USA Track & Field

Level 1
Coaching School

Bio-Mechanics

Objectives

To develop a basic understanding of fundamental

physics, principles as they apply to the human
body in athletic performance. (The application of
Newtons Three Laws of Motion to Track and Field)
To improve the coaches background in the sport
science of bio-mechanics
To improve the line of communication between the
coaches and the athletes
To improve the athletes performance

Definition
Biomechanics is the study
of physics applied to
human movement.

Newtons Three
Laws of Motion
Law of Inertia
Law of Acceleration
Law of Action/Reaction

Law of Inertia
Newtons 1st Law
A body will stay in a state
of rest or constant
velocity unless acted
upon by an external
force that changes that
state. (i.e. gravity,
wind, friction with the
ground or moving into
some objects way,)

Law of Acceleration
Newtons 2nd Law
force applied to a body
causes an
acceleration of that
body of a magnitude
proportional to the
force, in the direction
of the force, and
inversely proportional
to the bodys mass

Law of
Action/Reaction
Newtons 3rd Law

for each and

every action,
there is an equal
and simultaneous
reaction

Concepts Necessary to
Understanding Newtons
Kinematics-describe motion
Laws
of Motion
Linear Motion

Rotary Motion
Velocity
Speed
Acceleration
Deceleration

Kinetics

Force
Center of Gravity or Center of Mass
Inertia
Impulse

Linear Motion
motion along a
generally straight
line
such as the path of a
long jumper during
the approach run

Rotary Motion

motion which is
turning or
rotating around
an axis, such as
the the turning
of a thrower
before the throw

Velocity

the distance
a body
travels in a
specific
direction
divided by
time (V=d/t).

Speed

Distance traveled, divided by time.

100m / 10 seconds = 10m/sec

Acceleration

a positive rate
of change of
velocity
(speeding up)

Deceleration

a negative rate of
change of velocity
(slowing down)

Force

Force is a push or a pull

any physical cause that
modifies the motion of a
body
putter against the shot
jumper against the
ground

Center of Gravity (COG)

or Center of Mass (COM)
the point where
the bodys mass is
considered to be
concentrated.
It is not a fixed
point in the
human body.

Inertia

The resistance that an object or

body has to change its state of
movement or position or rest.
Newtons 1st Law

Impulse/Momentu
Forcem
x time

change in velocity is dependent

upon the force itself and upon the
time during which the force is
applied
an increase in the force or in the
time of the force will increase the
impulse

Trajectory

The path of a projectile

it can be a parabolic
curve or it can be an
aerodynamic curve

Parabolic
the regular flight
Curve
curve followed by

the COG when

projected in air.
the curve can not
altered by
movement in the air.

Acceleration due to
Gravity
the acceleration of a
freely falling body, with
an increasing velocity
of approximately 32
feet per second every
second that it falls.

Torque

A turning force. The

amount of force
applied to an object
away from its center
of gravity results in
a rotary motion.

Work
When a force is
applied to a mass
sufficient to move
some distance.

Power

The amount of work done

in a period of time.

Power =Force x
Velocity

Circular
Motion

Rotation of a body outside

the point of rotation.

Centripetal
Force
center
seeking force

Axis
straight line about
which a body, either
animate or inanimate,
rotates

Radius of
Rotation

for a constant turning

speed, the greater the
radius of rotation can be,
the greater the linear
velocity of the most
distant part. The discus
should be kept as far away
from body as possible and
the arm should be at a
right angle to the body.

Moment of
Inertia
the closer the mass to the

axis, the less the resistance is

to speeding up rotation. The
arm of the metronome
oscillates more rapidly as its
weight is moved closer to the
axis of rotation.

Conservation of Rotary
Momentum
when the radius of a
rotating body (or limb) is
increased the rotational
velocity decreases, when
the radius decreases the
rotational velocity
increases.

Stretch Reflex
a stronger concentric
muscle contraction can be
obtained when it is directly
proceeded by a previous
eccentric contraction. By
braking a motion opposite
to the intended action, the
stretched muscle will now
contract more forcefully.

Body
Separation

in the power position of the throwing

events the hips open first or lead while
the shoulders are still semi-closed and
trailing. It is more obvious in the discus
and hammer where the mass of the
implement and the radius of rotation
slow the upper body and keep it
trailing the lower body throughout the
turn. This creates a stretch reflex.

Acceleration of a Limb

acceleration in one direction

creates a force in the
opposite direction. The fast
acceleration of the limbs at
the beginning of take-off
increases ground reaction
force.

Deceleration of a
Limb
deceleration in one direction

creates a force in that direction.

The sudden deceleration of the
limbs unweights the take off
leg to facilitate its fast
extension. (Also thought of as
Transference of Momentum)

Transference of Momentum

process through which

momentum may be
transferred from the
entire body to one part,
as in discus throwing.

Checking Linear Motion

or Hinged Moment
when the linear
motion of an object
is interrupted at one
end of the object,
the other end
continues ahead at
an increased speed

General Principles of Force

Application
Force should be applied in the proper
direction
Apply force over the greatest range of motion

Proper Body Position

Slow to Fast Rhythm

Summation of Forces