Technique analysis of the kuda and sila serves in sepaktakraw

Abstract

The aims of this study were to gain insights on sepaktakraw serves, identify technique differences, and establish factors influencing ball speeds. The best successful kuda and sila serves of nine elite male national sepaktakraw players were captured using seven ProReflex 1000 optical cameras operating at 240 Hz. The kuda and sila serves are non-planar kicking techniques exhibiting a non proximal-to-distal sequence. Differences in kicking kinematics (P < 0.05) signify differences between techniques. Compared with the sila, the kuda kicking limb is a longer rigid segment that moves over a greater range of motion. Together with a greater increase in foot and shank angular accelerations approaching ball contact, this leads to marginally higher kuda foot impact speeds. Since foot speeds were not at their peak during impact, a longer rigid kuda kicking limb was the primary determinant of kuda ball release speeds. Greater range of motion enables the longer rigid kuda lever to generate greater kicking angular momentum, resulting in greater impact impulse. This immediately translated to the significantly higher ball release speeds based on the impulse–momentum relationship. Coaching implications include improving hip joint flexibility and working on a fluid movement of a longer rigid segment kicking technique.