the last 5 minutes than the initial 35 minutes by either the wining or the losing team (Kozar et al., 123-129). The free throw shot is considered as the easiest shot for a professional basketball player, as the player stands alone, 15 feet away from the hoop with no defense or distraction. The player needs to get ready target, prime the ball and shoot (Okubo & Hubbard, 2006). A successful free throw shot requires deep concentration, and most importantly good mechanics to take a perfect shot. While a free throw shot does not seem like an action that needs a lot of movement, muscle groups and joints in a body work together in isotonic contractions, utilizing multiple muscle groups in creating the movement. A free throw shot engages elbow, hip and ankle extensors in addition to wrist and shoulder flexors. In the case of the kn ees, the joints are hinged and the movement starts with a flexion, preparing for the free throw. Quadriceps and hamstrings become the antagonist and the agonist. This movement happens as you utilize knee flexion so that the muscles work in pairs. Hamstring contraction pulls the joints which makes the individuals bend their knees. The next movement after the flexion is the knee extension. When the shooter releases the ball, the quadriceps is the agonist and the hamstring is the antagonist. The upper body sequence would be: extension of trunk, shoulder flexion that will follow extension of elbow and wrist flexion. A common error during the shot is performing shoulder flexion and elbow extension at once, so that the elbow extension contributes less in taking the shot and is combined with the shoulder flexion rather than adding to the hand velocity. As the ball is brought up with use of both hands, it passes directly in the front of shooter’s eyes and the shot is aimed with the e yes underneath the basketball (Alexander 9). When the trunk moves from its flexed position to an extension, the upward movement of trunk would push down on the lumbar vertebrae, pushing down on the sacroiliac joints, which in turn will push down on the body’s hip joints. Knee joints respond to downward force transmitted by the hips by producing a greater knee flexion. Players who, for various reasons, do not have the needed trunk flexion in this stage of the free throw shot would decrease their ability to load their legs for the shot and consequently might end up losing full contribution of leg extension from the deeply flexed position to free throw. It has been suggested that trunk extension can help in triggering more forceful moment of knee extension. Additionally, a deeper trunk extension produces added hyperextension at the neck area helping the shooter to retain the focus on the rim (Oddsson 109-118).

What Drives Chinese Into Buying Luxury Goods in the 21st Century Dissertation

What Drives Chinese Into Buying Luxury Goods in the 21st Century - Dissertation Example The fact that the demand for luxury goods by the Chinese population is increasing rapidly has become a theme of discussion in the international market. This research incorporates qualitative as well as quantitative research to identify the factors that influence patterns of buying decisions of the Chinese consumers regarding luxury commodities. According to Vickers & Renand (2003) have said that China is one of the top three markets for luxury products in the worldwide economy. China has acquired the top position in demand for a variety of consumer goods, among which luxury goods occupy 19 percent of the demand (Stalk and Michael, 2011). In the demand a large range of other consumer goods China is the second position holder in the world. The consumers in China are steadily becoming brand conscious. It puts significant effect on their decision making about purchase of luxury goods. Their addiction to brands is allowing the Chinese market to make place for itself in the international luxury market and also helping the global luxury brands to increase their influence on the Chinese customers. What are the factors that influence the buying behaviour of Chinese consumers, leading them to purchase luxury goods? Research Hypothesis, Aims, and Objectives Hypothesis The economic growth in China has influenced the buying behavior of Chinese consumers, driving them to buy more luxury goods, brought about by an increase in their purchasing power. Aim This research aims at identifying factors that influence patterns of buying decisions that make Chinese consumers to increase their level of luxury goods consumption over the years. Objectives of the study The objectives of research are different for different individuals and organizations (Srivastava, 2011). The objectives of this study are mentioned below: To explain the phenomenal

Strategic Human Resource Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic Human Resource Management - Coursework Example Training is concerned with improving the current task force performance whereas development aims to build up and it increases competence level of employees for the better future performances. Q. 2 Hiring employees who need training is advantageous when the organisation need to maintain a particular knowledge and skills up to date for competitive purpose. Technology keeps on changing rapidly; thus it becomes beneficial to the company when they hire employees whom they need to train. This is vital because it will enable the business to create significant changes that will enable them to achieve a competitive advantage. However, it becomes advantageous to the company when they hire already trained employees because they already have significant work experience; thus this reduces costs of training, time and other resources of training unskilled employees. They also add knowledge to already existing organisation team and they are less costly to the company since training is costly and tim e consuming. Q. 3 The organization can determine in case its training is effective through employing effective evaluation criteria. Varied models have been developed in order to determine in case the training is effective; thus performance indicator is one of the models employed in determining the training effectiveness. Another criteria used is the dependent measure for operationalizing the effectiveness of training but there are other new approaches and models that have been proposed by researchers on evaluating the effectiveness of training (Arthur, Bennett, Edens and Bell, 2003). Kirkpatrick’s model is one of the new frameworks that attempt to reveal the effectiveness of training; thus this model takes into consideration four significant steps or criteria for determining the effectiveness of training. One of the steps is reaction criteria, which employs self report measures and another one is learning criteria, which measure the learning outcomes. Behavioral criteria also measure the actual work performance and it identifies the effect of t raining on actual performance. Lastly, results criteria and this determines in case the quality or productivity of the work has been improved. Q. 4 Behavioral methods are designed performance appraisal, which is based on rating the task performance of workforce depending on their behaviors. This is vital because it enables managers to determine the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of working performance for employees. Behavioral method judges the actions of employees by using a rating scale to evaluate or measure their particular behaviors. On the other hand, personnel comparison method is used for measuring and comparing each labor force with others in a certain group. Personnel comparison is considered an effective and reliable method of performance appraisal in situations where only employee need to be promoted; thus it is vital for ranking an employee against others in a group on diverse factors until they fi nd the best employee. Q. 5 The performance appraisal refers to the technique employed by HR managers to assess the task performance of a workforce. It is purpose is to assess the task of workforce in regard to particular standards. It is employed in measuring work performance of employees in order to determine their strength and weaknesses. It is imperative because it helps managers to offer efficient training programs or remunerate workforce according to the task