Dr Kevin Ball
PhD, MAppSc, BappSc
Senior Lecturer, College of Sport & Exercise Science
Kevin Ball is a lecturer in sports biomechanics.
Kevin is an authority on the biomechanics and skill acquisition of kicking in Australian Rules football. He has worked as assistant coach at Fremantle Football Club, as a sports scientist with Western Bulldogs and Melbourne football clubs and as specialist kicking coach for AFL teams, development squads and the Melbourne Storm rugby league club.
His research into all aspects of biomechanics and skill acquisition in Australian Football, including:
- kicking technique
- kicking and injury
- technique changes under fatigue and pressure
- biomechanics of handball
- the links between decision making, technique and performance
- learning styles in coaching kicking.
Kevin is currently the Australian Institute of Sport AFL kicking coach, the Melbourne Storm kicking coach and consults to a number of AFL clubs.
He is an associate member of the AFL Sport Science Advisory Group and is a member of the AFL kicking skill acquisition group.
Recent publications
Ball, K. (2008). Biomechanical considerations of distance kicking in Australian Rules football. Sports Biomechanics 7, 10-23.
Ball, K. (in press). Preferred and non-preferred foot kicking in Australian Football. Journal of Sports Sciences.
Buttfield, A., Ball, K. and MacMahon, C. (2009). The use of motor learning in Biomechanics: A call for more collaboration. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 40, 603-615.
Joyce, C., Burnett, A. and Ball, K. (2010) Methodological Considerations for the 3D Measurement of the X-Factor and Lower Trunk Movement in Golf. Sports Biomechanics, 9, 206-221.
Ball, K. and Best, R.J. (2007). Centre of pressure patterns in the golf swing 1: cluster analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences.
Ball, K. and Best, R.J. (2007). Centre of pressure patterns in the golf swing II: group-based analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences.
Kinchington, M.K., Ball, K. and Naughton, G. (in press). Development of a novel rating system to assess lower limb comfort. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
Research outputs and inputs
Publications
28 Journal articles, 33 conference proceedings, 48 scientific reports
Invited Presentations
23 international and national conferences
Research grants
- Cricket Victoria $20,000
- Fremantle Football Club $30,000
- Melbourne Football club $10,000
- Australian Institute of Sport (multiple)
- Australian Football League (multiple)
- International Hockey Federation $10,000
- Victoria University infrastructure grants (multiple)
Other Major Research Achievements
- Director, International Society of Biomechanics in Sport (2008-current)
- Editorial Board – Sports Biomechanics
- Editorial Board – Applied Golf Science
- AFL kicking steering committee
- Keynote speaker Science and Football 7
Portfolios
Areas of expertise
- Australian Rules Football (AFL)
- biomechanics
- Skill acquisition
Contact details
- +61 3 9919 1119
- kevin.ball@vu.edu.au