BIOMECHANICS BALANCE and STABILITY What is balance and

BIOMECHANICS BALANCE and STABILITY

What is balance and stability? • Balance ▫ The ability of a body to maintain stability or equilibrium when stationary or moving • Stability ▫ The ability of a body to resist being moved • Greater balance and stability will mean: ▫ An ability to maintain position ▫ Increased speed/acceleration/strength

Measuring balance and stability? • Centre of Gravity (COG) ▫ The point at which an object will balance over ▫ Can be inside or outside of the body ▫ The lower the COG the more stable the object will be ▫ The COG will move as the body is moved and weight distribution changes • Mass ▫ Greater mass means greater stability ▫ This is because there is greater force of gravity pulling the object down towards the earth

Measuring balance and stability? • Base Of Support (BOS) ▫ The base or area that is bounded by body parts in contact with the surface ▫ Stability will increase as BOS gets wider • Line Of Gravity (LOG) ▫ Is a vertical line raising directly from the centre of the COG ▫ If the LOG falls within the BOS the object will have greater balance

Line of gravity Centre of gravity Base of support

Locate the BOS, COG & LOG

Balance and Stability in Basketball What can you do to increase balance and stability in these situations? What is the advantage of doing this in these situations? • Defence • Dribbling • Post-Up

Activity/Homework