2026-09-19T03:29:03Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1446592022-08-30T03:32:19Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131024
Hosoi, Anette
Wichman, Claire B.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
2022-08-29T16:02:49Z
2022-08-29T16:02:49Z
2022-05
2022-06-14T19:35:43.372Z
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/144659
The kicker's goal during a kickoff is to strategically minimize the starting field position of the opposing team. This gives his team an advantage by making it less likely for the opponent to score. To determine the initial velocity and angle that minimizes the field position, an aerodynamic model for the ball trajectory and a biomechanical model for running players was used. The model confirmed that kicking the ball at a higher angle and at a higher velocity is better as long as the ball doesn't go into the endzone for a touchback. Analysis of a specific player revealed that he typically kicks the ball at an angle that is lower than optimal.
S.B.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Copyright MIT
http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/
Optimizing American Football Kickoffs
Thesis
application/pdf
Bachelor
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Publication
unknown
unknown
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<Abstract>The kicker's goal during a kickoff is to strategically minimize the starting field position of the opposing team. This gives his team an advantage by making it less likely for the opponent to score. To determine the initial velocity and angle that minimizes the field position, an aerodynamic model for the ball trajectory and a biomechanical model for running players was used. The model confirmed that kicking the ball at a higher angle and at a higher velocity is better as long as the ball doesn't go into the endzone for a touchback. Analysis of a specific player revealed that he typically kicks the ball at an angle that is lower than optimal.</Abstract>
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