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Early Horizontal Deceleration Ability Across Multiple Steps and Approach Speeds in Multidirectional Team Sport
Luke Hitchens1, Jasper Verheul1
1Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.
European Journal of Sport Science
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Improving horizontal deceleration ability (HDA) in team sports involves optimizing force application and body positioning during each step. Athletes can enhance deceleration by focusing on hip and knee flexion in the first step and refining touchdown mechanics in subsequent steps.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Science
- Motor Control
Background:
- Horizontal deceleration ability (HDA) is crucial for performance in multidirectional team sports.
- Understanding the kinetic and kinematic factors influencing HDA is essential for optimizing athlete performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between external kinetic and kinematic factors and HDA across various deceleration steps and approach speeds.
- To identify key determinants of early HDA in team sport athletes.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen team sport athletes performed maximal horizontal decelerations at different speeds (100%, 85%, 70% of maximal velocity).
- Three-dimensional ground reaction forces (GRF) and kinematics were recorded during the first three deceleration steps.
- HDA was calculated as the average rate of velocity reduction per step and cumulatively across the first three steps.
Main Results:
- Greater within-step deceleration correlated with higher mean horizontal GRF (HGRF) and horizontal-to-vertical (H-V) force ratio.
- Mean HGRF in step 1 and H-V force ratio in step 3 were significant predictors of early HDA.
- Specific kinematic strategies, including hip/knee flexion, center-of-mass height, foot placement, and shank inclination, were associated with greater force production and HDA, particularly at slower speeds.
Conclusions:
- Early HDA is influenced by specific kinetic and kinematic strategies employed during each deceleration step.
- Coaches should focus on maximizing hip and knee flexion in the initial step to attenuate horizontal force magnitude.
- Optimizing touchdown mechanics, including center-of-mass height, foot placement, and shank inclination, is vital for enhancing horizontal force orientation in later deceleration steps.
